A Word from the Wise
On a visit to Miami, a woman came to see me in a most emotional state. She excitedly related that she was born in the merit of my grandfather’s blessing. This is her story:
Many years ago, my father came to your grandfather, zy”a, weeping bitterly. All of his sons had passed away at a young age. His wife was expecting a child, and the couple was most concerned that this baby, too, would be taken from them. He asked for a blessing to guarantee that his child would merit a good and long life.
The tzaddik keenly felt my father’s pain and promised to bless my mother and the newborn, on the day she gave birth. My father was surprised at these words. His wife was only in her second month of pregnancy. How could the Rav promise to visit in another seven months? The tzaddik assured him that he would, indeed, come at that time to bless the new mother and child.
After a few months, the tzaddik came to visit my parents. It was just when my mother was in labor. He blessed her with all things good.
I am the baby born through that blessing. I have merited a good, long life in the merit of the tzaddik.
This incident taught me the greatness of my holy grandfather. He was concerned with each detail of his fellow Jews, to the extent that he could guarantee to come at the exact time of a birth, many months away.
There is no doubt that my grandfather’s notable siyata di’Shemaya stemmed from the fact that he shed materialism from himself. He was so lofty that he could see into the future. He was sure Hashem would help him keep his word.
