Naming My Promise
When I was twenty-nine, I visited the grave of the tzaddik, Rabbi Amram Ben-Diwan, zy”a, in Morocco. Since I had not yet found my life partner, I offered a prayer from the depths of my heart that Hashem should help me in my quest in the merit of this tzaddik. I vowed that if I would find my zivug in the near future, I would name my oldest son after him.
A short time afterward, I merited marrying my wife in an auspicious time, and Heaven granted us a beautiful baby boy. Just around that time, two of my illustrious uncles passed away. They were Father’s brothers, Rabbi Refael Pinto and Rabbi Meir Pinto, zy”a. I decided to name my son for both of them, Refael Meir. I also had in mind that he would be named after Rabbi Refael HaKohen and Rabbi Meir Ba’al Haness, zy”a.
The night before the brit, Rabbi Amram Ben-Diwan appeared to me in a dream. He was sitting in the Beit Hakeneset of my grandfather, the tzaddik Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy”a, in Casablanca.
I awoke from this dream in a cold sweat, suddenly remembering the promise I had made at the gravesite of the tzaddik, Rabbi Amram. The dream’s message rang loudly in my ears.
The tzaddik’s image remained with me throughout the brit. When I was asked what name I was calling my child, there was no doubt in my mind. He was called Refael Meir Amram, may Hashem grant him long life.
