Rav Shimon Sofer zt"l
הרב שמעון בן משה סופר זצ"ל
Adar II 17 , 5643
Stories of Rav Shimon Sofer zt"l
Rav Shimon Sofer of Cracow would see the citizens of Cracow and attend to their needs each day, and at night he studied Torah until late. Once, a child was deathly ill and his fever climbed dangerously. The distraught father sought the help of Rav Shimon and found him late at night studying the sweet words of the holy Torah. Sadly the father described his plight. As soon as Rav Shimon heard that the child was at death’s door he instructed the father, “Please take this handkerchief and place it on the child and im yirtze Hashem he will have a refua sheleima; however, please return it to me immediately the next day and tell no one.”
The father did as instructed and miraculously, no sooner had he placed Rav Sofer’s handkerchief on his sick son, the child’s fever went down, the boy opened his eyes and asked for some water. The child had a miraculous recovery. Later that day the father came back and visited the Rav to thank him and return the sacred handkerchief.
“Now I shall explain to you what has happened here and my two conditions. This was no miracle; rather, as you know, all day long I gladly carry the burden of Cracow’s Jewish community on my shoulders. Only at night can I study Torah undisturbed. This handkerchief is my nightly companion. I use it to wipe the sweat of my brow as I toil in Torah study with intense concentration.
The merit of that study is what cured your son. My salary is not great and so I cannot afford a new handkerchief, which is why I requested it back – right away – so I can continue my studies uninterruptedly again tonight. As for the second condition, you see how busy I am by day; if word of this gets out, my nights will be filled with the needs of the community as well.” (Ner Yehoshua).