The Rav zt”l was filled with love for the entire Jewish people, and it was precisely from this love for the collective that he reached the individual. As a result, every personal act of care he gave was done with complete willingness, joy, and love.
One of the veteran Jerusalem residents wondered: “Why don’t people tell about any wonders performed by the Rav? After all, the truth is that there are wonders attributed to the Rav zt”l.”
His friend answered him: “I will tell you about a wonder that is greater than many other wonders.
In my youth, I accompanied a certain man who was one of the Rav’s fiercest opponents — he even wrote against him. That man needed the Rav’s help.
In those days, when medicine in the Land of Israel was not yet advanced, whenever there was a serious illness, people would travel to Vienna. In Vienna there were professors who already knew who the Rav was, and a recommendation from the Rav would open doors.
This man knew that, and therefore he had no choice but to go to the Rav and ask for his help — a letter of recommendation. I accompanied him on his way to the Rav.
Whenever anyone approached the Rav with a request — and especially in medical matters involving a sick person — he would immediately and quickly write the recommendation. That’s exactly what happened here too.
As soon as the man came to him and said he needed to travel to a professor in Vienna and required his assistance, the Rav immediately took his pen and began writing the letter of request to that professor — even before asking the name of the person requesting it.
After writing a few lines, when he reached the place where he had to insert the name, the Rav raised his eyes and asked, “What is his name?”
The man said his name.
When the Rav heard it, I looked — said the storyteller — and I saw that even at the moment the Rav realized who was standing before him, and understood that this was one of his fiercest and most aggressive opponents, he did not so much as blink. He continued writing the letter with the same warmth, as if nothing had happened at all.
When he finished writing, he gave him the letter and wished him a complete recovery.
This is a very great wonder — and it surpasses many other wonders.”
