Why Does a Fly Come Near a Person?

Greetings and blessings, The Gemara in Berachot (10b) interprets the verse (Melachim II 4:9), "And she said to the man, Please know that I perceive that this is a holy man of Hashem," stating that according to one opinion, she recognized that he was a holy man because she never observed a fly passing over his table. The Maharshal there brings a Mishnah in Avot (Chapter 5, Mishnah 5) that a fly was never seen in the kitchen of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple), explaining that a fly is a tameh creature that does not dwell in a holy place. Furthermore, the Midrash Bereishit Rabbah (Parashah 54) on the verse (Mishlei 16:7), "When Hashem desires the ways of a man, even his enemies make peace with him," records Rabbi Berachiah explaining that even a person's enemies, including pests such as mosquitoes, fleas, and flies, reconcile with him. Therefore, as a person sanctifies himself and follows the ways of Hashem, flies find no hold upon him and do not approach. It is told regarding Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, of blessed memory, that everyone who knew him noticed that mosquitoes and flies did not come near him nor disturb him. Even during summer trips to resorts where many mosquitoes would swarm and bite others, he would sit quietly and rest, unaware of their presence. He would say with a smile that he merited from Heaven the level of Elisha, upon whom no fly was seen to pass over his table (Igrot Moshe, Yoreh Deah 8:32-33). Similarly, this was testified about Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian, of blessed memory, as recorded in the book Lev Eliyahu, Part 1 (page 90). Blessings, Hillel Meirs