The Gaon's Blind Talmid | Rabbi Eliezer Ginsburg

The indescribable present that Hakadosh Baruch Hu has given us with our two eyes is something so important that we thank the Boreh Olam for it. There are many, many reasons why Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave us the two eyes. What would life be without two eyes? Could you imagine? But besides living in this world, how much two eyes are needed, Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave us two eyes also for Olam Haba. After all, there are so many Mitzvos, that through our two eyes we are Mekayem. For instance, Havdalah, the Mitzvah of the Ner, the Mitzvah of Kiddush Levana, the Mitzvah of looking at lightning, when it happens, the Mitzvah of looking at a Sefer Torah, when it’s being picked up. We’re just before the Yom Tov of Chanukah. The Mitzvah of looking at the Neiros shel Chanukah, which, if someone can't light but he could see the Neiros shel Chanukah, he makes a Bracha. There's so much Mitzvos and Brachos. The story is told over that the Gaon of Vilna had a Talmid that he loved very much. And this Talmid wasn't blessed with the ability to see. He went out, the גר”א, to find him a Shidduch, and he promised the Kallah that she won't suffer from this, that he's not able to see. Under the Chuppah, the גר”א, standing under the Chuppah, said, Ribono shel Olam, Chazal have told us, You have to be able to see the Kallah. Ribono shel Olam. As soon as he said that, the two eyes of this Choson, of his Talmid, was able to see. Why is it that Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave us so many Mitzvos that we’re Mekayem with our eyes, with our looking at something? The answer could be because being that we are in a very tough test, and to be Mekayem Vayimaen is not so easy, so what did Hakadosh Baruch Hu do? He gave us these Mitzvos, that all these Mitzvos that we do with our eyes, are Mekadesh our eyes, and give us that understanding and that ability to be Mekayem Vayimaen. And now it's coming Chanukah, and we’re going to be Mekayem the Mitzvah of looking at the Neiros. What that does for our eyes, how it’s Mekadesh it, and makes it that we are much more careful in what we look at. And in that Zechus, may the Aibishter give us that we should be Zoche that our precious eyes are with us until we give out our last breath. אמן, כן יהי רצון.