וכולו הפך לבן טהור הוא (תזריע יג:יג)

One Friday Night on Shabbos Parshas Tazria, a Gerer Chassid came into the Rebbe Reb Dov Berish of Biala Zt”l during the Shabbos meal.  He wanted to be mazkir (mention) a relative who suddenly became gravely ill and plead with the holy Tzaddik to evoke mercy on the patient.

The Rebbe asked the Chassid: “did you call a doctor?”, to which the Chassid replied: “Yes, a famous doctor checked him, and he didn’t offer much hope.”

“If so,” said the Biala Rebbe calmly, “if the patient reached such a state, he would surely get better.  As it says in this week’s parsha “כולו הפך לבן טהור הוא” – when a person reaches the lowest point, it’s a sign that from today on, he will get better.”

“The source to this explanation,” continued the Rebbe, can be found in Tehillim (מד:כו) where it says: “שחה לעפר נפשנו, דבקה לארץ בטננו” – when one reaches the most challenging situation – when it chokes his soul, at that point, King David says “קומה עזרתה לנו” – help is close by.”

When the Gerrer chassid left the Beis Medrash, a renowned Biala Chassid by the name of Reb Yonoson Eybeschutz Zt”l approached the Rebbe and asked: “I want to understand, how was the Rebbe so sure that the sick person will heal and even promised the Chassid that the patient will be healed, against the doctor prognosis?”

The Biala Rebbe replied: “A tzaddik, the leader of the generation, has a lot of Yidden coming for a bracha, and his role is to bless and sometimes even promise a yeshuah (salvation).  When the words of blessing leave his mouth, he must turn to Hashem and plead with all his might that Hashem should fulfill his promise and send a yeshuah so that the tzaddik shouldn’t betray the people’s trust. This is what Dovid Hamelech says in Tehillim (מ:י) “בישרתי צדק בקהל רב” – when a big community comes and asks for blessings, then: “הנה שפתי לא אכלא” I do not want to change my words אתה ידעת השם” – You, Hashem, knows that I’m not a liar.  Therefore, I ask you to fulfill my request,” concluded the Biala Rebbe.