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Why He Stayed in Tzfas

A story ofRav Avrohom Dov Auerbachהרב אברהם דב בן דוד אוירבךProfile ›

As soon as Rav Avrohom Dov set foot in Tzfas, the Bas Ayin was moved by the holiness and asceticism he saw all around him. That alone did not convince him to settle there. What changed his mind was something he overheard on Chol HaMoed Sukkos, as a conversation drifted in through his window.

A Jewish mother was calling to her son. “Yerachmiel, come quickly, climb up on the roof with me and help me roll up the straw mats and put them away from the rain. Soon it will be Shemini Atzeres, and all the Jews will gather in the shuls to daven for rain. Hashem hears the tefillos of His people and will surely send rain of blessing at once, and then all our mats on the roof will be ruined. Hurry and help.”

When the Bas Ayin heard this he was deeply moved and decided to remain in Tzfas. He explained that in a city where the Jewish women have such emunah that when they ask for rain Hashem answers with rain, he wished his portion to be counted among them. There and then he cancelled his plans to move to Yerushalayim and stayed in Tzfas.

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