ואהבת לרעך כמוך (קדושים יט:יח)

A tense atmosphere permeated the home of the Tzemach Tzedek of Viznitz zt”l.  The Rebbe’s married daughter, who lived in a faraway city, was gravely ill.  Chassidim and acquaintances davened for her well-being.

The Rebbe received a daily telegram with updates on her situation. Family members waited for the mail carrier at the designated time each morning, hoping for good news. One day, the mail carrier was late. The family members were nervous and apprehensive about the news. The holy Tzemach Tzedek also nervously paced around the house, worried. Seeing how agitated his father was, his son told him , “Father, you don’t have to worry; a telegram bearing good news will arrive any minute.”

“No, my dear child,” replied the Tzemach  Tzedek. “You’re mistaken.  My daughter’s situation isn’t what’s bothering me.  Today, I realized that I am not at the level of feeling someone else’s pain as my own.  I’m working so many years on my “ואהבת לרעך כמוך” and when a Yid shares his tzarah – challenge with me I try to put myself in his shoes. However, today I realized that the pain of my daughter’s illness exceeds the pain of feeling with others, and that is what’s distressing me today!”

A short while later, a telegram arrived with good news that his daughter Boruch Hashem was out of danger.  

The Tzemach Tzedek’s son said that he had long forgotten the time his sister was gravely ill, but always remembered the lesson of “ואהבת לרעך כמוך” from his saintly father.