The next day, this man’s phone rang. It was Rav Meilech Biderman on the line

It was after a rousing derashah, the crowd filing out with a few audience members following the speaker, that one of them confided in the darshan how his life had little meaning.

“I feel like no one appreciates me, like no one listens or takes me seriously,” the man said.

The speaker, Rav Elimelech Biderman, pulled the man aside and asked about his day. “I wake up early, because I like to daven before other people wake up so that my tefillah goes up ‘bli pkakim,’ with no traffic,” the man began as he started to describe his entire schedule. Rav Meilech listened, took down the man's phone number (adding to the thousands in his collection), wished him well and entered the waiting car, continuing on to his next shiur.

But the next day, this man’s phone rang. It was Rav Meilech Biderman on the line, calling to thank his new friend. “Today, I followed your advice and davened early, what you said about ‘bli pkakim’ was so nice, I tried it myself. You were right, and I have to share this with others, so I’m calling to thank you.”

And like that, the call ended, a man who a day earlier believed no one listened to him suddenly feeling important enough that his message was being shared with the masses, that life does have meaning after all.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 878)