The Torah prescribes that when a Jew notices an afflicted person, he must try to help him as much as is humanly possible. We learn from this that the Torah encourages a man to be sensitive to his surroundings and fellow men, and never turn his back on a friend in need.

The Book Kinyan Hatorah Shel Maran (whose author is no less than Rabbi Ovadia Toledano, shlita, grandson of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef) comprises a story on the subject. It was told by one Maran’s first students (in the year 5720-1960). This student was a God-fearing man who attended Maran’s classes regularly and earned a living as a shopkeeper.

“One evening”, the student recounts, Rabbi Ovadia was concluding his regular class at the Shaul Tzedaka Yeshiva in the Bet Israel neighborhood. This synagogue has two entry/exit doors and Maran was accustomed to leaving the building through the Reichman street exit. But this time, contrary to his custom, he headed towards the other exit, leading to my home. Catching up with me, he put his hand on my shoulder and asked: “Meir, how are you?”

“Thank God, all is well”, I replied.

“No, but how are things at home?”, Maran insisted.

I sighed and answered:

“Thank God, thank God, all is well!”

Maran wasn’t convinced and said: “I noticed you have not been very joyful over the last few days. Today, I told a story that made everyone laugh and you didn’t even smile.”

I was flabbergasted: How did the Rav notice me? How could he have singled me out and identified my mood amid so many participants?

I opened my heart and confessed with sorrow:

“Rabbenu, what can I tell you? I haven’t had a life for the past six months, ever since, thank God, my wife gave birth. Unfortunately, she hasn’t recovered properly. I don’t know what’s wrong, but she is constantly sad and cries non-stop. I do what I can to cheer her up but in vain. I am broken and I have no more strength…”

The Rav listened and was very afflicted. I suddenly realized that I had caused him to go out of his way. He should have taken the opposite route. I stopped and told him: “Excuse me Rav, I made you go out of your way. Perhaps, we can both walk in the opposite direction…”

“No, no, it’s fine”, answered Maran. He continued walking by my side until we reached Rabbenu Gershon street, near my apartment; I noticed lights on my windows on an upper floor. We stopped and the Rav asked: “Meir, is your wife at home?”

“Yes”, I answered, surprised by the question.

“May I come in and bless her?”

I was so touched, I never imagined I could merit such an honor. Maran was coming to my home in person to bless my wife.

I entered immediately and announced to my wife that Maran had come to bless her.

I will never forget the emotional moments that my wife and I shared. Rabbi Ovadia asked a few halachic questions, explaining that if we did not follow them correctly, we could experience fear, etc. He asked my wife whether she used a head covering and was strict to perform the ablutions of Netilat Yadayim when she woke up in the morning. He placed his hand in the air above her head and, for an entire minute, he recited several blessings to counteract fear, blessed her and declared: “With Hashem’s help, may you have a complete recovery”. And he left our apartment.

In addition to the fact that the Rav’s blessing was accomplished, thank God, I was deeply moved by the Rav’s love for his fellow man, manifested in a capacity to feel what I was feeling, although I was just one student among thousands”.