Adapted from: Moments of Greatness by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger

R’ Yosef, a talmid of R’ Yitzchok Hutner, would often bring his father, R’ Avrohom,* to the rosh yeshivah for chizuk and encouragement. At the time, R’ Avrohom was out of a job and his parnassah struggles left him despondent. Amazingly, after each “session” with R’ Hutner, R’ Avrohom emerged as if transformed. He was able to unburden himself to the rosh yeshivah, who had the right words for him, and he walked out like a new person, upbeat, positive, and optimistic.

One time, R’ Avrohom asked his son to make an appointment for him with R’ Hutner. R’ Yosef hesitated, however, explaining to his father that, after all, R’ Hutner was extremely busy, with no time on his hands. Between his shiurim and maamarim, and all the issues that came across his desk, he didn’t have time. How could he ask R’ Hutner to give away an hour or two just to shmooze? For this reason, they decided not to bother R’ Hutner any longer with this matter.

Sometime afterward, R’ Hutner saw R’ Yosef and asked him, “How’s your father doing? I haven’t seen him in a while. Has anything changed with his parnassah?”

R’ Yosef responded that no, nothing had changed, as his father was still jobless and parnassah was a challenge.

“So why haven’t you brought your father to see me?” asked R’ Hutner.

R’ Yosef explained that his father did indeed wish to come, but after thinking it over, they felt bad taking up the rosh yeshivah’s precious time just to shmooze about such mundane matters.

“Zog mir Yosef, tell me,” said R’ Hutner, “es iz em gringer oifen hartz ven ich rett mitt em? — Does he feel better after I speak with him?”

“Absolutely!” said R’ Yosef.

Now R’ Hutner grew animated. “Hust du ah besserer zach tzu ton mit tzeit vi tzu machen ah Yid feelin besser oifen hartz? — Do you have something better for one to do with his time that to make a Yid feel better in his heart?”

Indeed, there is nothing better to do with one’s time than to remove or ease the burden on the shoulders of a fellow Yid. Even one as busy as R’ Hutner felt that bringing a smile to another’s face has priority.