The Baba Sali Miracle: A Disabled Soldier Walks Again

The power and holiness of the great kabbalist, Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira — the Baba Sali, continue to accompany us even today as a flame of hope, encouragement, and spiritual strength. Among the most moving stories told about the miracles he performed is that of a young IDF veteran, a man bound to a wheelchair.

Since his injury in the Yom Kippur War, the soldier was left with one leg completely paralyzed, scheduled soon for amputation.

Up to that point, the young man had lived a secular life, but after his injury, he began searching for spiritual light to hold on to amidst his pain. That search eventually led him to the Baba Sali, about whom he had heard wondrous stories. He hoped that perhaps the saintly tzaddik could help him as well.

When the soldier entered the rabbi’s room, the Baba Sali asked him, “Do you put on tefillin every day?” The young man answered, “No.”
The rabbi then asked, “Do you keep Shabbat?” Again, the answer was no.

Looking directly into his eyes, the Baba Sali said: “In that case, you must thank Hashem that you even have one healthy leg.”

“If I bless you for a complete recovery…”

The young man was stunned, completely unprepared for this response. The rabbi continued: “Everything we have is given to us from the treasure house of free gifts — not because Hashem owes us anything. Since you do not yet keep Torah and mitzvot, what you do have is a gift of pure kindness.”

The soldier suddenly realized his life was hanging in the balance. He broke down in bitter tears, moving everyone present. After he calmed, the Baba Sali gently asked him: “If I bless you with a complete recovery, and you rise from this wheelchair and walk again, will you return fully to Hashem, and accept upon yourself Torah and mitzvot?”

The young man answered yes. The rabbi took his hand, blessed him with “a complete healing for the service of Hashem,” and the soldier kissed the rabbi’s hand in gratitude.

Those present urged him to try standing up. To everyone’s astonishment, he not only stood immediately, but began walking across the room unaided. Overcome with excitement, he walked outside, then began jumping and even running down the street. Breathless with joy, he cried out: “Where’s the nearest public phone? This is urgent!”

Running to give thanks

At that time, public telephones were rare. The closest one was about 200 meters away, at the Negev Yeshiva, but this did not deter him. The same man who, just an hour earlier, had sat helpless in a wheelchair, now strode briskly to the phone booth as if nothing had ever been wrong.

Reaching the phone, he called his family. Through streams of tears, he told them the miracle that had just taken place. On the other end of the line, shouts of joy and astonishment erupted.

Though it was difficult for him to change his lifestyle completely, he remained true to the promise he had made to the Baba Sali. Within a short time, he fully embraced a life of Torah observance and returned to Hashem.

Soon after, he came again to the rabbi’s home — this time with his entire joyous family, bringing sweets and delicacies for a thanksgiving meal to celebrate the wondrous miracle. There, he retold his story, strengthening all those present in their faith.