Reforming One’s Deeds
Whenever I hear of a Jew who did teshuvah in the merit of my heartfelt blessing, given in the merit of my ancestors, I am filled with a strong sense of happiness. Another lost soul has found its way back home.
When I was staying at the home of Mr. Abadi in England, a Reform Jew asked for a blessing for sons.
“How can you expect me to bless you when you do not believe in the Torah of Moshe?” I asked. “I am willing to bless you on condition that you undertake to wear tefillin and keep Shabbat.” The man agreed, and I blessed him wholeheartedly.
After he left, a woman entered, bewailing her plight. She had been waiting many years for a child who had not yet arrived. I lifted my hands heavenward, and said, “Ribbono shel Olam, may it be Your will, in the merit of the Jew who has just agreed to observe tefillin and Shabbat, that this woman give birth to a baby boy.” I gave her the sefer Zocher Habrit, written by the Ben Ish Chai, zy”a. I told her, “In one year, B’ezrat Hashem, you will have a baby boy, in the merit of Rabbi Chaim Pinto and the Ben Ish Chai, zy”a. When you come to inform me of the birth, you will return this sefer.”
The following year, when I was once again visiting England, I found out that both the Reform Jew and this barren woman had merited baby boys, born in the same week. They each invited me to serve as sandek at their baby’s brit.
They both merited salvation in the zechut of this man undertaking to observe mitzvot. Hashem accepted my prayers, and the merit of my forefathers stood by both families.
By doing teshuvah, one averts terrible suffering and anguish. He allows the gates of blessing and goodness to open before him. After this Jew repented, all difficult judgments were removed from him, and in his merit, another couple also had a child.
