ONE MITZVA FOR ANOTHER

The young shliach perused the phone book, his finger moving from name to name as he looked for obviously Jewish names. Katz, Horowitz, Cohen, Moses … Slowly, his paper filled with names and addresses.

The shliach had arrived in town just the day before. How should he start to work in a place so big where he knew no one? That is why he was collecting Jewish names. Then he would conduct house calls and, with Hashem’s help, he would get moving.

The Katz family. That is what it said on the fancy wooden door. The shliach knocked, feeling somewhat nervous. After all, you can never know how a family will respond to a stranger, an odd looking one at that, who wants to talk to them.

The door opened and there was a tall man wearing a nice business suit. On the opposite wall was a large picture of the Rebbe. You couldn’t miss it!

The shliach’s eyes widened in astonishment. He had not expected such a nice surprise. He pointed at the picture and said, “How is that you have this picture in your home, if I may ask?”

Mr. Katz smiled and invited the shliach inside. They sat down on comfortable leather couches in the living room and Mr. Katz told him the following:

“I am a successful businessman. In the course of my work I fly often from country to country. I was on one of these routine flights and did not imagine that it would prove to be extremely significant in my life. Next to me sat an older Jew who turned out to be a friendly seatmate. We chatted as we tried to pass the time. As we spoke the man took pictures out of his wallet. ‘These are my grandchildren. This is Eyal, see what a sweet boy he is? He just recently started walking. And this is his older sister, Adi, bli ayin ha’ra, so delightful, full of energy. And this is Yaakov, my youngest grandchild, he is three months old …’

“The man continued talking, describing his nachas in glowing terms. ‘So, do you have pictures of your children?’ he asked.

“‘I wish …’ I said. ‘I don’t have any children.’

“‘Oy, I’m sorry. I did not mean to make you feel bad. But it’s good this came up. You are flying to New York and there is a big tzaddik there, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Go to him and ask for a bracha. Many people were helped by him.’ 

“The truth is, I was skeptical. How could a rabbi help me when he surely knew nothing about medicine. The best doctors had been unable to help us! But the man insisted and he had many miracle stories to tell me. He used all his powers of persuasion. I listened to him politely and nodded my head, but I had no intentions of going to see him. I am a rational person and I did not believe in supernatural powers.

“The plane landed and we went our separate ways. I got involved with business matters and completely forgot our conversation. A few days later I finished my work and drove back to the airport to catch my flight home to Canada.

“‘The flight to Canada has been delayed for five hours,’ I heard over the loudspeaker. ‘Oh no,’ I sighed. What would I do for five hours? The thought occurred to me that I should take a taxi and go see the Rebbe, but I immediately dismissed it. ‘I have never visited rabbis before. Why should a rabbi be able to help me?’

“But a voice inside me did not let up, ‘What do you have to lose? You have five hours – go!’

“That voice finally won out and I drove to 770. I walked in and asked to see the Rebbe. The secretary asked me for my name and address and looked in his appointment book and said, ‘You can see the Rebbe in three months.’

“‘What?! I have just four hours until my flight takes off. I must see him now!’

“‘I am sorry, but the line is very long,’ he said, ending the conversation.

“I left feeling frustrated and disappointed. What would I do now? Did I come here for nothing? A yeshiva bachur came over to me. He had heard our conversation and he had a suggestion. ‘In half an hour the Rebbe will be coming out for Mincha. Wait for him near his room and tell him your problem.’

“I was thrilled with this suggestion and waited near the room. When the Rebbe emerged I felt a tremor throughout my body. The words I planned to say flew out of mind. The Rebbe smiled at me and invited me into his room. He asked, ‘How can I help you?’

“I told the Rebbe that we had no children and had gone to many doctors but nobody could help us. 

“‘So what would you like from me? If the doctors didn’t help you, do you believe that I can help you?’ asked the Rebbe.

“My emuna was suddenly strengthened and I firmly said, ‘Rebbe, if I did not believe in you, I would not be here!’

“The Rebbe smiled and said, ‘If so, buy a good pair of t’fillin and put them on every day. Fulfill what it says, “And you shall bind them as a sign on your arm and they will be totafos between your eyes,” and then it will be fulfilled in you that which it says later in that section, “And you shall teach them to your children.”’

“I left the Rebbe’s room in an emotional turmoil. I felt that the Rebbe was carrying me on his shoulders and taking care of me like a good father. I sensed what a real leader is. I hurried to carry out what the Rebbe said. I went to the secretary and asked for help in buying t’fillin. I was given a phone number and an address and without delay, I went there and bought t’fillin.

“Since then, I put t’fillin on every weekday. Even on the busiest days, I put on t’fillin.”

Mr. Katz paused and the curious shliach wanted to know what the end of the story was. “So? Was the bracha fulfilled? Do you have children?”

Instead of responding, Mr. Katz called the names of his children and asked them to come into the living room. Six adorable children came in.