A few years ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in Eretz Yisrael with our bechor, Shalom, in honor of his bar mitzvah. It was a special trip, and we had the zechus to meet a few gedolei Yisrael and enjoy seeing some of the beauty of the Land.
We spent Shabbos with my sister Ahuva and my brother Yaakov and his family, both of whom lived in the Nachlaot neighborhood of Yerushalayim. (My brother Yaakov and his family celebrated the birth of twins last week and still live in Nachlaot.)
During Shabbos I mentioned to my brother Yaakov that there was a sefer called Derashos Bais Yishai, written by Rav Shlomo Fisher, that I wanted to purchase. The problem was that it was out of print. I was hoping that during my visit I might possibly be able to meet Rav Fisher, and to purchase his sefer directly from him. Rav Shlomo Fisher was a scholar of note in his own right but he was also the brother of Rav Yisroel Yaakov Fisher, zt”l, a renowned halachic posek.
My brother replied that not only did he know who Rav Fisher is, he actually lived only a few doors away. I couldn’t believe the opportunity! I told my brother I wanted to knock on his door after Shabbos. My brother replied that although he had seen the Rav walking many times, he had never knocked on his door. Rav Fisher was a holy, elderly and feeble man and my brother wasn’t comfortable to simply knock on his door to seek his blessing. I told my brother that I was only in the country for a few days, and I didn’t have time to think about being uncomfortable.
On Motzei Shabbos, I went with my son Shalom and my brother Yaakov and knocked on Rav Fisher’s door. We were brought inside, where we found the Rav quietly sitting at his table where he had just completed eating his melava malka. Though he was elderly and weak he had a radiant countenance.
He gave Shalom a bracha in honor of his bar mitzvah and allowed me to take a picture of Shalom with him. When I told the Rav that I wished to purchase his sefer, Derashos Bais Yishai, he replied that that was his brother’s sefer. I didn’t realize that he was Rav Eliezer Moshe Fisher, a different brother of the famed halachic posek.
Rav Fisher’s son was there assisting his father. Upon hearing my request, he brought me four sefarim his father had authored. They were on topics throughout Shas, and were simply entitled Sefer Eliezer Moshe, after their author.
A few years later, in 2018, Rav Eliezer Moshe Fisher passed away at the age of 88.
As I was flipping through one of the sefarim I purchased from him, it struck me how ironic it was that I had been willing to knock on his door when I was there for a week, when my brother had never done so.
For the first eight years of my life, my family lived on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. I never remember visiting the Statue of Liberty or Twin Towers during those years. I think that’s fairly common of New Yorkers.
On the other hand, tourists who visit the city for a week hit all the popular tourist spots during that time.
It’s one of the sad realities of life – we often fail to take advantage of the things closest to us. The things we can do at any time often become the things we don’t do at any time.
Conversely, when one knows he has limited time, he will pack in as much as he can during that time.
Some residents of Yerushalayim may not visit the Kotel for months, while those of us who have the opportunity to visit from chutz la’aretz will make sure to daven there numerous times.
More significantly, it was a stark reminder to me of our nature to fail to appreciate the little gifts of life, which aren’t little at all – primarily the gifts of our close friends and family.
Our children had the zechus during Chanukah to enjoy time with their three living grandparents – something I would give anything to be able to do – and some of their uncles, aunts, and cousins. And I had the zechus to spend time with my parents and mother-in-law, in good health and a pleasant atmosphere.
I have a friend who often quips that we would be wise to daven that Hashem help us appreciate the gifts He grants us every day while we have them.
I feel fortunate to have the sefarim of Rav Eliezer Moshe Fisher, zt”l, for their Torah insights and for the opportunity to maintain a connection with the late scholar. Beyond that, seeing his sefarim also gives me the satisfaction of knowing that at least on that occasion I took advantage of an opportunity and appreciated the moment.
I should add that for years I was searching for the sefer, Derashos Bais Yishai of Rav Shlomo Fisher, zt”l, which was out of print. A few months ago, one of my esteemed neighbors posted a picture of a few sefarim that he was giving away to anyone who wanted. The Derashos Beis Yishai was at the top of the pile. Not for long.
