A Shabbat Story: The Day He Said Goodbye: A Story of Torah and Timing

"My dear wife," said Rabbi Ben-Zion Hazan, one of the respected leaders of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva, "I’m asking you to do the laundry this week on Thursday instead of Monday."

The Rebbetzin looked at him in surprise. Her holy husband had never once taken an interest in laundry before. "Why change it?" she asked gently.

"Because on Monday, we won’t be available for that," he replied. He said it softly, revealing only a hint of something deeper. The Rebbetzin sensed not to ask further. She moved the laundry to Thursday, as requested, and the matter was set aside.

That Monday morning, Rabbi Ben-Zion rose early as usual, prayed the morning tefillah, and made his way to the Porat Yosef Yeshiva. But unlike every other day, he didn’t go straight to his Gemara. Instead, he began to visit each of the sages and rabbis in the yeshiva, asking forgiveness from everyone.

As the head of the yeshiva, he sometimes had to be firm or even strict, and now he made it a point to ask for mechilah (forgiveness), explaining that all he had done was purely for the sake of Heaven, and he hoped no one had ever taken it personally.

Finally, he approached the great Rabbi Yehuda Tzedaka. Rabbi Ben-Zion asked his forgiveness too, and then added words that made Rabbi Tzedaka pause:

"I’ve prepared a burial plot for myself in a specific place. I ask you to make sure that I’m purified and dressed in the special tachrichim (burial shrouds) I’ve prepared."

Rabbi Tzedaka was taken aback. "But the Rav is healthy, thank God. May you live a long and good life. Why are you speaking like this?"

Rabbi Ben-Zion simply shook his head. "Today, I will leave this world. Please do me this kindness and follow my request exactly."

With those parting words, he returned home.

Rabbi Tzedaka was deeply unsettled. He quickly grabbed his hat and ran after Rabbi Ben-Zion, hoping to catch up with him. But he just missed the bus and had to wait for the next one.

Meanwhile, Rabbi Ben-Zion had arrived home. He asked the Rebbetzin for a warm cup of milk and told her he wasn’t feeling well, so he was going to lie down for a bit.

When she brought the milk to his bedside, she found him lying peacefully, he had already returned his soul to its Creator, passing away with what’s known as a mitat neshikah, a “kiss of death” from Heaven.

It was Monday. Just as he had said, there would be no time for laundry.

The date was the 12th of Cheshvan, 5712 (1951).

As the Rebbetzin cried in shock and grief, Rabbi Tzedaka knocked on the door. From the sounds of weeping, he immediately understood what had happened.

Gathering his strength, he took responsibility for the burial arrangements and followed every detail exactly as Rabbi Ben-Zion had instructed.

Exactly forty years later, on the same date, the 12th of Cheshvan, 5752 (1991) Rabbi Yehuda Tzedaka passed away as well.

This story has an unexpected continuation, shared by Rabbi Ben-Zion Hazan’s great-grandson.

Rabbi Ben-Zion had a son who lived in Tiberias for many years. In 5775 (2015), the elderly son fell out of bed and was injured. The family called for an ambulance, and before the paramedics arrived, a volunteer from United Hatzalah appeared and cared for him with deep dedication.

A few months later, the son fell again. This time, it was more serious. The family once again called for help. The very same Hatzalah volunteer happened to be nearby. Recognizing the emergency, he immediately ran over and began performing CPR but there was nothing more that could be done.

Since the son had only daughters, the volunteer offered to assist with the funeral arrangements in Jerusalem. He felt something stirring in him, something pulling him to accompany the family all the way.

When they arrived at the Shamgar funeral home, he heard the eulogy from one of the brothers, who spoke about their father, the holy Rabbi Ben-Zion Hazan.

The volunteer felt chills down his spine. With emotion, he told the family: "I am the grandson of Rabbi Yehuda Tzedaka, the one who arranged your father's burial. And now, Heaven has given me the privilege of arranging the funeral for his son."

The circle had closed, with a gentle touch from above.

Special thanks to Gal Hazan, the great-grandson of Rabbi Ben-Zion, for sharing these precious memories.