Doubly Blessed
Imagine the devastation of a woman who was told, after numerous tests and treatments, that she was infertile and could never bear a child. This woman could not digest this terrible prediction. In spite of the doctors’ ominous words, she placed her faith in Hashem, the ultimate Doctor. She came to me time and again, begging for my prayer and blessing that she should merit bearing children.
Of course, I acquiesced to her requests and offered my heartfelt blessings. But I added a caveat: she should not place undue hope in my blessings, for, according to the laws of nature, she could not bear children. It would be a shame to raise her hopes only to have them repeatedly dashed.
One day, this woman visited me. She felt that she was pregnant. At first, I didn’t take her seriously. But on second thought, I changed my mind. I advised her to see a doctor and check if she was, indeed, expecting a baby.
To the amazement of all, her determination to bring a child into the world prevailed. Not only was she expecting, but she was expecting twins. After nine months, she gave birth to a healthy boy and girl.
The night before the brit, her husband dreamed that eighteen thousand euro were stolen from him. The very next day, that is what happened. When he recounted this incident to me, I immediately saw the connection between his dream and his circumstances.
Eighteen is the numerical equivalent of the word חי (alive). In contrast, we are taught that a poor man is considered dead. When the money was stolen, this man became a pauper, as if divested of life. But Hashem, in His infinite mercy, brought the remedy before the malady and granted him a double portion of life – his twins, born to him most miraculously.
- Rabbi Moshe Aharon Yoshiyahu, shlita, son of the Rav, delivering a shiur
