Divine Encounters on the Road: A Story of Faith, Loss, and Transformation

A Fateful Ride to Netivot

Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Diner, the esteemed rabbi of central Bnei Brak, shared a poignant story during his weekly Shabbat night lecture. It begins with a yeshiva student at a bus stop, seeking a ride to Netivot, where he studied at the 'Sachar Sachir' Yeshiva. A driver pulled over, asking, "Where do you need to go?" 

"To Netivot," the student replied. "I study at the 'Sachar Sachir' Yeshiva." The driver responded, "Get in, I’m heading there."

A Paramedic’s Dedication

As they drove, the student suggested being dropped off at the Netivot junction, but the driver refused. "I’m taking you right to the yeshiva entrance. I don’t take risks."

Curious, the student asked what he meant. The driver explained, "I’m a paramedic with Magen David Adom, and two months ago, I was called to a serious accident in Moshav Otzem. A yeshiva student had gotten off a bus and was critically injured. I pronounced him dead at the scene. I don’t want that to happen again. So when I drive a yeshiva student, I make sure to take him directly to his yeshiva."

An Emotional Revelation

The student listened intently and then, with a heavy heart, said, "Do you know who that boy was? That was my brother. I am the brother of Pinchas Weiss z"l, who was killed in that terrible accident on his way to 'Ner Zarach' Yeshiva in Otzem."

Taken aback, the driver said, "That was your brother? Let me tell you a story about him. I am not very religious, but as an MDA paramedic, I joined the ambulance that transported him. When they began the tahara, the ritual purification, I entered the room and saw that despite the horrific accident, his face was serene and unscathed. It profoundly affected me. I felt that this serene expression came from his dedication to Torah, and it left a mark on me. From that moment, I started putting on tefillin every day, hoping that it wouldn't stop there and I'd take on more mitzvot, including Torah study. This change in me is all thanks to your brother."

A Lasting Legacy

The paramedic concluded with emotion, "And if I now have an opportunity to ensure a yeshiva student reaches his studies safely, I want to do it. If driving you to the yeshiva entrance means you have more time to study, then it’s worth every moment."

To underscore the tragedy, Rabbi Diner reminds listeners about Pinchas Weiss z"l, who, at only 16 and a half, was killed in a traffic accident two months prior. He was a dedicated first-year student at 'Ner Zarach' Yeshiva, returning from a 'Dirshu' exam. Despite the accident, his commitment to his studies and the tangible impact of his life continue to inspire profound changes in others.