A Grandson’s Kindness: The Chazon Ish’s Loving Torah Wisdom

The Chazon Ish, one of the greatest Torah leaders of the previous generation, was a guiding light for those around him. The book Shelemim MiTzion shares a touching story that shows the depth and beauty of his wisdom. It tells of the warm advice he once gave to Rabbi Ben Tzion Palman when he was still a young boy.

Rabbi Menachem Stein, a well-known speaker, personally heard the story from Rabbi Palman and shares it in his name.

The late Chazon Ish would go out for a short walk each day, as part of his health routine. Usually, he was joined by a close student or a family member. As a young boy, Rabbi Palman often had the special privilege of accompanying him on these walks. During these moments together, the boy would share his Torah questions, and the Chazon Ish would guide him with his deep wisdom.

One day, the young Ben Tzion came to the Chazon Ish with a question that was troubling him. His grandmother, his father's mother, was living in their home during her old age. She had a very close and loving connection with her grandchildren. But she became ill and had to be hospitalized for a time.

The family took turns staying with her to help her recover and lift her spirits. As a yeshiva student, Ben Tzion would come by now and then to visit, lift her spirits and return quickly to his Torah learning. But his grandmother asked him to visit more often and to stay longer.

This left the boy torn. On one hand, he was now a full-time Torah student. Wasn’t his main obligation to sit and learn all day? Spending long visits at the hospital would take away from his learning. But on the other hand, his grandmother was asking for something only he could give, his company and support, which brought her great joy. Maybe bringing happiness to his sick grandmother was a mitzvah that only he could fulfill, even if others were helping her as well.

Then again, he reasoned, the rest of the family was already caring for her. Perhaps the mitzvah of visiting the sick (bikur cholim) was already being fulfilled by them. Was he really allowed to leave his learning to do something others were already doing?

The boy laid out the entire situation to the Chazon Ish during one of their walks. Now, he waited to hear the guidance, true words of Torah, about what he should do.

The Chazon Ish listened closely and didn’t rush to answer. As they walked, he asked many questions to fully understand the situation: “Why does she want you specifically? Isn’t she happy when others are with her?” Ben Tzion answered patiently, explaining everything until the Chazon Ish had a full picture.

They continued walking in silence for a few minutes. The Chazon Ish was deep in thought. Then he turned to the boy and said:

“Go visit her and stay with her as much as she wants. And know that you are not only fulfilling the mitzvah of kindness and visiting the sick, you are also fulfilling the mitzvah of Torah study!”

The boy was stunned. How could visiting his grandmother count as Torah learning? He asked the Chazon Ish with surprise.

The Chazon Ish smiled and shared a lesson that can guide anyone who wants to truly connect to Torah:

“I know that you are diligent and work hard in Torah. And why do you work so hard? So that you can truly acquire Torah, that it becomes your Torah, part of who you are. As it says, ‘Your Torah is within my innards.’ But how can Torah connect with a person? Torah is spiritual, and we are physical. They don’t naturally connect.

“But there is a way. Torah can only connect to a refined soul. To really let Torah enter you, you need to work on your character. How do we become refined? By doing acts of kindness, giving in to others, and building good middot (character traits). When someone gives up their own comfort to help another person, they become more refined. And that refinement prepares the soul to receive the Torah.”

“You don’t need to stop learning just to go looking for ways to be kind. But when Hashem gives you an opportunity like this one to show kindness by giving of yourself, take it. It’s in those moments that you build the vessel to hold Torah.

“And now, when you have a chance to do a kindness that only you can do because your grandmother especially enjoys when you are with her, know this: Every moment you spend with her, every medicine you help her take, every small act of care, you are doing an act of Torah.

“You are refining your soul, and this refinement brings you closer to the holiness of Torah. So it’s not only a mitzvah of chesed (kindness), but also a mitzvah of Torah learning. You are engaging in Torah itself.”

These beautiful and powerful words from the Chazon Ish show how deeply the Torah shapes the character of our sages and how it can shape us, too.

From Shelemim MiTzion, courtesy of the Dirshu website.