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Stories of Divine Providence at the Western Wall (The Kotel)
Welome back to Kalman's stories. Every year, in advance of Pesach, Passover, Rav Chaim Kanievsky would relate the following story about his wife's grandfather, the holy Tzaddik, the righteous man of Yerushalayim of Ariy Levin. Ariy Levin was known for his stupendous kindness. He would literally risk his life time and time again to deliver messages to poor prisoners, to visit the sick. And Pesach's time was no different.
Speaker 1:He was a holy messenger collecting money in the early years of the old Ishuz, back when it was still called Palestine by many. And he would collect money for the poor who didn't have a job, who didn't have a way to pay for the matzah and for the expenses which Passover brought their way. He would bring it to them discreetly with a smile. The problem was that right now it was in the middle of World War II, and even the affluent were struggling. And Ravario understood that he simply would not have a way of raising the money he needed for the many poor people on his list, the many poor people who were depending on him.
Speaker 1:So feeling he had no other choice, he went to the Kotel, the Western Wall, the place where the Shechina Lozaza Miminu, where God's presence can be accessed much more easily. And he cried his heart out to Hashem. He said, Hashem, you know, I'm only doing this for you. I'm not doing it for me. For your children's sake, let them fulfill the mitzvahs of Pesach.
Speaker 1:And as he finished his prayers, he walked backwards, head bowed, and he almost bumped into someone who surprised him and handed him a package wrapped in a newspaper. And when Rav Arya examined the package, he was shocked to see it was the exact amount of money which he needed. And even more shocking, the stranger had vanished. Rav Yitzhat Silberstein, a grandson of Raviyo Din, once related, In our family, we say it was Eliyahu and Avi who lead to the Prophet who revealed himself and gave the money to Ariy. But if you want to know how to merit such a vision of Eliyahu and Avi, I would say it was of Ariy's sacrifice, his mysterious Nefesh that he did for the poor that enabled him to have such a gift from above.
Speaker 1:It's in the merit of our collective efforts on behalf of others as we prepare for Pesach that we should welcome Eliyahu and Avi into our homes. May you have happy Pesach or wherever you are, whenever you are listening to this story. May we merit miracles in the merit of all of our prayers. Have a great day.