In honor of the yahrtzeit of the Beis Yisrael [ב' אדר], I would like to tell the story of
the time when my grandfather זי"ע took ill, and the Beis Yisrael went to visit him. In 5736
(1976), my grandfather experienced severe chest pains, and the doctors who were
summoned to examine him determined that he had a heart condition. They gave him strict
instructions to rest and not to get out of bed. Around that time, I was called into the Beis
Yisrael זי"ע, and among the things he told me was that he intended to pay a visit to my
grandfather. He strictly warned me to ensure that my grandfather would not know about
the visit, as he might then make preparations, clearing up the home, and this exertion could
endanger his health.
Before the Beis Yisrael arrived, I went to my grandfather’s home and prepared it somewhat
for the Beis Yisrael’s visit. My grandfather, who was lying in bed, noticed what I was doing,
and he immediately jumped out of bed and cried in dread, “The Rebbe is coming!!!”
I tried giving all types of excuses for what I was doing, but none of it was to any avail. Even
though I pleaded with my grandfather not to prepare for the Rebbe’s visit, and I explained
that the Beis Yisrael had warned that my grandfather must not know about his visit, and
would undoubtedly be angry that my grandfather found out, my grandfather did not listen.
He insisted on preparing to greet the Beis Yisrael. Only after my repeated entreaties did my
grandfather agree not to sit at the table, and to instead lie in bed, so that the Beis Yisrael
would not be angry.
When the Beis Yisrael walked in, he looked around the room, and saw my grandfather lying
in bed with his jacket and hat. The Beis Yisrael smiled and said angrily, “Is this how a
critically ill patient looks?!” He signaled to me with his hand, expressing his displeasure that
my grandfather knew about his visit.
The Beis Yisrael sat near my grandfather’s bed, and asked, “What’s new, Tolna Rebbe?”
My grandfather told him about the doctors’ concerns about his heart.
The Beis Yisrael stamped on the ground with his feet, and sharply retorted, “What do the
doctors understand? The Doctor in the heavens understands better... He says there’s
nothing wrong with you. Tolna Rebbe, you have a healthy heart. You are going to have a
long life.”
Indeed, my grandfather lived until the age of 92, and he never experienced problems with
his heart. In fact, the expert doctors who examined him marveled at how strong and healthy
his heart was, and said it worked as well as that of a young man.
My grandfather was overjoyed upon receiving this beracha from the Beis Yisrael. As an
expression of gratitude for his beracha, granting him long life, he decided to give the Beis
Yisrael as a gift the sacred Tehillim book which he had received through inheritance from his ancestor, Rav Dovid of Tolna זי"ע. He handed the Beis Yisrael the sacred book. Overcome
by awe in the presence of his Rebbe, he was unable to explain to him the story behind this
Tehillim, and so he asked me to do so. I briefly told the Beis Yisrael the story, and the Beis
Yisrael listened intently. He then spent a considerable amount of time going through the
pages, carefully analyzing the numerous kvitlech (prayer requests) and names of people who
needed tefilos which were written in the book. He commented about how much there is to
learn from the way kvitlech were written in earlier generations, and he asked about several
of the names, whether my grandfather knew who wrote them. Finally, the Beis Yisrael
kissed the Tehillim and handed it back to my grandfather.
He said, “This Tehillim must remain in the possession of your descendants, so that they may
receive further yeshuos through it.”
