During the busy days ahead of Pesach, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch personally distributed Kimcha D’Pischa funds to the 180 avreichim of the Teshuvos V’Hanhagos kollel.

The distribution is just the beginning of a large-scale annual operation led by the Rosh Yeshiva, which includes assistance to hundreds of his avreichim, to the Rabbanim and Dayanim of the Eidah HaChareidis, the Rabbanim of his yeshiva in Beit Shemesh, and extensive support for Kupos Tzedaka in Israel and around the world.

Yet within this massive operation, one detail stood out: the Rosh Yeshiva’s insistence on personally handing the envelopes to the avreichim after delivering his final shiur at the end of the zeman. Those present could not help but wonder why the elderly Rav didn’t spare himself the effort of personally handing out the envelopes.

HaRav Shternbuch responded with a powerful and stirring story he heard from HaGaon HaRav Yechezkel Abramsky, zt”l—a story that sheds light on the significance of each detail of every mitzvah, even the smallest one.

The Rosh Yeshiva said: “HaGaon HaRav Yechezkel Abramsky told me that once, while he was in Vilna, he looked through the ledger of the Chevra Kadisha and found an entry about the Vilna Gaon’s wife. She would collect money for the poor of Vilna together with her friend. Over the years, the two agreed—with a handshake—that whoever passed away first would appear in a dream to the other and describe what happens in the Olam HaEmes and how judgment is carried out there.

‘Years passed, and the friend died first. After some time, she appeared in a dream to the Gra’s wife and said: ‘It’s impossible to describe how every small action is accounted for in Shamayim. I am not permitted to reveal what happens there, but since I promised you with a handshake, I was granted permission to share one detail.

“‘Do you remember that once, on a certain street in Vilna, we saw a poor man on the other side of the road? I signaled to him to cross over so I could give him money, and he came and was happy. You should know that in Shamayim I was judged for not exerting myself to cross the street to reach the poor man, because that showed a lack of appreciation for the value of mitzvos. Such is the depth of judgment —awesome and terrifying.’

“In the morning, the Gra’s wife awoke trembling and told the Gra about her dream. The Gra instructed that the members of the Chevra Kadisha be summoned to hear the dream from her directly and record it in their ledger for future generations to contemplate the depth of judgment. And indeed, it was written: ‘By order of the Gra we record this story.’

“HaRav Abramsky then told me: ‘From that day on, whenever I sent money to a poor person or a mossad by mail, I never sent a messenger to the post office, as I did in the past. Instead, I made sure to go myself and place it in the mailbox — so as not to lose the zechus of personally exerting myself for the mitzvah of tzedaka.”

The moving message was clear: When it comes to the mitzvah of tzedaka, there is no substitute for personal effort—every small act is counted and measured. For HaRav Sternbuch, personally distributing the envelopes is not a technical task of transferring funds—it is a rare opportunity to fulfill a mitzvah in its fullest form — with his own body and effort, without compromise.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)