Our Patriarch, Avraham, was the pillar of Loving-kindness upon which the entire world stood. At the age of 99, he underwent major surgery (circumcision) without anesthetics, and Hashem ruled that he should just rest and not occupy himself with guests. Hashem made it very hot so that no wayfarers would be on the road for Avraham to invite to his tent and tend to. But Avraham could not rest without entertaining guests and so Hashem sent him three angels whom he could serve.

Avraham never said that the situation made it impossible for him to help someone. His attitude was that he would do whatever he could and Hashem would help him be successful.

The Gaon HaRav Moshe Mordechai Shulman zt"l told the following story about his Rebby, the illustrious Gaon HaRav Yechezkel Abromsky zt"l.

Rabbi Abromsky was the Chief Rabbi of England and it was his obligation to prepare the list of yeshiva students who were eligible for a deferment from the army, and to send it to the Ministry of Defense. The Rabbi had just mailed the list when a widow came to visit him. She cried that her husband had recently passed away and she couldn't bear to stay home alone. Therefore, she had taken her son out of yeshiva and asked him to study in a nearby synagogue. Thus, he could come home for meals and sleep at home and be at her side when she needed him. She explained that he learned in the synagogue full time; no less than a student in yeshiva. However, since he was not registered in a formal institute of learning, he had not been included in the list of those eligible for deferment from the army. She begged the Chief Rabbi to use his influence to have her son excused along with the others.

The kind Rabbi felt her pain and wanted to help her, but it was not at all that simple. "You realize," he said to her, "that you are asking for something which is technically illegal and practically impossible. However, I am obligated to try my best. I will speak to the people in charge and you pray to Hashem that I should be successful."

The Rabbi did not phone anyone for help nor did he search for someone with "connections." He put on his coat and went straight to the Ministry of Defense. Everyone was surprised to see the distinguished Rabbi in their office and they all stood up in his honor; Jews and non-Jews alike. The Rabbi went straight to the office of the fellow in charge of approving deferments. He was equally surprised to receive such an honorable visitor and stood up and offered him a seat. The Rabbi immediately told him the entire story of the sad plight of the widow and her request. Before the official could reply, Rabbi Abromsky said, "I know that what I am requesting is against the Book of Laws of Great Britain. However, I wish to tell you that there is another book. It is called the Book of the Heart. And those who follow the Book of the Heart are blessed by the Almighty; they and their children and their future generations." The Rabbi then wrote the name and address of the boy in question and said, "I hope he will receive a deferment in the mail soon, so that his dear mother will be able to stop worrying."

Rabbi Abromsky did not wait for a reply. He finished saying what he had come to relate and he got up and left.

A few days later, the orphan boy was the first to receive his deferment; before all of the other yeshiva students!

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