Can I share with you my favorite story of all time? I first heard it from the eim bayit (“dorm mother”) of my seminary, one morning when I was moping and complaining to her about some social dynamic happening involving types of people that were grating on my nerves. I really didn’t appreciate them. She (rightfully) retorted, “Shana, that’s just your gaavah. You have no idea what greatness could be inside each person. I’m going to share this story with you.” I got chills when I heard it then, and I still get chills while typing it now.
The story (as I heard it) takes place during the Six Day War, in the Mir Yeshiva, when R’ Chaim Shmulevitz was the Rosh Hayeshiva. At that time, the Mir employed a washerwoman with a very sad life circumstance to do the Yeshiva’s laundry. The husband of this woman had run away, abandoning her and their six children. The family was left in complete poverty, and the wife was stuck as an agunah. The Mir had pity on this woman and employed her to be their washerwoman.
Whenever sirens would go off in Yerushalayim, the entire Mir Yeshiva would pack into the bomb shelter. They could hear the terrifying sound of missiles whistling overhead. One day, when the sirens went off and the entire Mir headed down to the shelter, they heard the missiles above them, and then suddenly a huge thunk overhead. The Mir had been hit by a missile! Everyone started screaming, “Shema Yisrael!” Miraculously, the missile didn’t explode; it was defunct.
Everyone was jubilant over the open miracle at the Mir! Everyone was talking about it!
Rav Chaim Shmulevitz gathered the Yeshiva together for an address. He acknowledged that everyone was wondering in what zechus the Mir had been saved? Some were saying it was in the zechus of the Roshei Yeshiva. Some were saying it was in the zechus of the immense Torah learning that goes on. Some were attributing it to the zechusim of all the B’nei Torah. Rav Chaim Shmulevitz continued, “Do you want to know in whose zechus I believe our yeshiva was spared? In the zechus of the washerwoman. Because when we were all there in the bomb shelter, I happened to be next to her. And when we felt the missile land on top of us, and everyone was screaming out ‘Shema Yisrael! Shema Yisrael,’ this woman screamed out, ‘I forgive him!!’”
Chills.
Simply, how mammoth, immense, immeasurable, inconceivable is the greatness of a Yid? What our neshamos are made of is sublime! It takes stories like these to remind us of the sheer gadlus lurking beneath the surface of every single Jew & member of Nishmas Yisrael. We have no idea what we’re made of; we have no idea what the Yid next to us at the checkout line is made of. We have no idea the zechusim they are generating for the entire world.
I find it wild that had Rav Chaim Shmulevitz not been standing near this woman, he would never have heard her statement that shook the Heavens. No one would have ever known it was this woman’s moment of gevurah in her middos that brought about the salvation of hundreds of people. They would have continued to have this ‘poor’ woman, doing their laundry, and when they smiled at her, or treated her kindly, they would’ve walked around thinking, “I’m such a good fellow. I treat this unfortunate woman so nicely,” never knowing that her towering greatness is the reason they are alive.
Every single Yid has a nekuda tova, a deeply good, holy, precious, pure part of them. Every single Yid is capable of the greatness that can save the whole world. And what do we know? Perhaps they already did.
See Postscript below
Postscript
What Would It Take for You to Let Go?
I recently shared this story with Yudi & Chumi Herzberg, parents of Charlotte A”H. Their public stance of forgiveness after the tragic passing of their 8 year old daughter Charlotte A’H has deeply touched Klal Yisroel, and inspired a serious Shalom movement. Their gevurah and commitment to not allowing machlokes to occur, has inspired thousands of people to step up and commit themselves forgiving another and making peace. At the date of this writing, 2,499 acts of Shalom have been pledged in Charlotte’s memory, which means 2,499 more ‘washerwoman’ like actions have been taken. Heroes! What a wave of zechusim for Klal Yisroel! What a zechus to witness it.
Where in your life are you holding onto resentment? Is there a person you experience tension with, and have a hard time dealing with? Have you been wronged, and carry that hurt still with you?
Is there room in your heart, too, just like the washerwoman, like the Herzbergs, to forgive, and make a step towards shalom?
What is Shalom for Charlotte?
After the tragic passing of Charlotte Herzberg, her family chose unity over division, shalom over blame, and healing over conflict. Today, people across communities, cities, and countries are reaching out to friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues to repair relationships and let go of grudges, some just days old, others stretching back years. Every act of shalom is a zechus for Charlotte’s neshama, and brings Klal Yisroel one step closer to the geulah.
One conversation can change everything.
A grudge can last for years. A phone call can last five minutes. Choose the phone call. Choose healing. Choose shalom. Bring more shalom into the world and honor Charlotte. Take the Pledge.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 92.
