YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- The Life of Tzaddikim
- Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
"Did you send people to talk to him?" Asked Rabbi Eliyahu.
"Sure," the man answered, ‘Several people have tried, but he still insists - he wants his girlfriend."
While they were talking, the son came home with his girlfriend, said a quiet 'hello' and went to his room.
The father sighed, tears at the corners of his eyes poked out and he said: "I am in despair."
"Tell your son that I want to talk to him for five minutes," said the rabbi.
The rich man went to his son and gave him the rabbi's request.
"I'm tired of the rabbis," said the son, "you already sent all the rabbis and they haven’t convinced me. What will one more rabbi say?"
"Only five minutes," pleaded the father.
"Okay," the son said, adding, "and then do not send me any more!"
The son told his girlfriend he will come back in a few minutes and went to his father's room to speak privately with the Rabbi . Twenty minutes later, the son came out, went to his father kissed his hand and told him that he is leaving the girl and will not go against his will in choosing a wife. Then, he went to his room and told his girlfriend that now they must separate and later he will explain why.
When Rabbi Eliyahu came out the happy father approached him and said:
"I do not know how to thank you. You saved my life. What can I give you in return?"
"Nothing," said the Rabbi.
Yet, the rich person took from his pocket a checkbook, wrote a check for a million dollars and handed it the Rabbi saying "it's for your kids, so you can marry them happily as I will marry my son."
"No need," said the rabbi, "I have enough of my own. I have an organized salary and I do not need your money."
The rich man pleaded, "Please take this small gift for the grace you did with me."
Then again he refused and the father tried another tactic:
"Maybe take the money for a Yeshiva in Jerusalem?"
"You give the money to the Yeshiva," said the rabbi.
Rabbi Zafran secretary to Rabbi Eliyahu was present. At this point he intervened and asked the rabbi:
"There are so many facilities in the country that could use this money. It is possible to do with this donation so much good. Why don’t you take it?"
The rabbi continued with his refusal and left the house empty-handed.
When they left, he explained to his secretary:
"You should know that those who take money have a personal interest, and then the words are not pure and are not received by the listener."
Rabbi Eliyahu began to tell his secretary about an incident that occurred in the times of the Ben Ish Chay zt"l in Iraq. A Scholar studied once in the Yeshiva until late at night and then returned home when all of the city was dark. Suddenly he saw a light and thought there might be a sick person. He approached the house and knocked on the door . As he entered he saw a crowd of rich people sitting and playing cards.
He told them: "I pardon for bothering you, but it is not right for you to be playing here. Your wives await you at this time."
The rich people were ashamed of him and his reproach. One of them said: "We are in the middle of a game and do not know who the money in the middle of the table goes to. Because you are a poor scholar, you can have the money and we will return to our homes." All of the rich people agreed and gave him the money.
Several months passed and the money ran out. His wife asked him to get money and he thought he will do like last time. After learning until late he passed by the house and again saw the light. As then he thought that perhaps there is a sick person inside, and again saw the rich people playing cards.
The scholar repeated what he said last time, but this time they raised their voices, scolded him and threw him from the house in disgrace. The scholar did not understand what was different between this night and the first night. He went to the Ben Ish Chay and asked what this meant. The Rav said:
"It depends on what your motive is: Mitzvah or Money. If the mitzvah is the motive, then the words of anyone who has Yirat Shamayim are heard, but the second time your real motive was money, so your words were not heard..."
Then the Secretary understood why the words of Rabbi Eliyahu made an impression where other rabbis did not succeed.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu The Path of the Righteous is as the Light of Dawn
From the book The Father of Israel
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.