Aneinu - Tehillim Stories
A Mother’s Tehillim
A young son of one of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe 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 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
