“Since my stroke, I have gained a profound understanding of the depth of certain tefillos”
Afew weeks ago, I had the zechus to collaborate with my grandfather, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, on an inspirational article about bikur cholim, drawing on his personal experiences after his stroke. Many people reached out to express how deeply they were moved by his story. In this article, we highlight how these experiences have given him a new and unique perspective on tefillah.
The Me’iri’s introduction to Maseches Berachos presents a profound insight into the purpose of life’s experiences. He writes, “A person must give thought to every unique occasion that transpires in his life and ask himself, ‘Why did Hashem make me experience this? What can I take from it?’ ” This is not just a call for reflection, but an invitation to see every moment as an opportunity for personal growth and spiritual advancement.
The Me’iri emphasizes that whether facing joy or sorrow, one should always seek to understand how it’s possible to grow from the experience. For instance, he compares a person who observes the mitzvos superficially without being shaped and elevated by them to a donkey that carries wheat in the wheat season, barley in the barley season, and oats in the oat season.
In all cases, he remains unchanged, missing the deeper purpose. The Me’iri teaches that just as the donkey does not grow, neither does the person who engages with life’s events without seeking to learn and grow from them.
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