The Chazon Ish's Heartfelt Love for Every Jew

A brit milah (circumcision) was held in Bnei Brak, and the father of the baby honored the Chazon Ish with being the sandak, the person who holds the baby during the ceremony. News that the Chazon Ish had left his home spread quickly, and many people came to the synagogue hall hoping to see him and receive a blessing.

Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz, known as the Chazon Ish, sat calmly and kindly welcomed the large crowd. He smiled, listened to each person’s question, gave guidance, and blessed them. Only those close to him noticed that his face was unusually pale. They grew concerned, but the Chazon Ish continued to sit with the crowd until he had spoken to everyone.

Afterward, he slowly stood up and walked to the car that would take him home. The driver, one of the Chazon Ish’s devoted students, realized something was wrong. He decided to drive straight to the hospital.

To his surprise, the Chazon Ish quietly said, “Drive slowly. There are still people behind us.”

The student obeyed, driving slowly as the large crowd followed the car. When they reached the street corner and were out of sight, the Chazon Ish said, “Faster, faster!” The student quickly handed him a pill the doctor had given him in case of a heart attack. The Chazon Ish swallowed the pill and asked the driver to stop so he could step out for fresh air.

After a few minutes, when he had calmed down, he turned to his student and said, “It was a severe heart attack.”

Shocked, the driver asked, “Since when has the Rabbi been feeling unwell?”

“Since I was on my way to the brit milah,” the Chazon Ish answered.

The student was astonished. “If so, why did the Rabbi go at all?”

“I hoped it would pass,” the Chazon Ish replied.

“And when it didn’t?” the student asked, still amazed. “Why did the Rabbi continue to receive visitors?”

The Chazon Ish answered with heartfelt sincerity: “So many people came and waited, each one carrying their own pekeleh, their bundle of worries and pain. I couldn’t turn them away. If only they knew how deeply beloved they are by Hashem, and that they don’t need an intermediary to pray or ask for blessings, they would go straight to Him. But they don’t know. So they waited for me. How could I walk away from them?”

The student was moved but had one more question. “Why, even in the car, did the Rabbi ask me to drive slowly?”

The Chazon Ish looked at him and said with wonder, “Didn’t you see the crowd walking behind us? If we had driven fast, we would have blown exhaust in their faces. How could we do that to fellow Jews?”

This beautiful story reflects the greatness of a true leader of Israel, one whose heart was entirely devoted to the needs and dignity of every Jew.