Extend Your Mission
One day, the Yid Hakadosh of Peshischa fell ill. The doctors tried everything they could, but it did not seem likely that he would recover. The Yid Hakadosh was a chossid of the Chozeh of Lublin, so one of his sons undertook the journey to the Chozeh to give him a kvittel and ask him to daven for his father’s speedy recovery.
The Chozeh looked at the kvittel and shared the following idea. That week’s parsha was Shelach. The words “Shelach lecha anashim” describe how Moshe sent men to spy out the land of Eretz Yisroel. The Chozeh explained that these words also teach another lesson. Sometimes, a tzadik accomplishes his mission in this world so perfectly that he has no reason to remain here any longer. But when Hashem wants to bless him with more years in this world, He assigns him another mission.
What is that mission? Shelach lecha anashim. Hashem sends him people. He sends him Yidden who need help and guidance to fulfill their own mission. The tzadik’s new mission is to be there for Klal Yisroel. This extends the life of the tzadik, because he is now needed to be there for others. This was the response the Chozeh gave.
The son of the Yid Hakadosh traveled back home, and by the time he arrived, his father was already sitting up in bed and well on his way to a miraculous recovery!
Then they heard a knock on the door. A Yid had come, asking if he could meet the tzadik to receive some spiritual guidance. They welcomed him in and explained that the Yid Hakadosh was still recovering, but he would see him shortly.
A few moments later, there was another knock on the door. Another Yid, who happened to be traveling through town, had heard that a tzadik lived there and wanted to ask for a brocha. Soon afterward came another knock. From that day on, more and more people began coming to the Yid Hakadosh, as Klal Yisroel started to recognize him as a tzadik who could help them accomplish their own spiritual mission.
Take It To Go!
The more we take upon ourselves to help other Yidden, the more brachos we bring to ourselves.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 95.
