Rabbi Yechiel Spero told a story of a man named Shmueli who was a 43 year old father of six. He had lost his job, he was experiencing health problems and had other issues going on as well. It seemed to him that whatever could possibly go wrong was doing just that – going wrong. Yet despite all his hardships, there was one thing that Shmueli held onto very tightly – his emunah in Hashem. No matter what, he would always say, “It’s m’eis Hashem,” or “Baruch Hashem,” and he would really mean it.
One day, someone suggested to Shmueli that he go speak to Rabbi Moshe Shapiro. At first, Shmueli was hesitant, he knew what a great rabbi Rabbi Shapiro was and how heavy his schedule was, and he didn’t think he would have time for him. But the Rabbi did make time, and Shmueli went to meet him. As soon as Shmueli began relating his story, Rav Moshe took note of his ironclad faith in Hashem. Although there were certainly bigger Talmidei Chachamim than Shmueli, and certainly people who held more prestigious positions than him, Rav Moshe valued Shmueli’s efforts and his struggle immensely, thus holding him in the highest regard. Shmueli appreciated Rav Moshe’s words of encouragement and heartfelt concern, and he made an effort to keep in touch with him.
On the final Purim of Rav Moshe’s life, hundreds packed his apartment throughout the day, coming to bring Mishloach Manos and receive brachos. Finally, it was time for the seudah, which was graced by many Talmidei Chachamim. Shmueli made it his business to be there, remaining in the back so as not to draw any attention to himself. Then Rav Moshe began to speak. Though his speeches were usually filled with deep, thought provoking concepts, this Purim, he veered from his usual content. “Im yirtzeh Hashem,” he began, “very soon, Mashiach will come, and I imagine there will be long lines of prestigious Rabbanim, Roshei Yeshiva and Gedolim waiting to introduce themselves to him. The prominent individuals will volunteer their names and proudly share their accomplishments.”
The crowd listened intently, trying to figure out what Rav Moshe was trying to convey. Suddenly, he stopped and glanced around the room until his eyes focused on Shmueli in the back right-hand corner of the room, and he spoke directly to the struggling individual. “At the very end of that line, after Mashiach has greeted nearly everyone else, he will meet you, Shmueli. He will ask you for your name and you’ll tell him what it is. And then he will ask you what you have accomplished. At that moment, Shmueli, you will look back at him and say, ‘Mashiach, I am the one who brought you here.’”
