An IDF soldier happened across a talmid of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto Shlita and the latter asked the soldier if he had put on tefilin that same day. He explained he had not and that he is willing.

The incident occurred last week in Ashkelon. After putting them on the soldier was asked if he would continue putting them on. He replied he would but does not have a pair and cannot afford to buy them. The talmid of the rav relayed the story and Rav Pinto reportedly instructed his gabboim to buy a mehudar pair and get it to the soldier.

The rav’s instructions were carried out and the meeting was arranged in the Ashkelon train station as the soldier made the trip from Hadera. The soldier was given the tefilin along with the explanation that they were purchased in compliance with Rabbi Pinto’s strict instructions, making certain they are mehudar. The soldier was asked to be mispallel for Rav Pinto as well. The soldier, with tears in his eyes, promised to put them on daily and continue being mispallel for Rabbi Pinto who battles a serious illness while serving a one-year jail term.

The rav’s gabbaim request that the tzibur continue being mispallel for Yoshiyahu Yosef ben Zohari bsoch shar cholei Yisrael.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)