A Gracious Blessing

A pair of twin girls from Lyon asked for my blessing that they each find their marriage partner quickly. After coming to me a few times, they each found their zivug and married into the families of Saban and Deri. The joy at their weddings was palpable.

But their joy was short-lived. Although one merited having children almost immediately, her sister waited anxiously for a baby that did not come. The years passed. One twin already had two young children and was expecting her third, while the other had none. The one who was a mother was terribly pained at her sister’s plight.

They came to the yeshiva in Lyon to see me. After I delivered the shiur, they came into my office.

The sister who had merited children burst into bitter tears. “Honored Rav,” she began. “I have been married for five years. I have two sons and am expecting my third child. But my joy is incomplete because my sister is still barren. This gives me untold pain and makes my lot bittersweet.”

Her twin then took up the thread. “Honored Rav, I do not envy my sister, chas v’shalom. I wish her all the good in the world and a home filled with the sweet sounds of children. But whenever my husband looks my way, I feel that he is unhappy with me.”

These words pained me. I was especially touched by the sorrow of the sister who did have children. Her distress at her sister’s situation in spite of her blessing was poignant. I blessed the barren woman from the depths of my heart and said, “B’ezrat Hashem, this year you will be happier than your sister.”

She looked at me in surprise. “How can I be happier than my sister?” she asked. “Even if I were to give birth this year, I will have only one child, while my sister will have three, bli ayin hara!”

“Do you think Hashem cannot give you four children?”

When her sister heard this, she heartily answered, “Amen! May my sister be happier than I!”

I was humbled before this giant of a sister. How she worried and wished her dear sibling well!

The two women left my room, filled with faith in my prediction.

Things transpired as I had predicted. The expectant mother gave birth to a healthy baby, and the barren sister had quadruplets. I was the sandek of one of her sons.

This story was publicized throughout Lyon and caused a kiddush Hashem. Hashem is not far from anyone who seeks Him and truly believes in Him, as we say (Tehillim 145:18-19), “Hashem is close to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely. The will of those who fear Him He will do; and their cry He will hear, and He will save them.”