ONE OF MY FAVORITE ROGATCHOV STORIES One year, the townspeople asked the Rogatchover to deliver a sermon before blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. “Why are you asking me? This is not my style. There are many rabbis steeped in the Mussar tradition who are more fitting to speak to you,” he said. But the townspeople would not take no for an answer, and finally he relented. When the time came for him to speak, the Rogatchover slowly walked to the head of the congregation, and, with a quavering voice, spoke. “A couple of days ago, a very difficult question came before me. Difficult from a halakhic perspective, but also difficult on a personal level. A woman had gone into premature labor and the fetus was endangering the life of the mother. The doctors said that if we do not abort the fetus immediately, the mother’s life was forfeit. Without a choice, I ruled that they, G-d protect us, should dismember the fetus to save the life of the mother.” The Gaon began to weep in front of the deathly silent congregation. “Our Sages elaborate at length about the value of a single life. Indeed, one who saves a life has saved a whole world….but I had to rule to kill this precious soul that was pure and innocent…” The Rogatchover just stood there sobbing. The congregation began to cry with him, and in this grave, serious moment began the tekiyot (shofar blasts).
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:54:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015