Parshas Bahaloscha 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
ויאמר אל נא תעזב אתנו כי על כן ידעת חנתנו במדבר והיית לנו לעינים ... (י-לא)
The Torah records a fascinating exchange when Moshe invites his father-in-law, Yisro, to journey with the Jewish nation to the Land of Israel. Moshe pleads with him, saying, “Please do not leave us ... for you will be as eyes for us.” The commentators puzzle over why the generation that witnessed the open miracles of Yetzias Mitzrayim and was guided by columns of fire and cloud would ever need a human guide to serve as their “eyes.” The answer lies in the unique role of a true spiritual guide; they possess a far-reaching vision that transcends the immediate horizon, anchoring a community through unseen future trials. This prophetic clarity ensures that even when the road ahead appears completely shrouded in darkness, the visionary guidance established years prior remains a steady beacon. The foresight of our Sages acts as a permanent spiritual map, designed to manifest its navigational strength at the precise moment we lose our own way.
A powerful testament to this eternal light is found in the life of R’ Avraham Cohen z”l, the legendary director of the Girls’ Seminary in Gateshead, England. Rabbi Cohen frequently traveled to the Holy Land to draw spiritual strength from its great Rabbanim and Madrichim, and on one of his historic visits, he sought an audience with the venerable R’ Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld zt”l, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. As their deeply moving conversation drew to a close, Rabbi Cohen respectfully bowed his head, seeking a personal blessing from the elderly sage. R’ Yosef Chaim, renowned for his profound humility and aversion to honor, initially waved away the request, asking why a young, healthy man with caring parents would have need for his blessing. However, the moment Rabbi Cohen clarified that he was not asking for his own personal benefit, but rather for the success of his sacred mission - educating young Jewish women in Torah and instilling within them a genuine fear of Heaven - the atmosphere in the room completely transformed. Recognizing the cosmic weight of Jewish education, R’ Yosef Chaim stood tall, declared with absolute conviction, “I am ready to bless this endeavor!” and spread his hands over Rabbi Cohen’s head to deliver a heartfelt, soaring blessing for the institution’s future success.
Many years later, that very blessing was put to the ultimate test when the Gateshead Seminary faced a devastating, unprecedented financial crisis. The institution had opened its doors to welcome dozens of young, vulnerable refugee girls arriving from Morocco, and the sudden influx of students caused the seminary’s daily operational expenses to spiral entirely out of control. The situation rapidly deteriorated into a state of sheer desperation; the local kosher butcher refused to supply meat on credit, the bakeries ceased their daily deliveries of bread, and the greengrocer completely withheld essential fruits and vegetables. Rabbi Cohen exhausted every humanly possible avenue, desperately reaching out to philanthropists, communal leaders, and rabbinic authorities across Europe, but every door remained firmly shut. With a shattered spirit and a heavy heart, realizing he could no longer feed the children entrusted to his care, he made the agonizing decision to close the gates of the seminary and tearfully advised the girls to seek shelter elsewhere, though the vast majority literally had nowhere else to go.
That night, Rabbi Cohen slept fitfully, his soul filled with anguish and despair as he contemplated the ruin of his life’s work. Yet, at his absolute breaking point, the eternal light of the past broke through his misery when R’ Yosef Chaim appeared vividly to him in a dream. The Tzaddik looked at the broken director with immense warmth and firmly reassured him, declaring, “I have blessed you to succeed. Do not worry. Hashem will help you and will definitely not abandon you.”
The very next morning, the reality on the ground shifted in an instant when Rabbi Cohen received an urgent, unexpected phone call from the Chief Rabbi of London, who informed him that a massive, significant financial grant had been miraculously allocated overnight to rescue the seminary. The Chief Rabbi was pleased to inform Rabbi Cohen of the tidings. The critical funds were transferred immediately, effectively securing the institution’s survival and ensuring that the sacred work of illuminating the souls of Jewish girls could continue unhindered, proving that a true blessing never loses its power.