Turning back to Tradition
Mr. Gavriel Elbaz, the president of the Jewish community in Lyon, told me that he knew someone who had an extraordinary story to relate. Upon my inquiry, he told me the following:
Many years ago, Mr. Arik Amsalem met the Rav in the resort city, Nice, which is located near Marseille. Arik was unfortunately married to a gentile woman and had no children. When he came to the Rav requesting a blessing for children, the Rav thundered, “How can I bless you to have children when you are married to a gentile woman? All of your children will be gentiles! What a shame that you and your children will never have a brit, wear tefillin, or marry according to Jewish law.”
Arik accepted the Rav’s rebuke, but asked, “What can I do? I am growing older and cannot change my lifestyle at this stage of my life.”
But the Rav was adamant. “This woman does not befit you in the least. If I were to pray on your behalf, I would be condoning a mixed marriage. On the contrary, in the merit of leaving this forbidden woman, Hashem will send you a kosher Jewish wife.”
But Arik was doubtful. “Does the Rav guarantee that Hashem will give me children if I divorce this wife? It is so difficult for me to undergo major changes at this point.”
The Rav promised him, “If you make this move, Hashem will be at your side. But you must have perfect faith that He will stand by you.”
With great fortitude, Arik left his gentile wife that very week. Only a few days later, he met a fine Jewish woman, whom he married according to Jewish law. They now have a few daughters.
I recalled the story and Mr. Elbaz filled in the rest of the details:
“At the time, the Rav promised Arik that he would have sons. But, to date, he has only had daughters. He would like to ask the Rav for a berachah specifically for a boy. And he wants to thank the Rav for all he has done for him.”
“Tell Arik that he has nothing to thank me for,” I told Mr. Elbaz. “He is the one who underwent a life transformation. The faith he had, coupled with his self-sacrifice by leaving his gentile wife led him to live the right way.”
Some time afterward, Arik Amsalem came with his wife and daughters. I was moved at the sight of his upright, Jewish family. I told him, “Arik, my friend, think of how your life would look had you remained married to your gentile wife. How would your gentile children look? And most of all, what would you answer the Ribbono shel Olam after one hundred and twenty years on this earth?
“You have turned around your entire life. You are a complete Torah-observant and G-d-fearing Jew. B’ezrat Hashem, in the merit of my ancestors, you will yet have a son, who will continue the heritage of Torah-true Judaism.”
Such is the power of a Jew’s self-sacrifice. Often, we are required to make life changes which seem impossible. But the neshamah of a Jew is hewn from those of our forefathers, who dedicated their lives to observe Hashem’s will. Their self-sacrifice empowers us to devote our lives to our Father and His Torah.
