A Life-Changing Lesson from Rabbi Elyashiv

The name of the late Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv reached far and wide—even to the Torah community of Lakewood, New Jersey. There, one man felt a strong pull in his heart: he longed to meet the great Torah scholar, to ask a few personal questions, and to share the names of loved ones in need of a blessing.

He knew that Rabbi Elyashiv's time was incredibly limited. Every moment of his day was used with purpose and holiness. Still, he felt it would be worth any effort just to see him, even for a few minutes.

So he began to save—slowly and with determination. Dollar by dollar, cent by cent, he set aside what he could. For half a year, he prepared for the journey, dreaming of the moment he’d meet one of the spiritual giants of our generation.

Finally, the big day came. He boarded the plane with excitement, his heart racing. After 11 long hours in the air, the plane landed in Israel. He rushed to grab a taxi straight to Rabbi Elyashiv’s modest home in Jerusalem. Climbing the steps to the house, he could hardly contain his anticipation.

He waited patiently in the crowded room outside the Rabbi’s study. People told him the meetings were very brief. Each person received only a few moments. But he had come so far, from across the ocean. He had prepared for this visit with so much hope and effort. When his name was finally called, he entered, shook the Rabbi’s hand, and said with deep emotion, “Honored Rabbi, I came all the way from America to meet the Rav… May I please have five minutes to speak with the Rav?”

Rabbi Elyashiv smiled warmly. He paused for a moment and then answered with clarity and kindness: “Five minutes, I don’t have. But three minutes—yes.”

The visitor sat with the Rabbi for those three treasured minutes. He asked his questions, expressed his concerns, and gave the names of those who needed blessings and healing. Then, just as their time ended, he rose, thanked the Rabbi, and left—his heart full.

When he returned to his home in Lakewood, he was glowing with joy. His family noticed something had shifted in him. He explained, “I received the greatest gift of my life. It was worth every effort to come.”

Then he shared what moved him so deeply. “The first thing I asked the Rabbi was if he could give me five minutes. And his answer—it changed the way I see time forever. He didn’t just say no. He said, ‘I don’t have five minutes… but I do have three.’ That taught me something I never realized before: there’s a whole world between three minutes and five minutes. Every minute counts. Every second has meaning.”

He paused, eyes shining. “I understood in that moment how precious time is in a Jewish life. Every minute is a tool. A gift. An opportunity to connect to Hashem, to help others, to grow. I’ll never forget it.”

Courtesy of the Dirshu website.