Parshas Vayishlach
The Pasuk (Lamed Bais) tells us “Vayirah Yakov Meod Vayetzer Lo”
Rashi explains the double wording. Vayira, means that Yakov was afraid he would be killed, whereas the words Vayetzer Lo, describes his fear (and perhaps even more powerful) that others would be killed.
Rav Shimshon explains this pasuk with a personal story that happened to him.
Rav Shimshon was once involved in an auto accident, where he fell asleep at the wheel and drove off the side of the road (Rav Shimshon was ultimately and tragically killed in a fatal auto accident). B’chasdei Hashem he escaped with minor scrapes and bruises. Nonetheless, he wound up in a hospital.
A short while later and while he was still in the hospital, a police officer came in to interview him regarding the accident and Rav Shimshon explained that he was a new driver and there was a terrible wind and he lost control and his car flipped over… The police officer was pacified with this explanation and left without any further questioning.
A week later, Rav Shimshon went in for a visit to his Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Berel Soleveitchik, Z”L who inquired after his welfare. The Rosh Yeshiva had heard that Rav Shimshon had been involved in a car accident and inquired as to what exactly transpired. Rav Shimshon explained that he had fallen asleep etc.
Rav Shimshon describes that what happened next is something he would never forget…
The Rosh Yeshiva turned white like a sheet and exclaimed, “Oy, you could have killed somebody”!!!
Says Rav Shimshon, look at the disconnect between the reaction of the police officer and the Rosh Yeshiva. The police officer whose job it is to protect civilians, upon hearing that it was a simple case of a new driver losing control, he was easily placated. However, the Rosh Yeshiva who deeply understood the value of a human life could not fathom how a jew could reach a matzav where he would be capable of killing another individual.
Such is the vision of a gadol!
Good Shabboss!
