There’s a story told by Rabbi Paysach Krohn which I’ve been thinking about quite a bit recently. Two men went to the Kosel together to daven Maariv. One was a very wealthy individual who was a noted baal tzedakah; the other was R’ Chanania Chollek founder of Ezer Mizion a prominent medical and social support organization in Eretz Yisrael.
At the Kosel they saw an older man davening fervently and sobbing. Moved by the man’s obvious pain R’ Chanania turned to his companion and suggested “Let’s offer to help this man with whatever he needs. If he needs medical help I can be of service. If he needs financial assistance you can lend a hand.” His companion agreed.
After the older man finished davening the two men approached him with their offer. But the man insisted that he did not need anything — nothing was wrong. When the two men persisted the older man explained: “I just returned from the chasunah of my youngest child. I have ten children and now baruch Hashem they are all married. I’m so filled with gratitude to Hashem Yisbarach that I felt I must come to the Kosel after the chasunah to express my thanks to Him. What you saw were tears of joy not tears of sorrow.”
I too just recently married off my last child so this story resonates deeply. My feelings of gratitude to the Ribono shel Olam are indescribable.
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