Where were you all this time?

A young bochur (teenager) came to learn every Friday night in the Belzer Shul in Tel Aviv, where Reb Aharon of Belz zt’’l conducted the “Shabbos Tisch” each week. It was during the early post-war years when there wasn’t even a minyan present to bentch and recite ‘נברך לאלקינו’ during benching.  So they used to ask this bochur to join as the ‘tzenter’ – the 10th man.

With time, the bochur got engaged and moved to America. Since he didn’t come from a Chassidish home, he didn’t know that it was customary to bid farewell to a Rebbe and to receive his blessings.

Many years later, this bochur – now a father with kids – came with his family to visit their grandfather for Shavuos.  During Yom Tov, he realized he would need to find a minyan for davening on the second day of Yom Tov.  He came to Reb Aharon’s shul to inquire if there would be a Yom Tov minyan on the second day for visitors from abroad.  (Since its customary for people living in Eretz Yisroel to keep one day of Yom Tov and for people visiting from abroad to hold two days of Yom Tov.)

As soon as he asked about a minyan, the door of the Shul opened, and Reb Aharon of Belz entered.  Reb Aharon noticed the visitor and excitedly approached him: “Where were you all this time? I still owe you a thank you for joining our minyan for bentching!”  Reb Aharon thanked him and heaped the man and his family with blessings.

Filed under Parshas Vaeira | Reb Aharon of Belz