Rabbi Naftoli G.

No Pain, No Gain – A heartfelt Brocha

June 24, 2015

This coming Sunday the 11 day of Tammuz is my father’s 13th Yahrzeit. I offer the following incident L’Chovod my father.

I am in pain and went to visit the Doctor. I need an MRI and probably some minor surgery. I finished with the Doctor at 7:10 PM and ran over to Chicago Center for Mincha. I usually daven at Reb Moshe’s Shul or Kins, rarely at the Chicago Center. Davened Mincha and said Kaddish for my Mechutan, Moshe ben Yosef, Halevi.   As I walked out I saw an older gentlemen who I thought I recognized but being in pain shuffled past him.   I admit that had I made eye contact, I was afraid that he would ask me donate to his charity, but being in pain, I was not in a charitable mood.

B’H he followed me and gave me an envelope, did not ask for money.   I recognized these older gentlemen and told him we met a few weeks earlier at a different Shul.  He is Rabbi Naftoli G. I reminded him of what he told me at that time. This Rabbi is a Talmud of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda, TZL. His father was a Talmud of Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Kook, TZL. Wow. I met someone who was a Talmud and saw Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda and Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Kook.   He said they were Kiddoshi Elyon, lofty souls.   I gave him a copy of my Zedi’s Sefer, Sholem Yerushalim that was reprinted by Rabbi Zini, Shlita, and a Rosh Yeshiva in Haifa of Yeshivas Ohr Vishua. Rabbi Naftoli G. knows Rabbi Zini well and will visit him to give him my regards. I never met Rabbi Zini, but feel a close bond to him. Unfortunately, I was in Israel in late January and to my loss I did not visit Rabbi Zini or his Yeshiva. I pray to Hashem that in the near future we have a family Simcha in Israel and I can visit.

I asked Rabbi Naftoli G. to give a speech on Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda, TZL. He mentioned that many places would not appreciate the Gadlus of Reb Tzvi Yehuda and Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Kook. I told him that I would find him the appropriate venue. Rabbi Naftoli G. is leaving Chicago tonight, but I told him next time to let me know when he will be in Chicago.

I insisted that Rabbi Naftoli G. give me a Brocha for my pain and for Shidduchim.

Perhaps my week of pain was a Kapara for me, and to allow me the Zichus to give regards to Rabbi Zini.