Unearthing Her Intended, Down Under
I was once receiving people in Marseille, at the home of Mr. Tzion Marciano, may he live long. In the evening, I was asked to speak at the Beit Hakeneset nearby. After this speech, I was extremely exhausted from my grueling schedule. But I overcame my weariness and continued seeing people there, as well. Harav Amram, shlita, who acted as Dayan in Marseille, was sitting at my side the entire time.
A couple came to me, together with their baby boy. The woman turned to me, animatedly. “Honored Rav, this baby was born in the merit of your prayers. I did not find my soul-mate for many long years. Throughout that difficult period, I would come to you, asking for your blessings. Eventually, you yourself were greatly distressed at my plight.
“Last year, when I came to you yet once again for a berachah, you suddenly turned to me and said, ‘Maybe your intended is in faraway Australia? Go there and try to rebuild your life on that continent. If nothing happens, return to Marseille. Hashem will help.’
“Whoever heard of my proposed adventure Down Under mocked me to my face. But I was determined to follow the word of the Rav and made the 20,000-kilometer trip around the world. But only one week went by before a match was proposed, from a family of chassidim and yirei Shamayim. Here is my soul-mate, standing before you. Baruch Hashem, we merited having a beautiful baby boy!
“Since the time I met my husband, I have helped him greatly in strengthening his commitment to Hashem and His Torah. Baruch Hashem, he now keeps Shabbat, wears tefillin, and has encouraged me to cover my hair and reinforce my loyalty to Judaism also.”
Greatly touched by her tale, I told Rav Amram that this is another indication of the tremendous power of my fathers, zy”a. Their merit allowed this woman to find her match, establish a family, and return to her Father.
