THE HEALING OF THE SUN
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THE HEALING OF THE SUN
Harav Y. Reuven Rubin Shlita
Life takes us all on individual journeys that are tailor-made for our own individual tikun. Everything we hear and learn, every soul we meet along the way, is part of the mosaic that hopefully will guide us towards this goal. I have been blessed with unique friends and mentors throughout my life and I look back on their advice and shared stories fondly. One of the brightest stars in this firmament was Harav Moshe Kupitz Ztl who remains vivid in my heart despite the years since his Petirah. We shared many stories together, and I was blessed to learn many life lessons.
He once showed me an amazing comment from the Toras Chayim. On the passage “And Hashem blessed Avrohom with all” the sefer quotes the Gemoro in Bava Basra that tells us that Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai taught that “A precious stone hung from the neck of Avrohom Avinu. Any sick person that looked at it was cured. When Avrohom passed from the world, Hashem hung this stone in the orb of the sun.”
The sefer then tells an amazing story.
In the days when the Beis Halevi lived with his father-in-law Rebbe Yitzchok Epron his young child Chaim’l (later to grow up to become known as Rav Chaim of Brisk) became extremely ill with a life-threatening illness. Just at that time Rebbe Yitzchok’s Rebbe, the Rebbe Rav Moshe of Kabrin came to Volozhin for a visit. It was his custom to stay at the home of his devoted chosid Rebbe Yitzchok and when he was told that the family was experiencing a difficult time owing to the young child’s critical illness, the Rebbe insisted that Reb Yitzchok carry on as normal and even host a festive meal. During the meal the Rebbe started to talk about this Gemoro and how Avrohom had this stone that would cure all who looked upon it. “And what was this precious stone? It was the midah of hospitality and chesed that was so magnanimously practiced by Avrohom Avinu. And when Avrohom Avinu passed on Hashem placed this midah of chesed in the sun where it can shine upon the entire world. The Rebbe then smiled, “Reb Itcha has given hospitality today beyond the call of duty and in that merit his grandson Chaim’l will have a complete recovery. And so it was…
Years later The Gaon Rebbe Menachem Nachum Rabinowitz came to Rav Chaim for Semicha (Rabbinical Ordination). In the course of their conversation Rebbe Chaim asked the younger man if he had received any other semichos yet. Rebbe Menachem Nachum showed the Rav a smicha that had been awarded him. After reading it Rav Chaim murmured that it seemed a bit cold in its wording. Rebbe Menachem Nachum said, “It’s not a wonder that the wording seemed cold; after all the rov who wrote it is a Misnaged and I am a chosid.” Rav Chaim asked, “and what am I then?” Rebbe Menachem Nachum replied, “You are at least half a chosid.” Rav Chaim understood at once that his guest knew about his grandfather’s chasidisha background and asked if he knew of the story of his childhood illness. Rebbe Menachem Nachum repeated the story just as Rav Chaim had heard it many times as he grew up. However, he added one point. During the festive meal the Rebbe of Kabrin went into the room where the child lay and said, “In Parshas Vayera when the malochim came to Avrohom Avinu, he prepared food for them. It says in the passage that he stood with them. The use of this word is in the present, not the past tense. The Rebbe said that every time a Jew does a charitable act, Avrohom Avinu stands with him. That is why the term is in the present tense. Every time we do a chesed, that sun of illumination that was Avrohom Avinu shines on us and cures our ills.”
Rav Moshe Kupitz’s smile was effervescent and gave so much Torah life to so many. Whenever I come to this parsha I remember his sharing this story and am warmed by the glint that always shined in his eyes.