Hamodia has a great article about R Aryeh Levin zt’l that realy show you why he was a true Tzaddik.
This story was amazing:
I remember another time when Reb Aryeh asked a woman who had come to visit him to give him a brachah that he shouldn’t have to be helped by his children.
Copyright 2009 by Hamodia
I was surprised by him asking such a brachah – he had such chashuvah children, his sons Harav Rafael, Harav Yaakov and Harav Shlomo, and his sons-in-law, Harav Yudelevitz, Harav Yaakobovitz, Harav Elyashiv and Harav Palchinsky, all geonim and talmidei chachamim – so why did Reb Aryeh think it would be so bad if he was helped by them? And why should Reb Aryeh ask for a brachah from this unknown woman in the first place?
After the woman left the room, Reb Aryeh, who had noticed my surprise, explained.
“This woman is a widow who didn’t merit having any children. I was worried that when she saw my grandchildren and great-grandchildren it would make her own sorrow more intense. I therefore tried to ease her grief by showing her that despite my many descendants, a person prefers to care for himself.”
Indeed, after giving the brachah, the widow finally smiled.
Very nice.
Belongs in a Tish’a Be’av video.
Or on the fridge! Thanks for the comment.