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באקומען אין אישי

The enclosed story is true
The Tzadik of Zichron Moshe
I was newly Orthodox in the late 90's, living in Jerusalem, and when folks ask that eternal question, "why" I respond, with the usual, but if, as it were on some occasions, say after a few beers or to a close friend, I mention that I had met a secret Tzadik in Jerusalem, and he guided me.  They ask for his name and I respond "I never knew his name." But his holy countenance I remembered even later, in fact until today, during those difficult times. And I quote the biblical "And your eyes shall see your teachers".
I had gotten used to praying in the extension of Zichron Moshe, and he was inevitably there. Alone and praying for hours. Sometimes singing and humming, but most of the time crying. They were quiet, the tears, but shook me nonetheless. The Jerusalem early hours were sweet in their airy sunniness, and a certain silence swept through the streets and the open widows of that small room.
I learned slowly the meaning of praying. I would sit at certain prayers open before me in my Artscroll prayer book and look at the English and hear the choking tears. The humble, choking tears; tears at certain prayers with a cry of a son to a familiar father. And Godliness, to an American born and University trained philosopher, was suddenly tangible. He seemed to speaking to, and more important to me, he seemed to have a relationship with, the God of Israel.
He helped me on many occasions with the prayers, the proper shmoneh esreh, on which day one does or does not say tachnun, or, simply coming to he room and informing me that they are reading the Torah in the main chamber. He did this always respectfully, in Hebrew, and in such a caring way, unique in in its concern, and here I was, this guy, OK a Jew, but anonymous. And why was he being like this to me.
One day while i was praying some young Charedi men began harassing me in the shul, poking fun at a brown hat which I wore, different than the usual Charedi black. But the Tzadik stood up, said a few words in Yiddish, and they hurried out of the room. he then approached me and said something in Hebrew to which I responded "Todah Raba"
And I extended my trip to six months and simply became Orthodox and today married to my Aishes Chayal with my three frum children enrolled in the Jewish Day School.
And I always thought, the man who is responsible for this, the emissary from Hashem, does not even know, what he had done.
Until now.
For now I know his name.
It is Amrom Teitelbaum