A Chilling Tale of Rescue: The Mysterious Old Man at 32 Agrippas Street

An incredible story about a man who despaired of his life and swallowed pills, only to be saved at the very last moment in the merit of the precise guidance of Rabbi Berland shlit"a to a mysterious address.

A certain Jew relates a chilling story about his father, who tragically fell ill with the dreaded disease (cancer), Hashem protect us. The doctors began treating him with harsh radiation therapy. As is well known, this is a frightening and agonizing treatment. Sometimes, when doctors feel powerless to help, they continue these treatments rather than throwing up their hands and admitting that only Hashem, may He be blessed, can bring salvation.

Illness, Suffering, and a Medical Miracle

By the grace of Heaven, the family members merited to come to our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. They fulfilled the directive of our holy Sages, who taught that anyone with a sick person in their home should go to a Torah scholar to beg for mercy on their behalf. Indeed, the Rav shlit"a guided them on how to conduct themselves regarding several matters. Afterward, the father underwent a comprehensive series of tests. To the absolute shock and astonishment of the doctors, his body was completely clear of the disease.

However, the radiation treatments the father had previously endured left their mark, taking a severe toll on his body. His vision became completely distorted, and he began seeing double. Furthermore, he suffered from various ailments that caused him terrible, unbearable agony.

Bottomless Despair and Fleeing from Home

Overwhelmed by pain and suffering, the father reached a point where he despaired of his very life, Heaven spare us. The despair consumed him to such an extent that he decided to end his life. He swallowed a massive quantity of dangerous pills and stormed out of the house. A short time later, his family discovered what he had done and were horrified. They began searching for him in a panic and even called the police, who joined the search efforts. Yet, the father had vanished as if the earth had swallowed him whole.

In their dire distress, the family rushed back to our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, and told him of the unfolding tragedy. The Rav shlit"a did not hesitate for a moment and declared immediately: "He is at 32 Agrippas Street." The police officers who heard this scoffed and laughed at the guidance, but one of the family members immediately sprinted to the address the Rav had specified. When he arrived at 32 Agrippas Street, he found no one there and turned back.

The Precise Address and the Miraculous Rescue

Suddenly, a joyous and surprising message came from the house: The father had returned! When the family members rushed home, the father recounted what had happened. He described how, after swallowing the massive dose of pills and fleeing the house, he felt his head begin to spin. With his last remaining ounce of strength, he stumbled into an abandoned building he found along the way—at 32 Agrippas Street.

The father continued, speaking with deep emotion: "Suddenly, I saw an old man standing in front of me. He approached me, struck me forcefully on the shoulder, and shouted: 'Throw up! Throw up!'" Prompted by the blows and the shouting, the father began to vomit all the deadly poison he had swallowed, until his body was completely purged of the pills. Thus, he was able to return home safe and sound. This is a wondrous story that testifies to the power of the tzaddik, whose eyes see from afar, rescuing souls from descending into the pit.

From Issue 80 — Parshas Vayikra
From the series "A Tzaddik Rules in the Fear of God" — "Shapir Amar Nachmani" publications