Aneinu - Tehillim Stories
THE TEHILLIM OF REBBETZIN MALKAH ROSENBAUM
(Condensed from Mishpacha magazine)
Rebbetzin Malkah Rosenbaum, the wife of the Nadvorna Rebbe, Rav Isamar
Rosenbaum was known as a tzedekes, a woman whose tefilos helped many people.
One of the things she took upon herself was to say Tehillim very day.
She lived in the town of Czernowitz, a town, where 50,000 Jews lived before
World War Two. Most of the Jews were not religious.
This story took place late one night. After the Rebbetzin had fallen asleep,
her husband , the Rebbe woke her up. “Hurry” he said in an alarmed tone.
“Wash your hands and say tehillim, Reb Alter, our friend from the nearby
village, needs our tefillos! His life is in danger, and I alone don’t have
the strength to nullify the decree! Together with your Tehillim, the bitter
matter will surely be sweetened and come to a good conclusion.”
The Rav and the Rebbetzin stood davening, in two corners of the room. They
didn’t know exactly what they were davening about, or what was happening to
Reb Alter just then. They sensed only that he was in danger and that they
must nullify the decree.
After two hours, just as they finished the Sefer Tehillim, they heard an
urgent knock on their door.
Reb Alter stood in the door shaking and weeping, his face white. They sat
him down in a chair, and in a tearful voice related all that had befallen
him in the past three hours.
Reb Alter made a living by selling house wares. Sometimes Reb Alter had to
leave home for a day or two to travel to the neighboring villages to collect
money from Jews or non-Jews who had bought merchandise and had not yet paid.
Many of the goyim who owed him money did not like him.
So it had been that morning (before the night that the Rebbe had woken up
his wife to daven for Reb Alter) that Reb Alter set out to collect money. As
the sun was setting, he completed his rounds and was heading home. On the
outskirts of town there lived a non-Jew who bought merchandise from him. At
this point he owed Reb Alter a substantial amount of money and Reb Alter was
becoming annoyed at him for his non-payment. Reb Alter had already knocked
on his door three times in the past month, but no one answered. As he was
passing the house, he felt he had to try one more time.
Reb Alter knew that this non-Jew had a fiery temper and was liable to do
things that he would regret later. An inner voice whispered to him to skip
the house, but Reb Alter needed the money so he decided to knock on the
door. Again there was no answer, he knocked again and again and again,
Finally the man opened the door and looked upset to see Reb Alter. Reb Alter
could hear angry shouts from inside the house from this man’s grown
children. But Reb Alter wasn’t scared at all by this because their fight had
nothing to do with him and they hadn’t even noticed him.
The non-Jew was growing angrier every minute. His face was red and his eyes
were burning. Reb Alter realized he had not come at a very good time and
thought of leaving and coming back some other time. Just then, this non-Jew
put on a happy smile and warmly welcomed Reb Alter into his home. “Alter,
please come in” he said. He led him inside and invited him to sit down,
brought him a glass of water and closed the door after him.
Reb Alter grew suspicious. This was out –of-character for this non-Jew. Reb
Alter was right to suspect him. A moment later, the non-Jew comes into the
room, carrying several thick ropes. Before Reb Alter could make a move, the
man had bound his arms and legs and dragged him to the side of the room.
“This will be the end of your constant pestering, alter!” he hissed. “You
should have understood on your own that it was too much. This is already the
fourth time that you’ve come demanding huge sums of money that I don’t have.
Enough! Where you’re going, you won’t be needing money anymore. My ax will
put an end to your heavy burden of money-collecting…”
He checked the knots carefully, decided that they weren’t tight enough, and
bent over to tighten them. But just then, loud voices penetrated from the
other room, shouts and screams, sounds of objects being thrown about-a small
war. Apparently, the family quarrel had intensified into an out-and-out
fistfight. In another moment, it wouldn’t only be Reb Alter who would be
going to the next world, but the man’s sons as well.
The man left Reb Alter by himself going to check what was happening. Reb
Alter took advantage of this and possessing strength he did not know he had,
he managed to undo the knots, throwing off the ropes, and escape through the
window.
He knew that he should not go home, lest the non-Jew come looking for him.
Reb Alter headed in the opposite direction out of the village . He ran to
Czernowitz, to the Nadvorna Rebbe. He knew that there he could recover from
his terrifying experience and tell of the wonders of Hashem for saving his
life.
After hearing Reb Alter’s story, the Nadvorna Rebbe turned to his Rebbetzin
and said, “See how highly you’re thought of in Heaven! I needed your
Tehillim to save Reb Alter from that murderer’s ax!”
ZANVIL, THE TEHILLIM ZUGER
This story was told over by Rav Mendle of Kossov:
Berish lived in a small shtetl several miles from Mezibuzh. He was a wealthy
man and he decided he wants to write a Sefer Torah that would be used in his
local shul every Shabbos.
He had a schochet slaughter several cows . The meat was given to the
talmidei chachomim of the area and the skins were made into parchment for
the Sefer Torah. This was a long and arduousprocess.
Since money was no problem, Berish hired Rav Chanoch,the best sofer he could
find. Reb Chanoch moved into his house, was fed the most delicious meals and
was paid handsomely for his work. In little over a year, the Sefer Torah was
completed.
Once the Sefer Torah was ready, Berish had two other sofrim check it for
mistakes. The Sefer Torah was now ready to be presented to the shul. An
elaborate celebration was planned. The whole town was invited to a Seudas
Mitzva like no one had seen before. Invitations were sent out, professional
cooks and bakers were hired and Berish busied himself preparing a deep dvar
Torah to say to his guests.
On the other side of town, lived Zanvil, the local water-carrier. He was
also invited to the seuda as were all the poor people of the town. Zanvil
was not a learned man, but he said Tehillim all day. Zanvil was known as the
“Tehillim zuger’ -the Tehillim sayer. As he carried the heavy pails of water
, he would recite the whole Sefer Tehillim. And even after work, he would go
to shul where he would recite more Tehillim .
After the Sefer Torah was given, everyone entered the hall where a lavish
seuda was going to be served. Zanvil was particular hungry that day, because
his customers had not paid him for a few days and his house was bare.
Rabbonim, dayanim and the other important elders of the town were entering
the hall. The tables were beautiful. Berish was dressed in a beautiful frock
and was welcoming all his guest.
Before everyone started eating, Berish began his drasha -it was
amazing-deep, insightful, it was a masterpiece. Everyone loved it.
In the meantime, Zanvil was starving. He knew Berish would talk for a long
time What would happen, he thought to himself, if he would wash before the
big rabbonim and go to a corner and eat his challah roll. No one would
notice, he would put some food in his stomach and everyone would be happy .
He went to wash and sure enough Berish saw him. Berish was incensed that the
lowly water carrier should dare to wash before the big Rabbonim.
Berish started berating him, “How dare you wash before everyone else, just
because you say Tehillim all day, do you think that allows you to wash
first.”
Zanvil was so embarrassed, his face turned beet red. Others who were there,
told Berish to leave Zanvil alone. But Berish would not stop. “Why should a
simple Tehillim zuger be first?” Berish said, “He can’t even learn a blatt
gemara properly.”
Zanvil could not stand the shame, so he ran out of the hall as fast as his
legs would take him. He came home, hungry and dejected. He sat up all night,
crying from shame. He began to think that maybe he should not say so much
Tehillim if this is what comes of all the Tehillim he says
But in Shomayim, they noticed Zanvil’s humiliation and would not let it
pass.
Back at the seudas mitzvah, Berish was sitting at the dais, among all the
important rabbonim receiving much honor. Soon the seuda was over, all the
guests had left, Berish was happy but tired. He prepared himself for bed,
when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Berish opened the door and a
stranger asked him if he could come outside, since someone wanted to speak
with him.
“Who is looking for me?” Berish asked, but no one was there. The stranger
had disappeared. Suddenly, a brisk wind began to blow, and Berish was lifted
into the air. He began shrieking for help, but no one heard him.
Suddenly the wind stopped and he was literally dropped down to the ground.
He was in unfamiliar territory, but he saw a light beckoning and walked
towards the light. He came to a magnificent palace, decorated with precious
stones and rubies. The palace had no door, but there were windows and Berish
looked inside. He saw a long hallway , with nothing in it, but at the end of
the hallway a King was playing his harp and singing chapters of Tehillim in
a beautiful sweet voice. Berish realized right away, that this must be Dovid
HaMelech himself.
Soon the Baal Shem Tov appeared whom Berish recognized. The Baal Shem Tov
looked at Berish and said, “Why is this stranger here?” Dovid HaMelech
answered ,” I am taking him to Din Torah, because he embarrassed Zanvil, the
holy tehllim zuger .” Dovid Hamelech continued, “ The Ribbono Shel Olam
himself gets tremendous nachas when Zanvil says Tehillim. Since Berish
embarrassed Zanvil and now Zanvil is not sure if he wants to continue saying
Tehillim, Berish is guilty of a big sin”
Berish was shaking with fear. He did not know what to do or what to say. In
a trembling voice, he asked, what his punishment would be?
“You must die” was the answer.
The Baal Shem Tov disagreed with the verdict. He explained what is the point
of having Berish die-no one will learn from his mistake. Rather let him live
and let him make a seuda for Zanvil, the Tehillim zuger, so everyone will
see how important saying Tehillim really is.
Berish agreed and soon a wind took him back home. Of course, Berish did not
sleep the whole night. Early in the morning, he rose and went to Zanvil’s
house. Zanvil was still sitting forlorn and sad from what had transpired.
Berish begged him for forgiveness for embarrassing him in public. Of course
Zanvil forgave him, but he said, “I was wrong, who was I to think that I, a
simple water carrier could wash before the important rabbonim. But I was so
hungry , I wasn’t thinking clear.”
Berish answered him, “You are not such a simple water carrier. Do you
realize how powerful your Tehillim is up in shomayim? Dovid HaMelech
personally revealed himself to me to protect your honor.”
The same day, Berish hosted another beautiful seudas mitzvah in Zanvil’s
honor. All the townspeople were there and Berish repeated the whole story.
Berish accepted upon himself to say Tehillim each day and never to mock
those ‘simple’ Yidden who serve Hashem with a pure heart, even though they
may be unlearned.
About fifteen or twenty years ago, my cousin told me this story about the
power of Tehillim:
My cousin’s eight year old grandson was in the hospital in the final stages
of cancer. His parents both needed to work, so it was up to my cousin, the
boy’s Bubbie, to spend the days at his hospital bed, offering whatever
comfort she could as he drifted in and out of sleep. She used her days to
say Tehillim constantly, only occasionally pausing to look out the window or
to let her mind wander to less difficult areas. During one such break, her
grandson awoke, and immediately asked, “Bubbie, why did you stop saying
Tehillim?”
My cousin couldn’t be more surprised. She responded with her own question.
“How did you know I stopped?”
His reply validated the energy we know is generated through our tefillot.
“Because,” he replied, “It hurts less when you’re saying Tehillim.”
Yehey zichro boruch.
Rabbi Yechiel Abramsky
During WWII, Rabbi Yechiel Abramsky was the head of the London Bais Din. One
day during the ‘Battle of Britain” a bomb landed on the building and the
building was totally destroyed with bricks falling everywhere, and people
injured.. Rabbi Abramsky was not injured in the least bit. When asked why he
was was not hurt, he answered, “Believe me, I recited far more kaptilech of
Tehillim than the amount of bricks in this building.”
POWERFUL PRAYERS
A man who had been childless for many years boated that Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael
Kanievsky, known as the Steipler, had promised him a son and that this
promise was fulfilled.
Rabbi Eliezer Shach visited the Steipler. “It is not our practice to perform
miracles, “ he said.
The Steipler responded, “Let me tell you happened. This man pleaded with me
for a child, and I gave him a berachah.
This man pleaded with me for a child, and I gave him a berachah He said he
was not satisfied with a berachah and wanted a promise
I told him there was no way I could promise him anything.
But he was insistent and would not leave. I was getting frustrated, because
I wanted to get back to my learning, so to make him leave
I said, “Alright, I promise you a child.”
“Afterward, I thought, “How could I have done such a thing to make such a
promise? So I said Tehillim for him.”
Rav Shach said, “Oh, so you said Tehillim? Then that’s not performing a
miracle.”
Story reprinted form “Jewish Action” Story submitted by Rabbi Abrahama J.
Twerski
LETTER FROM AN ANEINU GROUP LEADER
Many years ago, I began a Sunday morning Tehillim group in my home as a
zechus for two cholim who were close to my family. This group has been
through many ups and downs. I feel that although those two people have since
been niftar, the Sunday morning Tehillim has become a very integral part of
my life.
I’d like to share with you two stories, opposites in nature, which portray
how Tehillim has impacted the lives of me and my family.
A few summers ago, on a Sunday afternoon, my family and I were on our way
home from a vacation. We stopped somewhere on the way to hike and we had a
great time. The parking lot in this place was surrounded by a concrete
ledge. Positioned a few feet above the ledge was a steel barrier somewhat
resembling a banister. As we were preparing to leave, my son, a very agile
individual ke”h, noticed an opportunity for adventure. He climbed up onto
the barrier and proceeded to walk upon it while balancing himself. My
husband, getting into the spirit of things, thought he would try it too. As
he stood on the barrier, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. He was
in much pain, and my son took him to the hospital, where it was discovered
that he had broken his wrist. (The doctors said that he would need a
surgery, which he had, and B”H today his wrist is fine.)
At some point during all this “excitement”, bells started ringing in my
head. It dawned on me that since we had been away, we had completely
forgotten about the Tehillim group that morning. Normally, I would have
arranged for the Tehillim to be said in a friend’s house, or at least divide
it up between the “regulars” to be say at home. But this time, I did not
remember to make any such arrangements. Upon realizing this, I felt a strong
sensation that this broken wrist was somehow connected to the forgotten
Tehillim. After this incident, I decided to Bli Neder never miss my Tehillim
group again.
This next story happened just a few years later, again on a Sunday, and
again on a family hiking trip. My son was running down the trail at
lightning speed, and did not notice that a bit further down, the trail took
a sharp turn to the right. By the time he realized, it was too late. He
continued head on down an eight-foot-cliff! My other son who had been
following close behind and saw this happen, said that there is no way he
would come out of this with no broken bones. But unbelievably, he came back
up to the trail with hardly a scratch. That morning, we had divided up the
Tehillim, and this particular son had participated significantly by saying
quite a few books.
The power of Tehillim can not be underestimated. We’d rather not find out
what we could have been saved from by saying Tehillim. We’d rather say the
Tehillim and remain in the dark.
If you can join a Tehillim group, DO SO! It is a great Shmira.
C. R.
Passaic NJ
EVEN AN ‘UNANSWERED’ TEFILA HELPS
When Moshe Rabbeinu gave his last address to the young people of Bnei
Yisroel who were about to go into Eretz Yisroel, he retold the story of
their parents mistakes in the Midbar (desert). When retelling the sin of the
Mergalim, Moshe says that they were punished and routed by the Emori in
their effort to go to Eretz Yisroel without permission. After this defeat
they came back to the Machanaeh (the camp and began to cry. The Posuk says,
“V’Lo Shama Hahsem B’Kolcham” Hashem did not listen to them.
The next Posuk says that they stayed in Kadeish many years. Rashi says that
they stayed for 19 years without wandering around.
The Netziv says that we see from here that even when Hashem does not
‘listen’ to our tefilos and does not grant our request the tefilla still
helps. While their tefilos did not repeal the gezeira (the bad decree) of
staying in the Midbar (desert) for 40 years, it helped that they settled in
one place and did not need to wander for the next 19 years.
The lesson to be learned from this, says the Netziv is that we can’t always
get what we want but we always get something!!
(taken from Revach.com)
A MOTHER’S TEHILLIM
When Rav Moshe Aaron Stern, the Mashgiach of Kamanitz, was born, the doctors
told his mother that he was a sick baby and would only live a few weeks. His
mother started saying Tehillim for him every day and he continued living.
When he was just 67 years old, he was suddenly niftar.
His brother explained, “Two weeks ago my mother was nifter, she had been
saying Tehillim for him his entire life. Now that she is niftar and is not
able to say Tehillim for him, he was niftar.
FRIDAY NIGHT TEHILLIM
After not having children for many years, a couple was blessed with twins.
One twin died at birth and the other got an infection right away and was in
grave danger. Only one hospital in their city could give this baby the
proper care he deserved, but the hospital told them they had no room for the
baby.
The women in the neighborhood gathered that Friday night to say Tehillim for
the baby. That Friday night, the family got a call that a room had been
found for the baby.
Boruch Hashem, the infection was controlled and the baby got better quickly
and was released.
THE MOTHER OF THE CHOFETZ CHAIM
The mother of the Chofetz Chaim was once asked, why she thought she had been
zocha to have a son, the ‘Chofetz Chaim.’” She could not think of anything
she had done to warrant such a son. They pressed her and said, you must have
done something special. She said, the only thing she could think of was,
that before she married, her mother had told her, that any free minute she
had, i.e. while waiting for the soup to boil or some such opportunity to say
a few pirokim of Tehillim. This is what she did and she felt that in the
zchus of the Tehillim she said, she was zocha to have a son, the Chofetz
Chaim.
THE LAST WILL OF THE NESIVOS - FIVE PERAKIM OF TEHILLIM A DAY
The Baal HaNesivos, Rav Yaakov Loiberboim, left in his tzava’ah (his will)
to say 5 Kapitlach (chapters) of Tehillim every day. Tehillim, he says,
fires up the heart of Avodas Hashem. Moreover, Dovid haMelech davened, that
when people say Tehillim it should be considered in heaven as if they
learned the difficult Masechtos of Nega”im and Ohalos. Since there is no
ulterior motive for saying Tehillim, as it brings no glory or respect like
Torah learning does, the Nesivos reasons that saying Tehillim is like Torah
Lishma (learning Torah for Torah sakes alone) and he told his family to
learn 5 pirokim a day.
Tehillim Thought
It is how we react to the middas hadin´ in our lives that dictates who we
are. When all is rosy, it is easy to sing out in praise of Hashem. It is
after unimaginable pain that we are truly tested. The Medrash compares the
praise that Nebuchadnezzar expresses to that of Dovid Hamelech. In fact, as
Nebuchadnezzar was about to continue his praises, an angel came and slapped
him in the mouth. Is that fair? If , in fact, the wicked Nebuchadnezzar was
going to finally outdo Dovid, then is it fair for the angel to prevent to
that? Rav Yaakov Galinsky answers with a beautiful insight. He explains that
the slap was the litmus test for Nebuchadnezzar. Dovid had endured so many
slaps-a rebellious son, a disgraced daughter, the life of a fugitive, and
children who died. And yet, he still sang! “So”the angels asked, “how will
Nebuchadnezzar react after the storm?” After the rejection and the pain of
the Almighty’s apparently harsh judgment, how does he react? This is what
allows Dovid’s praise to remain the loftiest of all.”
Written by Rabbi Yechiel Sprio in the Yetad - October 21 Edition
A Mother’s Tehillim
The young son of The Tzemack Tzedek, one of the previous Lubavitch Rebbes,
would overhear his mother saying Tehillim every day. On one particular day,
he noticed that his mother was pronouncing the words incorrectly. He told
his mother that she should stop saying Tehillim since it is worthless, since
the words she is uttering have nothing to do with what Dovid Hamelech wrote.
The mother was distraught and she went straight to her husband the Rebbe, and told him what the son had told her. The Rebbetzin told her husband that from now she will not be saying any more Tehillim since it seems to be worthless.
The Rebbe asked his wife, to please call in their son to his library. He wanted to speak with him.
The Rebbe called in his son (who late became a Rebbe himself, the Rebbe MaHaRash) and told him in no uncertain terms, “Do you remember that I just went to St. Petersburg to try to abolish a bad decree that was brought down by the Russian Government on the Yidden. It was a trip fraught with danger, not only could the government have increased the punishment on the Yidden but my own life and the life of my delegation were in danger.”
The Rebbe continued, “Do you know why the decree was abolished? Because of
your mother’s Tehillim. Nothing compares with Tehillim said with a pure
heart. Please go to your mother right now, and apologize for what you told
her.”
Rav Chaim Shmulevitz would go daven by Kever Rochel. He would have a Mirrer
Yeshiva bochur take him by car. The bochur related the following story:
Even before they got to Kever Rochel, the Rosh Yeshiva would take out his
long, long lists of name and would look at them and start to cry.
Once he got to Kever Rochel and started to say Tehillim, the Rosh Yeshiva
would be sobbing.
Before leaving the Kever, Rav Chaim said in Yiddish, “Mamme, The Eibeishter
hot g’zukt nish si vaniyin, aber Chim zukt s’vaniyin” -Mamme, Hashem, told
you not to cry, but I, Chaim , am asking you to cry. This refers to the
golus that Hashem told Rochel Imenu not to cry for the Jews, since the Galus
will end and the Jews will return to Eretz Yisroel.
But the Bochur was puzzled by all this and in the car home, asked the Rosh
Yeshiva, “If Hashem told Rochel Imeinu not to cry, how could the Rosh
Yeshiva ask her to cry?”
Rav Chaim answered, “A Tatte und a Mamme can zuken for a kind nisht zi
vinyin, aber a kint can alumul freichen a mamme zivanin.”
A father or a mother can ask a child not to cry, but a child can always ask
a mother to cry for them
When Rav Mattisahayu Solomon was the 2nd Mashgiach in Gateshead Yeshiva,
there was a bochur who constantly got the best chavrusas each zman. What was
unsual about this, was the fact that the bochur was a beinonie in his
learning. One zman passed, the 2nd zman passed and eventually the Roshei
Yeshivos and Mashgichim in Gateshead began wondering why this was constantly
happening. And they would observe that time when the boys chose their
chavrusas and they could not figure out why this boy would constantly got
the best chavrusa.
After a few years had passed, and the new zman was starting, and the boys
chose their chavrusa, the main Mashgiach passed this boy in the hall. He
came running into Rav Mattisahyu’s office, and said, “Mattisayhu, I have the
answer to our question, I know why this bochur always gets the best bochur”
I just heard him get off the phone with his mother and he said (in Yiddish),
“Mummy, you can stop saying Tehillim, I got the best chavrusa.”
They asked Rebbetzin Twersky from Milawkee, when she was an old woman in her
nineties, why she thought she had been zocha to have such illustrious
children. She came to America, to Milawkee in 1921-how had she been able to
raise such frum, areleche boys. And she answsered like this:
In the year, 1890, when I was a young girl of 8, my family went to visit my
grandfather the Bobover Rebbe in Bobov. (She lived in Krakow and today, by
car it is a 3 hour journey). We went for Chanukah.
We all were around my zydie when he lit the Chanukah lichtilech and after he
finished, everyone left the room. I observed, that my Zydie was sitting by
the lictilech and saying Tehillim.
I said, “Zydie ,for whom are you davening?”
He answered, “For you, my kinde-child.”
I left the room and returned a half an hour later and oberserved my Zydie
still davening.
I said, “Zydie, for whom are you davening?”
He answered, “For your children, my kinde.”
I again left the room, to return a half an hour later and my Zydie was still
davening,
I again asked, “Zydie, for whom are you davening now?”
And he answered, “For your eineklech , my kinde.”
Rebbetzin Twerksy continued her story and said, “Did my Zydie know in 1890
that in 1921, I would marry and move to America. No, I don’t think so, But
he knew that times were changing and I would need special shmira for my
future life.”
And she believed that it was the zchus of her grandfather’s Tehillim that
protected her in America in those early years.
The Rav who gave over the story said, that we should learn from this story,
that we to can give our family, our children and our grandchildren that
special shmira, just as the Bobover Rebbe did.
A widow sent her young son away from home off to yeshiva. A little while
after he got there, he was taken ill. The Rosh Yeshivas knew the mother was
alone, knew she had very little money and decided they would care for him
and not bother her. They took him to the doctor, gave him his medicine, fed
him etc. But to their great sorrow, the boy passed away. Now they would have
to tell the mother.
They went with the body to the mother’s village and had to break the news to
her. Of course, she was inconsolable and cried and cried and cried. The
Rabbonim who had come with, just sat in the room and let her cry. After many
tears had been shed, she turned to them,” I know you tried the best for my
son but for one thing I don’t forgive you. Had you told me that my son was
sick, I would have sat and said Tehillim-Perek after Perek and who knows if
the Tehillim would not have saved his life.”
The Chazon Ish was a bochur and learning in the shul Beis medrash. He
wanted a certain gemara and asked the Shamosh for it. The Shamosh, in not
too nice fashion, told him that the Gemara needs to be used by a group of
men, not an individual and told the Chazon Ish that he should be saying
Tehillim instead of learning.
Of course, afterwards, when the shamosh of the shul realized that this young
bochur was an illu, he came over and apologized profusely. The Chazon Ish,
said, it was fine that really the Gemara should be used by the tzibbur and
yes , the shamosh was right, he should be saying Tehillim.
TEHILLIM ON THE WAY
When my cousin Esti was younger she had a very hard time with reading. My
aunt told her that everyday she should say a little bit of Tehillim to
practice reading and perhaps that would help.
One day their family was going to Montreal to get a brocha from a Rebbi. On
their way back, while the whole family was playing and having fun, Esti was
sitting and saying Tehillim. A little while later the car swerved and
flipped over three times. Boruch hashem no one in the family was hurt except
for some minor bruises. When they were cleaning out the car they saw that
one of the seats was in place and not broken at all. When they cleaned up
the mess they saw that a sefer Tehillim was under the seat actually building
up the seat, in an upright position.
From Mishpacha Magazine-May 30th issue
During the Six Day War, religious Jews the world-over gathered to say
Tehillim. Of course, in Yerushalyim everyone was saying Tehillim around the
clock. Jerusalem gedolim Rabbi David Jungreis, Rabbi Yistzchk Reisman, ztz”l,
and others participated in heartrending tefillah sessions in the Meah
Shearim shtieblach, where Rabbi Mendel Gefner, ztz”l led the recital of
Tehillim. Jerusalem historian Yisrael Gellis relates that an article in an
Arabic newspaper quoted Jordan’s King Hussein as saying, “What can I do
against Gefner’s tillim -literally “missiles,” but also alluding to Tehillim!”
This is Jerusalem, by Uzi Narkiss, documents this article as well as maps
and descriptions of the Legions, who were positioned according toa plan to
slaughter the Abtei Ungarin and Meah Shearim residents. Indeed, Tehillim,
our most powerful weapon, annulled their scheme.
Vishnitzer Chassidim remember that during the weeks before the war, the
Imrei Chaim, Rebbe Chaim Meir Hager, ztz”l, seemed entirely occupied with
lofty matters, intensely focused on something beyond them. His wife, the
Rebbetzin Margulis, a”h sat in the courtyard throughtout the war, bent over
her Sefer Tehillim. “She’s saying Tehilllim here,” the Imrei Chaim
commented. “That’s why they’re winning over there!”
Rabbi Ezriel Tauber came home about 2 P.M. on a Tuesday afternoon, went
through his mail and saw a letter from a new organization, ANEINU with a
booklet containing a few kapitlech of Tehillim. The letter was signed by
Rabbi Dovid Weinberger asking him to please include ANEINU in his remarks at
the Yom Iyun scheduled for that Sunday, the first day of Selichos.
Rabbi Tauber spent the next two hours working on his speech and the Shiurim.
At about 4 P.M. his neighbor ran in, hysterically, asking for Rebbetzin
Tauber. The woman=s husband had just been taken to the hospital and she
wanted the Rebbetzin to say Tehillim for her husband because he was very
critical. Unfortunately, the Rebbetzin was not home. As the distraught woman
left, Rabbi Tauber thought to himself, that really he should say Tehillim
for his neighbor. He looked on his desk and noticed the little Tehillim
pamphlet from ANIENU and realized that it was perfect. He proceeded to say
the kapitlech.
Rabbi Tauber found out afterwards, that at the same time he was saying
Tehillim, his two year old grandson in Monsey was run over by a car. It was
a summer day and all the neighbors were outside and witnessed the accident.
The child was screaming and had tire marks on his abdomen. Hatzolah was
called and everyone was frantic. Hatzolah originally wanted to take air-lift
the child to Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital but then decided against it, not
knowing if the child could survive the trip. They took him, instead, to the
local hospital, where a trauma team was waiting for him. The doctor examined
the little boy and found NOTHING WRONG WITH HIM. The child's pediatrician (a frum woman) subsequently arrived. The trauma doctor informed her that the
child could be released. The pediatrician protested, ABut doctor don=t you
want him to be held overnight for observation? The trauma doctor
looked at her and said, Aren't you Orthodox? Can=t you see that a miracle happened
here? Nothing happened to this child!"
The black Nurse who was in the operating room told the parents in her
Southern drawl, I've been here for 18 years and I've never seen anything
like this. G-d must love your son. Take care of him because he=s going to
grow up to be special. G-d don=t do this for nobody.
Rabbi Tauber said that the Nissim that happened were manifold and public.
One of the neighbors who had seen the accident, thought for sure that the
child was severely hurt and therefore was afraid to ask what happened. He
came to Shul at Sholosh Seudos on Shabbos expecting to hear the worst and
was shocked to hear that Boruch Hashem the child was perfectly fine.
Rabbi Tauber explained that who nana techila ” he is answered first” means
that when you are davening for someone else and you don't even realize that
you need precisely what you are davening for to help your neighbor, Hashem
will answer you first.
Rabbi Tauber was very frightened by the whole experience and he felt that
his family had used up a lot of zchuos merits to have a miracle like this
done for them.
He recalled that Avrohom Aveinu was also frightened for the same reason when
he miraculously vanquished the kings in order to save Lot Hashem told
Avrohom -Do not be afraid, Onochi mogane loch. I will protect
you. You did a chesed for Lot so I repaid you with . Chesed. Your merits
were not diminished by this miracle.
May our collective Tehillim create a reservoir of merits. for all of Klal
Yisroel.
This story Rabbi Weinberger told at a speech he gave on Tehillim in
Shaaray Tefillah on May 21, 1998. It shows the strength that a group has
when davening.
This story is told of Rav Elye Lopian and was told by Rav Shimon Schwadron
who heard it first hand.
Rav Elye Lopian was the Mashgiach of Kfar Chassidim, a great baal musar of
the previous generation. His Yeshiva was in Zichron Yaakov. There was a very
simple Jew who was always very kind to the Yeshiva boys and very helpful to
the Yeshiva in general. Once a bochur came to Rav Lopian and said he had
gone to visit this man and he had found the man sitting outside and he seemed very weak. He asked the man what’s wrong and the
man answered, “I’m paralyzed and I can not move.” The bochur then ran
quickly to the Mashgiach and he says, “Rebbe, you know the man who
is so kind to the yeshiva bochrim and he’s so nice and helpful to the
Yeshiva - he is very sick". So Rav Elye Lopian got a group bochrim and he
came around the bed and together they finished the whole Sefer Tehillim. Then Rav Elye Lopian
told the sick person "lift
up your hand” and the man was successful lifting up his hand where moments
earlier he could not budge. Rav Lopian continued, “Lift up your foot”, and
the man was successful lifting up his foot and he continued and said, “Now
get off the bed and walk”, and all of a sudden the man was able to walk.
So word got out that Rav Elye Lopian the great tzaddik performed a miracle.
He took a man who could not move and a miracle happened. Rav
Elye was very upset when he heard rumor that people circulated about him,
stories that he performed miracles. The moment that a
group of people gather together and say Tehillim do you think there is no
influence?! There is tremendous power.
Rabbi Weinberger continued to say that this power is something that we have
to understand. It was not only powerful in the above story but that
influence is always there because that is the power of the group that says
Tehillim. The power of a majority, of a group, saying Tehillim is much more
powerful than when an individual says
Tehillim.
He concluded by saying that he believes that we do not realize the
tremendous power our Tehillim groups have for ourselves and for our
communities. “And so in our neighborhood as well as in other neighborhood
when indeed these opportunities exist to say Tehillim as a group we should
utilize those opportunities and not wait G-d Forbidfor an unfortunate circumstance to arise and force us to come out and
say Sefer Tehillim with tears.
A letter from Rabbi Dovid Weinberger, rabbinical
advisor to Aneinu wrote to the Chicago Aneinu gathering in the summer of
2006:
I’m honored to be able to say a few words to a gathering of women who have
come for the purpose of Tefilla (prayers) and of Tehillim, to invoke
rachamei shamayim (mercy from heaven) at this Eis Tzara (time of suffering)
for Klal Yisroel (Jews). We’re told by Chazal in the Gemorrah in Rosh
Hashanah, that even if sometimes the koach (strength) of a yachid’s tefilla
(of an individual’s prayers) is not potent, nonetheless when a tzibur
(gathering of people) comes together, it says, “kol zman sheh’tsa’ahkin
miyadim nehneh”, that as soon as there is an outcry, they are answered
immediately. And we see there is a special koach of a tzibur. (special
strength of a gathering of people) And in addition to that we also see that
there’s also an inyan(point) of “tza’ahka” (crying). Tza’aka (crying) means
to give a gshrei (yell). In the Torah we find in Mitzraim (in Egypt) it
says, “va’ yitzaaku el Ha-shem” (they cried to G-d). That’s an emotional
outcry of tefila, (prayer )not just saying the words, and that has a special
koach (strength).
Our inyan (point) of tefila (prayer) is especially noteworthy in dealing
with Yishmae (Ishmayel); in dealing with the Arabs, because we find both in
regard to Hagar, and Yishmael, that the name Yishamel, as we know, was given
by the malach, (an angel) “ shamah El-okim” (G-d heard); HakodeshBoruch Hu
(G-d) heard his cries, he heard his voice. And previously, He heard the
distress of Hagar. And so in the name Yishmael is that the Ribono Shel Olam
(G-d) will hear their outcry. We have a koach (power) that can override
that, and that’s stronger, and we have to show that our koach ha’tefila
(power of prayer) is more potent than their invoking the RBS”O, chas
v’shalom (G-d forbid), for negative things.
Yaakov Avinu (Our father, Jacob), in Parsha Vayechi tells Yosef (Josef) that
he acquired Shechem, “al achecha….b’charbi u’vekashti”. And the translation
of “v’charbi u’vekashti” is not just a sword and a bow and arrow. Rashi
says, “v’chochmosi u’v’tefillasee”, it’s with my wisdom & with my tefila. So
the Avos (our forefathers) have implored using tefila (prayer) to invoke
rachamei shamayim (mercy from heaven), and particularly in regard to
Yishmael this is the koach (power) that we have, and unfortunately,
sometimes even the tefila (prayer) needs something additional. Because we
are told that sometimes the “shaarey tefila ninalu", that the gates of
tefila closed. But one thing is never closed. Chazal tell us that is the
shaarey dima, the gates of tears. And so coming together as a tzibur
(group), which has a special koach (power), and not just davening (praying),
but there should be “tza’aka” (cry), and there should be bechiya, there
should be an outcry, there should be tears flowing. That no doubt will
pierce the heavens and will bring forth rachamei shamayim (mercy from
heaven) at this very special time. May Hakodesh Boruch Hu (G-d) hear our
tefilos, l’tova, (prayers for good) and may indeed this Tisha b’Av (9th day
of the month of Av) turn in to a moed for Klal Yisroel, a yom tov, (a
holiday for Jews)“B’kol makom she’hem” (in every place they find
themselves.).
Tehillim
Rabbi Yikhat Rozen, Merkaz Neria, Kiryat Malachi A Lesson For the Children - My name is Rina (this is not her real name), and I live in Gush Etzion. A few months ago, when I was in my car, riding towards Gush Etzion, there was a serious traffic jam. When I reached the Gush, I saw the reason for the heavy traffic - there had been an accident, and cars were standing in the road. Out of curiosity, I looked quickly to see what had happened. I was startled to see a completely smashed car blocking the road, with a body lying on the road, covered with a sheet.
I wonder who the poor dead person might be, I thought to myself. Is it a single person or somebody married, somebody with a family or not, a man or a woman? Will there now be new orphans or perhaps bereaved parents who do not yet know what has happened? I got out of my car and took out a book of Tehillim, and I prayed with flowing tears and with great devotion. After a little while, the traffic started to move. I returned to my car and went home as fast as I could.
Two weeks later, I was sitting at home, and the phone rang. At the other end of the line, I heard an unfamiliar voice of a young woman. She asked, "Are you the one who stopped on Tuesday two weeks ago at the side of the road and read Tehillim?" "Yes, I am," I replied, wondering what the question meant. And the girl continued in a voice choked by tears. "Listen, I am the girl who was lying on the road. Everybody was sure that I was dead, and that is why they covered me with a sheet and waited for the ambulance. I lay there and experienced what is called 'clinical death.' As it were, my soul left my body, and I was able to see everything around me, from above. I saw my smashed car, the people who ran around the scene, and the long line of cars. I could even see my own body, covered with a sheet, lying on the road. When you started to read the Tehillim, all the letters flew around me, giving me a misty feeling and pulling me downwards. At that moment, a Magen David ambulance arrived, and the medics decided to try to revive me. They tried again and again, in an attempt to start my breathing and to get my heart pumping again. All that time I felt the letters of the Tehillim wrapped around me in a pleasant light, bringing my spirit back to me. The fact that you read Tehillim saved my life, and I am calling to say thank you!"
There was nothing I could say. I was completely speechless. Before this, I had no idea about the great power of prayer and what could be achieved by reading Tehillim. And I still did not understand how this anonymous woman knew who I was.
It turns out that she had not been religious at all. After this amazing event, she repented (no surprise at all!), and she repeatedly tries to convince people to read Tehillim. Of course, she recites Tehillim herself. After the accident, she asked many of her friends if they had been at the scene and if they had seen somebody reciting Tehillim. Somehow she found my name, and it was then easy for her to get other details, including my phone number.
Ever since these events I cannot stop thinking about my amazing experience. One can never know whom she is rescuing by reading Tehillim. Let us all recite Tehillim regularly, at least five minutes every day. The Almighty is sitting high above, waiting for us, His children, to ask for what we need. And He, the merciful Father, is always ready to give it to us and to forgive us for our sins.
(Source: Received by e-mail, based on a Breslov Radio broadcast)
Letter from a Choleh
Dear Aneinu Members,
With so many critically ill people on our list it is easy to become disheartened, and to wonder how our saying Tehillim and how reading the long list of names is helping our cholim. I am, therefore, sending you the following 2 emails which I received from one of our members concerning a choleh that she added to our Aneinu cholim list:
I just wanted you to know that I saw Sarah Miriam this morning and she fell on my neck in bitter tears, grateful that she was able to be out, but in a terribly fragile condition. She cannot express enough the chizuk that she feels (she's not religious but this tehillim outreach has really impacted her) knowing that people are praying for her and hopefully G-d is listening. She revealed to me what she has not told her son yet, that the doctors do not give her much hope and she is frightened and very sad, of course. We cried together for awhile, enjoyed the special presentation made by her capable adult special needs son who is wheel-chair bound and a sweetheart of a guy. I don't think there is a father in the picture any longer, so the future for mom and son is very frightening. I tell you this just to let you and by extension, perhaps everyone know what an impact our saying tehillim has on the choleh, even though many of us do not know the cholim personally. I was happy to be able to represent to her hope and encouragement and faith in Hashem's will.
May she have a refuah shlema.
I do want people to know how much an interest in placing a choleh on our list impacts their lives, particularly when the people are not religious, and probably feel a sense of abandonment, "Why should G-d listen to me now?" The idea that the choleh can be the beneficiary of the prayers of a large number of women, several times a day, non judgmental, just helpful in a most poignant way, affects these cholim immensely. "I know G-d is with me now," Sarah Miriam said. Usually after a choleh has agreed to be put on the list, I send them the first page where their name is mentioned to be added. They are astounded and heartened. "I'm not alone and people who don't even know me care!"
I hope that this inspires all of you wonderful, devoted Aneinu members, to continue your perserverance, dedication and commitment to your Aneinu groups. Soon, with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkenu you will really see what you have truly accomplished. May we hear besoros tovos.
Kol Tuv,
Chaya Miriam