An Incredible Tefillin Story – From Hashem are Man’s Footsteps Established

Mr. “A.L.” lives in the Jewish community of Chicago. During the summer of 2007 he traveled 350 miles to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for a three day business trip. Arriving shortly after 1:00pm, AL decided to “daven” (pray) the afternoon service before starting his appointments. His siddur (prayer book) had been packed together with his tefillin. He opened his suitcase and found the siddur, but noticed that his tefillin were absent. Frantically, he began searching everywhere throughout the interior of the car, the trunk, and his suitcase, but all to no avail.

AL was sure he had brought the tefillin with him, for he absolutely never leaves home without them. In fact, he had not missed a day of putting on tefillin in thirty-six years, so his present predicament had him feeling quite beside himself. Here he was, in a small mid-western city with no orthodox synagogue or rabbi (it was a three hundred mile round trip to the closest rabbi), and he needed a pair of tefillin for the next two days.

Why was this happening? How could it be? The thought of missing a day of fulfilling this most important mitzvah was simply inconceivable to him. Unsure of his next step and certainly unwilling to concede defeat, AL decided to let the matter rest for a short time while he attended his business meetings.

At around 6:00pm AL turned his attention back to the dilemma of how to procure a pair of tefillin in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He decided on a course of action that would require a lot of old-fashioned yiddishe chutzpah and an equal amount of mazal to succeed. Flipping through the pages of a telephone book, he picked out the most Jewish-sounding names and called them one-by-one.

“Excuse me Mrs. Cohen, do you know of someone who would let me use his tefillin? I left mine in Chicago.” Mrs. Cohen was not Jewish. Mrs. Goldberg didn’t know what tefillin was. Mr. Levine wasn’t home. The responses were varied in their tone and content, but all came to the same bottom line – “no”.

Undeterred, AL persevered in his mission. Finally, after more than a dozen calls, his determination and persistence paid off. On the other end of the line was a man who confirmed that he had a pair of tefillin. Unfortunately, he suggested that AL might find them unsuitable for use, due to their age and dilapidated condition. Following AL’s further inquiry, the man explained that his tefillin were of poor quality, and repeatedly alluded to the fact that while he would have liked to buy a new pair of good quality tefillin, the cost was beyond his budget, especially in view of the fact that he was currently unemployed.

Upon hearing of the man’s position, AL immediately detected an opportunity to help facilitate the great mitzvah of tefillin. He informed the man that he had a friend who was a reliable expert on such matters, and might be the best source for procuring quality tefillin at an affordable price. AL even offered to pay for half the cost of the tefillin. Touched by AL’s enthusiasm and concern for his spiritual welfare, the man agreed to his generous offer.

Shortly thereafter, Rabbi Aron Wolf of the “Chicago Mitzvah Campaign” received phone calls from both AL and his newfound friend from Eau Claire. Appreciating the man’s genuine desire for tefillin as well as the tremendous Divine Providence in the developing situation, Rabbi Wolf enthusiastically committed to send the tefillin forthwith, by FedEx overnight service, so that the man could immediately begin fulfilling this precious mitzvah on a daily basis. Although overcome with gratitude, the man nevertheless protested that perhaps Rabbi Wolf might prefer to receive payment before sending the tefillin. Rabbi Wolf, however, insisted that the urgency to fulfill the mitzvah brooked no delay, and averred his trust that the man would satisfy his financial obligation.

No sooner had the deal been completed and Rabbi Wolf said goodbye to the grateful man from Eau Claire than Rabbi Wolf’s telephone rang again. The incredulous sound of AL’s voice boomed through the phone wires. “You’ll never believe it, Rabbi Wolf”, he exclaimed, “I just found my tefillin!”

As it turned out, AL had indeed packed his tefillin for the trip to Eau Claire, but he had inexplicably placed them in a most unlikely corner of his briefcase, a very odd place to keep his tefillin. Throughout the long and aggravating day they were actually right next to him all along! There they had remained concealed from him, despite their close proximity, until he accomplished the mission that G-d had assigned him – to help a single, isolated fellow Jew from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, procure a new, kosher pair of tefillin.

Today, almost two years later, Rabbi Wolf still stays in touch with that Jew from Eau Claire, encouraging him in his tefillin performance and other religious observances. Together they marvel at the wondrous ways of Divine Providence, and reminisce over the remarkable story of how it came to be that AL’s frustration over unexpectedly losing his tefillin and his consternation at being unable to perform the mitzvah became the catalyst for another Jew acquiring a new pair of tefillin and gaining the ability to perform this most precious mitzvah.

The Story of ES

The Rabbis and volunteers at CMC often have the opportunity to experience and observe Divine Providence in action during the course of their daily activities. The following story illustrates how an effort made by an individual to initiate good works or a holy endeavor may be rewarded with a surprising and unexpected display of such Divine Providence.

As part of his CMC duties, Rabbi Raphael Jaworowski is the Jewish chaplain on call at Kindred Lakeshore hospital, a long-term medical care facility on the north side of Chicago. One day, the administration at Kindred called Rabbi Jaworowski and informed him of a Jewish patient who had recently been admitted to the hospital, Mr. ES. In response to the rabbi’s inquiry, the administrator said that ES was in fairly stable condition, but was prone to irritability due to severe discomfort.

Arriving at the hospital armed with his tefillin and prayer book, a sympathetic smile, and an inexhaustible treasure of patience, Rabbi Jaworowski found ES lying in his bed, attached to a large number of tubes and machines. Upon noticing his visitor, ES gave the rabbi a warm welcome, and immediately engaged him in candid conversation. He lost no time in reciting his ailments and decrying his condition of health, but through the veneer of irascibility Rabbi Jaworowski detected a warm, generous, and virtuous Jewish heart. Before long the two were convivially discussing religion, politics, and the social condition, and exchanging details of their own histories, goals, and world outlooks.

From the conversation it emerged that ES had grown up in a family with a solid sense of Jewish culture, but very little religious knowledge or practice. Still, he had been imbued from early life with a strong feeling of responsibility for his fellow man, and this had remained a powerful and influential theme throughout his adult life.

ES had chosen to make his career as a radio disk jockey, and over the years he had carved out a place as a uniquely popular radio host on the late night shift. Not content to just sit back and enjoy the success he had earned for himself, ES used his fame to benefit society. He put his heart and soul into publicizing fundraiser’s for the poor and disadvantaged, selflessly taking it upon his shoulders to raise millions of dollars for those in greatest need.

During the months that ES spent in Kindred hospital, Rabbi Jaworowski spent a lot of time with him, wrapping tefillin, praying, talking, and schmoozing. Unfortunately, ES’ body was not responding as hoped to the hospital’s treatments. Moreover, the many months he had spent confined in a bed resulted in loss of muscle and other secondary difficulties. After a time he was transferred rather unexpectedly to different medical facilities, and he and the rabbi unfortunately lost track of each other.

Rabbi Jaworowski was very disappointed at this sudden loss of contact. Although he continued his attempts to locate ES, he was prevented from doing so because of the new, rigid, patient privacy laws. It now seemed likely that ES would be left facing deteriorating health and possibly end-of-life issues as well, without the rabbi at his side to offer spiritual support, counsel, and access to Jewish tradition. Who would be there for him to ensure that he would be provided with a kosher Jewish burial, should the worst eventuate?

But Divine Providence has its own wondrous ways of operating, regardless of any apparent difficulties.

Many months later, Rabbi Wolf received a phone call out of the blue at the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign. On the other end of the phone line was someone who had heard on the news that the well-known radio personality, ES, had passed away. Figuring from his last name that ES was probably Jewish, the caller decided to contact Rabbi Wolf and raise the issue of providing ES with a traditional Jewish burial. After all, who knew whether or not ES had any family members to take care of this most important mitzvah?

Rabbi Wolf barely recognized ES’ name, and it certainly did not ring a familiar bell to him as belonging to an individual who had prior connections with the CMC. Nevertheless, after hanging up the phone he immediately began making phone calls to see what he could do about the matter. One of those calls was placed to the Chicago Jewish Funeral Home, to inquire as to whether ES’s name had been registered there. Several minutes later Rabbi Wolf’s phone rang. Apparently, only moments after he had spoken with the funeral home, ES’s brother called the home concerning his deceased brother. Upon hearing from the director that a certain Rabbi Wolf had called to inquire about ES just moments earlier, this brother immediately decided that he might as well request that the same Rabbi Wolf perform the funeral service.

Thus it miraculously materialized that ES received a kosher Jewish burial, as this is always the stipulation made by Rabbi Wolf before undertaking to perform the funeral service. Rabbi Jaworowski’s concern for his patient’s access to Jewish tradition was taken care of by an open display of Divine Providence. Although Rabbi Wolf had been unaware of Rabbi Jaworowski’s concern with ES and his whereabouts, he performed the traditional funeral service, and is now saying the kaddish for the customary eleven months of mourning as well.

Although ES never married and did not have the responsibility of raising his own family, he truly lived his life carrying out the Biblical mandate to be his “brother’s keeper”. At the end of his life, the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign was privileged to be part of the Divine Providence with which this fraternal sense of responsibility was reciprocated to him.

CMC Story (MW)

Every Rosh Hashanah the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign arranges for volunteers to blow shofar for Jewish patients at many Chicago area hospitals. This past Rosh Hashanah (5769), Rabbi Aron Wolf took his shofar and walked from West Rogers Park to Weiss Memorial hospital overlooking Lake Michigan. There, among other Jewish patients, he met a bedridden middle-aged man, MW, who was very happy and relieved to see a rabbi.

After fulfilling the mitzvah of hearing the shofar, MW told Rabbi Wolf about his dire health condition. His doctors had diagnosed him with two different types of blood diseases, each of which was considered terminal. In fact, over six months prior they had informed him that he had at most half a year left to live. Rabbi Wolf encouraged MW and cheered him with words of support and comfort.

The conversation between rabbi and patient turned to matters of the spirit. Regrettably, MW had never been given the benefit of more than minimal exposure to Jewish education and observance. Now in middle-age, with his body failing him, his soul’s flame was beginning to sparkle, and he expressed interest in refreshing and renewing his connection to Judaism. Upon Rabbi Wolf’s advice he resolved to move forward in the areas of putting on tefillin, prayer, and Torah study.

In view of MW’s deteriorating physical condition, Rabbi Wolf inquired after his family situation. It turned out that aside from a brother living interstate, he had a non-Jewish wife and no children. Delicately, Rabbi Wolf broached the subject of funeral arrangements. MW related that he had instructed his wife that, when the time would come, his body should be cremated. His parents were both buried (in separate locations) in Waldheim cemetery, and it was his wish that his body’s ashes be sprinkled on his father’s grave!!

Rabbi Wolf was disappointed and saddened, although hardly surprised, at this revelation. Unfortunately, there are many Jews today who do not realize the importance of adhering to Jewish practice in death as in life. He spoke earnestly with MW about the importance of a traditional Jewish funeral, its customs and its significance. MW seemed to be taken unawares by all of this new information, and unsure of how to digest it, but he was obviously touched by the rabbi’s heartfelt words and demeanor.

After a pause, MW began to speak hesitatingly of “difficult times”, of financial hardship that affected his ability to pay for even such basic items as food and other household bills. It was clear to Rabbi Wolf that the difference in expense between a funeral and a cremation was a significant obstacle to MW. On the spot, Rabbi Wolf assured MW that he would take care of all expenses and logistics for the funeral. MW said that he would think it over, and Rabbi Wolf wished him a gut Yom Tov and bade him farewell.

It was two or three days later when Rabbi Wolf received a call from MW’s brother in Arizona, who apparently wanted to confirm for himself the veracity of the report he had received from MW concerning the rabbi’s offer. Soon afterwards MW called Rabbi Wolf directly and proposed that everything be put in writing. The rabbi enthusiastically agreed, and suggested that perhaps an empty plot might be found next to one of MW’s parents in Waldheim. Upon further investigation, he discovered that indeed there was an available space neighboring MW’s father.

It should be noted that Waldheim cemetery is divided into individual sections that belong to various organizations and congregations, each of which have their own sets of rules concerning to whom and at what price they sell their funeral plots. Thus, the next challenge facing Rabbi Wolf was to ascertain who owned the section in which MW’s father was buried, and then to approach the owners and gain approval for discounted terms for the plot for MW, an indigent but sincere client, next to his father.

Thankfully, as it turned out, that particular section of Waldheim was owned by the Eichenstein shul. Rabbi Eichenstein immediately and gladly agreed to Rabbi Wolf’s request for his crucial assistance in facilitating such an important mitzvah as a kosher Jewish burial. On the night before Yom Kippur Rabbi Wolf met MW at his home, and there they signed the documents setting forth the rabbi’s undertaking of responsibility to provide for all of MW’s funeral arrangements and expenses.

Defying his doctors’ expectations and despite frequent urgent trips to the hospital, MW clung to life for several more weeks. During this time Rabbi Wolf kept in close contact with him, providing encouragement, support, and spiritual counsel. He connected MW with his “Chicago Mitzvah Campaign” colleague, Rabbi Raphael Jaworowski. During these weeks Rabbi Jaworowski visited MW regularly in Weiss Memorial, helping him to put on tefillin and pray, and discussing with him words of wisdom from the Torah.

It was obvious that MW looked forward to these visits with great anticipation. Disregarding his physical weakness and discomfort, he would sit up in the hospital bed and stretch out his bruised and aching arm to be wrapped in the tefillin. Although his condition prevented him from talking much at all, he would make a remarkable effort to proudly repeat the words of the Shema, slowly, laboriously, in both Hebrew and English. His wife and nurses often remarked how glad and excited MW was about these visits, and how this happiness brought about a tangible physical benefit in his physical condition.

Several weeks passed and MW’s soul took leave of his body, leaving life for the living. Rabbi Wolf provided for all of the arrangements in full accord with traditional Jewish practice, and personally conducted MW’s funeral at Waldheim cemetery, in the presence of a minyan. Thus did he fulfill the promise he made to MW weeks earlier in Weiss Memorial Hospital, on Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish new year. And, perhaps more importantly, thus was MW’s soul given the opportunity to benefit from a proper Jewish burial, an appropriate and befittingly Jewish way to be born into its new journey in the world of truth.