Reb Herschel Lisker (who was the Rebbe of Reb Shayele of Kerestir) had a close relationship with the heiligeh Komarana, Reb Isaac’l of Komarna. At one point, there was an issue involving the local governments, and the Tzadikim of the time were gathering to figure out how to deal with it. The Komarna and Reb Herschel met and traveled together in the same wagon to the capital city, where these meetings were being held.
On the way, the Komarana turned to Reb Herschel’e and shared that on two previous trips to this same city, he had merited kefitzas haderech, and his wagon arrived much faster than expected. He said, “The first time, I was traveling with my Rebbe, Reb Hershele of Zidichov, and it was in his merit that we got there quickly. The second time, I was traveling alone, and I was zoche to kefitzas haderech myself.”
Reb Herschel of Lisker smiled and said, “Do you know what I do when I want kefitzas haderech? I give my horses a really good breakfast. That way, they travel very quickly!”
The Komarana laughed. A few minutes later, Reb Herschel turned to him again and told him a another story about kefitzas haderech:
“There was a Rav who once traveled to this same city we are headed to now. While he was there, he stayed with a certain Jewish politician. Let’s call him Yankele. The trip from the Rav’s house to Yankele’s house usually took five hours by wagon. But on that trip, he was delayed, and it ended up taking him seven hours.
“When the Rav finally arrived, Yankele greeted him and said he was a little disappointed. He explained that just a few days earlier, he had hosted another Rav. When that Rav left, Yankele later heard that it only took him three hours to get home. And he lived close to where this Rav lived. So Yankele asked, ‘Why did it take you seven hours, while it only took him three? It seems like he’s on a much higher level than you. He had kefitzas haderech, and you had the opposite.’
“The Rav answered, ‘That’s not a question. That Rav was going away from your house. To get away from you, he traveled quickly. But I was coming to you, so I dragged my feet. That’s why it took me seven hours!’”
The Komarana laughed again.
Not long after, the Komarana and Reb Herschel arrived at their destination, way ahead of schedule!
The Komarna’s son later told this story and added an important message. People often think that kefitzas haderech comes only through very high levels of Yichudim and deep intentions. But the truth is, sometimes you can merit kefitzas haderech just from laughing. The power of simchah is so strong that after Reb Herschel told the Komarana two jokes and brought him to laugh, that alone was enough to bring the merit of kefitzas haderech for their journey.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 42.
