* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
Here is a tiny story with a great lesson:
The Chazon Ish, Rabbi Avroham Yeshaya Karelitz, passed away 73 years ago today. He was a Torah scholar, leader, and one of the most influential rabbis of his generation, but I would like to share the following story which demonstrates his consideration for others. This idea also relates to this week’s Torah portion, which presents our patriarch Avraham as our role model of loving-kindness.
One day, the Chazon Ish left his house to travel to a brit milah. As usual, a throng of people waited outside his door, anxious to speak to him. Each one of them had a question or request for the rabbi.
The Chazon Ish listened to each of them patiently until the last person finished asking his question, then he got into his car and said to the driver, who was in a hurry to get to the brit:
“For the first 100 meters, please drive slowly. I don’t want the people who asked me questions to get the impression that I’m trying to run away from their troubles.”
