Bizyonot – a segula against death

Bizyonot - a segula against death

The great Ramak—Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, as testified by his closest disciple, Rabbi Avraham Galanti, in his book "Kol Bochim" (The Voice of Those Who Weep), taught that it is better for a person to repent not through fasts and self-affliction, but in the following way: to resolve that if he is subjected to humiliation or insult by anyone, he will accept it silently and with love. Shlomo HaMelech taught: “An ear that heeds rebuke will dwell among the wise.” (Mishlei 15:31) This verse means that if a teacher rebukes a student without sufficient cause, and the student, out of respect for his Rebbe, refrains from arguing, he will merit the following rewards: - even if it had previously been decreed that he was destined to die, that sentence will be annulled; - he will be granted a good portion: he will be able to dwell among Torah scholars and hear their words of wisdom. These rewards correspond—in accordance with the principle of “measure for measure”—to the shame he endured. The pain of humiliation gives us the opportunity to experience the agony of death in advance. One who willingly accepts humiliation avoids death, and his life is prolonged.  

The Elder Rebbe of Zvhil

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Slonim recounted an interesting story of which he himself was a witness. During the 1948 war, when Jerusalem was being bombarded and shelled, the city's residents took shelter. One of the shelters was located in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood, on a street now called “Rabbi of Zvhil,” not far from the Mir Yeshivah. Residents of the neighborhood took refuge there, among them Rabbi Gedalia Moshe of Zvhil. Despite the explosions in the street, the darkness, and the cramped conditions, he studied without raising his head. A mentally ill woman was also in the shelter. She constantly caused scenes, cursed, shouted, and antagonized one person after another. The situation became utterly unbearable. Several people took matters into their own hands and decided to throw her out. The next day, when the woman came again, they were ready to carry out their plan, but remembering that the Rebbe was among them, they approached him to ask his opinion. - “Who am I to tell you what to do?” the Rebbe replied. - “But since you are asking what I think, listen to a story. In the city of Zvhil, I had a sister. One day she became seriously ill and was on the verge of death. My father, Rabbi Shloyme of Zvhil, then made an unusual decision. He went out to seek bizyonot—humiliation and disgrace. ‘This will save her,’ he said. Among my father's various communal responsibilities was overseeing the rent of premises belonging to the local cheder. Rabbi Shloyme went to a woman who had fallen several months behind on the rent for her shop. Until then, he had not reminded her of the debt, but now he decided to do so. The woman began shouting and cursing loudly. - “So, you're a Rebbe now? How dare you ask me for money!” she shouted. Many people gathered, and quite a scene ensued. My father stood there and listened silently. He came home very pleased. And indeed, my sister recovered. Years passed. My sister again became seriously ill and was in critical condition. My father once more set out to seek bizyonot. But this time he was unsuccessful. No matter how hard he tried, nothing came of it. Some time later, my sister passed away. My father would usually say: “Mit bizyonot ken men oyskumen dem toyt”—“With humiliation, one can drive away death.” The Rebbe looked around at the now-silent people and concluded his story: - “There is a war going on now; death is in the streets, and it is impossible to go out into the street to seek bizyonot. So in Heaven they took pity on us and sent them right here, to our shelter. And you want to drive them away?” P.S. Rebbe of Zvhil, zechuto yagen aleinu, taught that when a person accepts bizyonot upon himself (willingly accepts humiliation and does not answer those who insult him), that moment is an Et Ratzon—a time when Heaven looks favorably upon him. At that moment, a person can ask Hashem for something profound, and others may ask him for a bracha, which will be fulfilled immediately. (Sila Tehillim after visiting the kever of the Rebbe of Zvhil; based on a lesson by Rav Yaakov Doktor)   More about Bizyonot: Bizyonot – How to Be Saved from Death Through Humiliation and Bless Others Bizyonot — How Humiliation Can Save One from Death and Enable One to Bless Others How to Become a Rothschild How to Become a Rothschild—Wealth Through Bizyonot Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and Bizyonot Tehillim on Bizyonot - Why It Is So Important to HaShem That We Remain Silent