A Life for a Life

Translated by Rabbi Lazer Brody

This week is Rebbe Natan’s 169th yahrtzeit, on the 10th of Tevet (Friday, Dec. 13, 2013)

I learned quite a bit of English during my recent speaking tour in North America. Having met scores of people in private appointments and literally thousands of people after my lectures each evening, I heard certain phrases over and over again:

“Rabbi, your books have changed my life.”

“Rabbi, you made me into a new person.”

“Rabbi, I don’t know how I ever lived without the CDs.”

This made Rabbi Lazer Brody’s job a lot easier, for when he saw that I understood what people were telling me, he didn’t have to translate so much. In fact, we both heard so many amazing emuna stories, that we were sorry we didn’t record them.

Yet, one story stands out to show the value of hafatzah, spreading the light of emuna all over the world, to Jews and non-Jews alike. Although I don’t remember the actual names and places, the story goes like this:

“Rivka” was an active member of the Jewish community in her city. Having read several of the “Gardens” and seeing how they dramatically improved her life for the better, she began giving out Emuna books and CDs in the course of her outreach work.

“Linda” came from a traditional family, but was not observant. She visited relatives who lived in Rivka’s community, one of whom introduced her to Rivka. They had coffee together, and Linda told Rivka about the severe emotional challenges she was having. Rivka commented, “I have just the solution for you. The gap between you and happiness, Linda, can be bridged with one book – The Garden of Emuna. Here, read this – it’s a gift from me to you.”

Rivka pulled out a copy of “The Garden of Emuna” from her tote bag, and signed it: “To Linda, with prayers for your joy in life. With deepest friendship, Rivka Aliza bat Solica“. She added her phone number below her signature and invited Linda to stay in touch with her.

Linda returned to her hometown, read The Garden of Emuna, and within weeks, felt like she was a brand new person. Her life had totally turned around for the best.

Several months transpired.

One Thursday morning, Linda was skimming through her city’s Jewish Weekly, and she saw a little grey box at the bottom of the inside front page:

Linda felt a lump in her throat. “Rivka Aliza bat Solica” was not the most common name around. The name sounded so familiar but she couldn’t place it. Hashem flashed a thought in her mind – The Garden of Emuna. She grabbed the book and opened its cover. Sure enough, there was the signature – Rivka Aliza bat Solica…

“Could that be Rivka – my Rivka?” Linda dialed the phone number that appeared under Rivka’s signature. Rivka answered the phone with a weak “Hello”.

“Rivka – it’s me – Linda; do you remember me? My cousin introduced us, and you gave me The Garden of Emuna. You can’t imagine what you did for me, you gave me a new life. Tell me something – is that you who they’re asking a refuah for in the Jewish Weekly.”

“That’s me,” Rivka replied. “I have a rare kidney disease. I need a kidney transplant. The doctors say that it must be done with ten weeks, but there’s a four to six-month wait…”

“Rivka, I’m getting on the train right now. We’ll go see if I can be a compatible donor. You gave me life and it’s my turn to repay you.”

Linda turned out to be a completely compatible donor. Within a week, she underwent surgery, donating one of her kidneys to Rivka. The ending is a happy one – today, both women are happy and healthy.

* * *

The most important thing in Rebbe Natan’s life was hafatzah, spreading Rebbe Nachman’s teachings and particularly the light of emuna. It’s the most important thing in my life too.

Don’t think that I’m forwarding my own agenda by encouraging people to spread my books and CDs. They are not mine, only the light that Hashem has decided to shine through me.

Spreading emuna is the greatest life insurance a person could obtain, assuring blessings in this world and in the next. And who knows, it could save your life too. When you give another person life, Hashem gives you life. It’s as simple as that.

I guarantee you – there is no greater charity than hafatzah, distributing emuna all over the world. This is the way to invoke every single blessing on you and your family, amen!