Hashem sent three messengers to Avraham Avinu. Each of the mal’achim was tasked with a unique assignment. The angel Michael came with the tidings that Sarah will have a son. Gavriel was assigned the task of destroying Sodom. Rafael came to heal Avraham and aid his recovery from circumcision. He was then to proceed and rescue Lot. Rafael’s dual responsibilities present a problem. We know that an individual angel can only be assigned a single mission. Rashi explains that both of Rafael’s tasks involved salvation. Because of this common feature, a single angel could perform both tasks.
After the p’tirah of the Rosh Yeshivah of Mir, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l, whose yahrzeit was this past week (11 Cheshvan), an entire series of books can be written about Rav Nosson Tzvi’s sterling qualities and abilities, and how he could channel his debilitating illness into further Torah study, attentive listening, articulate speech, intuitive understanding, and so on.
One of the qualities he was most known for was miut sichah (limited conversation). Considering that Rav Nosson Tzvi met with thousands upon thousands of people each year and left an impression on each one of them, one would not expect that quality to be among his attributes. Yet, as friendly and down-to-earth as the Rosh Yeshivah was, he was not a man of many words. He didn’t waste words even when he was young and healthy; but in his later years, when every word was an effort, he used words even more sparingly. Thus, when he gave someone a brachah, it had great importance.
About seven years before the Rosh Yeshivah’s passing, a talmid who had been in his first chaburah in the 1970s was diagnosed on Chol HaMoed Pesach, without any prior warning, with stage IV lymphoma – an advanced stage that few back then survived. The talmid lived in the United States and was understandably distraught. He needed to speak with Rav Nosson Tzvi. Although it was already 11 o’clock at night in Eretz Yisrael, he called the Rosh Yeshivah directly from the hospital where he had received the terrible diagnosis. “I’m sorry for the call,” he began, “but I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer.”
The Rosh Yeshivah instantly dropped the phone and the line went dead. The talmid had to call back. When the Rosh Yeshivah picked up the phone the second time, his first words were “Who was diagnosed with cancer?”
“I was diagnosed with cancer,” the talmid replied, and Rav Nosson Tzvi recognized his voice.
“You’re going to be okay,” the Rosh Yeshivah said resolutely, after a moment’s pause. “I don’t want you to worry.”
The talmid still had to undergo extensive chemotherapy but, ultimately, his cancer went into remission – no small miracle with a stage IV lymphoma. Unfortunately, he relapsed a while later, which is not uncommon with lymphomas. He researched all the best cancer centers in the world and brought his findings to the Rosh Yeshivah to ask him what to do.
The Rosh Yeshivah told him that he wanted to discuss it with Rav Meilech Firer, the well-known medical-referral specialist in Bnei Brak. They both traveled to Bnei Brak together, and the Rosh Yeshivah sat with Rav Firer for 45 minutes discussing the options. Ultimately, they decided that the talmid should go for a stem-cell transplant.
Before going in for the transplant, the talmid came to Rav Nosson Tzvi again and said, “Rosh Yeshivah, I am worried. I need another havtachah (guarantee) from rebbi that all will go well and that I will be cured.”
The Rosh Yeshivah was extremely weak; he could barely move. “I had a terrible week,” he explained, excusing his lack of energy. “Today Rav Elya Baruch (Finkel) was niftar, and earlier this week a Yerushalmi yungerman in yeshivah also passed away, leaving behind ten children.”
“Please,” the talmid begged. “I really, really need this havtachah that this second set of treatments should work.”
The Rosh Yeshivah sat there for a long time, and then finally nodded his head. He gave the guarantee.
Now, many years later, this talmid is completely clean, having survived cancer for a second time. Whether from the merit of Torah or t’filah, the Rosh Yeshivah’s havtachah came true once again.
(Adapted from Rav Nosson Tzvi, ArtScroll)
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com . To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
