Stories

“…if we only knew the power of verses of Psalms and their effect in the spiritual realms, we would recite them constantly.” – The Tzemach Tzedek

Rav Elya Ber Vachtfogel (recently said) “Don’t think your tiny perek of Tehillim doesn’t make a difference, but rather, it’s SO important in the eyes of Hashem, and furthermore, if you DON’T say Tehillim perhaps you are being over on the issur of ‘lo saamod al dam ra’echa’”

“I made up to finish it…for the safety and protection of the people on the block.”Rebbetzin Shaindy Kleinman about her Aneinu Tehillim group

A car being chased by a police cruiser down a quiet street in Boro Park ended in a forceful crash, shaking up residents on Wednesday afternoon as mothers waited for their children to be dropped off at the exact spot that the car made impact. The driver of the black Dodge ran over a policeman’s foot, starting the chase that ended on Ft. Hamilton parkway and 50th Street. The driver hit a pole and continued driving, crashing into a brick staircase support. The car finally stopped as it crashed into a light pole.
Neighbors were left in shock since there were mothers waiting for their preschool children to be brought home at the time. Nobody was injured, although a 3 year old boy watching the car barrel toward him ran up to his house, saving himself with just moments to spare.

Rebbetzin Shaindy Kleinman, a well-known lecturer who lives on that block, told HaModia that she credits an (Aneinu) Tehillim group she set up in her home with protecting the hordes of children who normally would be congregated in the area of the crash.

“I made up to finish it every week for a specific purpose—for the safety and the protection of the people on the block. “ she said.

The group started exactly 14 years ago — on Chanukah of 1999. The woman whose house was crashed into, Mrs. Leah Frankel, committed herself to say 10 of the 24 Tehillim booklets.

EREV SUCCOS IN YERUSHALAYIM

On erev succos, there was a long line at the supermarket check-out counte in Yerushalyim. As Reuven’s groceries were being totaled up, he kept running out of the line, for another item, and yet another item, thus holding up the whole line. Shimon who was waiting in this line, ready to check out, became upset and yelled at Reuven, “Don’t you realize, it is erev yom tov, we are all in a rush, how could you have the audacity to keep running out of the line, and causing others to wait longer.”
It was obvious to everyone that, Reuven was very hurt by these words.
Someone in the line, told Shimon, ” You hurt his feelings, You should apologize.”
Shimon did that, he went up to Reuven and he said he was sorry, he didn’t mean to hurt his feelings , and to show he was sincere, he paid for Reuven’s groceries, which totaled $600.00.
When Shimon left the store, he saw Reuven standing outside the store, crying.

Shimon, went up to Reuven and said, “I hope you are still not crying about what happened inside. I apologized; I paid for your groceries. I am truly sorry. Please forgive me.”
Reuven said, “No I am not crying about that, I am crying from happiness.”
Shimon said, “What do you mean?
Reuven said, “We have not bought groceries for a few weeks, because we simply can not afford it. This morning, my wife, told me that I must go to the store and buy groceries for yom tov. She said, “I and the children will sit here and say Tehillim till you return, and hopefully things will turn out alright.” That is why I am crying.”
Shimon could not believe it.
So Reuven said, “Come , we will call my wife now and you will see I am speaking the truth.”
So Reuven dialed his home number and his wife picked up and said, “Reuven, what is happening. We are still saying Tehillim.”
When the story made the rounds of Yerushalyim, someone said, “Tell me who Shimon was, maybe he will pay for my groceries as well.”
And he was answered, “Shimon won’t pay for your groceries. It wasn’t Shimon who paid for Reuven’s groceries either, it was the Tehillim.”

Two 3rd grade boys, were saying Tehillim during recess. The Rebbe came in and was very surprised. These 2 were the biggest trouble makers in the class and the last thing you would think of is to have them saying Tehillim. The rebbe asked them why are they davening. And Shmuely answers, “Chaim’s mother is in labor now, and he already has 3 sisters, so we are davening with all our might, that Chaim’s mother has a boyl”
Ten minutes later, the principal walks in and says, “Chaim, mazel tov, your mother just gave birth to a baby girl.”
Shmuely turns to Chaim and says, “What a waste of time. We said the Tehillim for nothing.”

Fast forward 19 years, Shmuely gets engaged to ……Chaim’s youngest sister.

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.

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.”

THE MAMMA ROCHEL

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

A STORY FROM GATESHEAD YESHIVA

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.”

THE ILLUSTRIOUS TWERSKY FAMILY

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 MOTHER’S TEHILLIM

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 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.

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.

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