“Why do you have this sefer with you?” the man asked the driver. And the driver shared the following account
Last week, the annual Ani Maamin Initiative event was held in memory of Dovi Steinmetz z”l, one of the 45 kedoshim of the Lag B’omer tragedy of 2021. Through various programs and a bestselling book, the initiative has succeeded in spreading the message of Ani Maamin literally throughout the world. Each year, in the days leading up to Lag B’omer, it holds one seminal gathering to openly celebrate our commitment to this eternal belief.
Addressing the audience, Mrs. Steinmetz shared numerous stories demonstrating the power of emunah and tefillah. She then shared a story that showed how her son, who was a natural “people person,” was continuing to wield his power of connection to bring Yidden together.
A yungerman living in Eretz Yisrael, the son of a family friend, had been en route to Meron on that fateful night four years ago. The bus driver was told of the tragedy prior to their arrival and turned the bus around. The yungerman’s wife, haunted by what had happened, insisted that he not return to Meron for Lag B’omer. The man was conflicted as he very much wanted to go, but didn’t want to upset his wife. He consulted with his rav who advised him that it was more important to spare his wife distress than to visit Rabi Shimon’s kever.
“But if you want to connect with Rabi Shimon’s neshamah,” he said, “learn from the sefer Shivchei D’Rashbi.”
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