In 1990, Rabbi Mazuz’s wife suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized, with doctors warning that she would likely remain unconscious. A yeshivah student close to Rabbi Mazuz approached the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who responded with a blessing for a speedy recovery. Indeed, she regained consciousness and was released from the hospital just two weeks later.
A few months later, Rabbi Mazuz traveled to New York, where he met the Rebbe in person for the first time. By that point, due to the large volume of people wishing to meet the Rebbe, he no longer held private audiences, but instead instituted what was known as “Sunday Dollars,” during which anyone could briefly meet the Rebbe and receive a dollar to give to charity. During his visit, Rabbi Mazuz participated in a “Sunday Dollars” and received the Rebbe’s blessings. But instead of a single dollar like most visitors, the Rebbe handed Rabbi Mazuz no fewer than $9. At the time, Rabbi Mazuz did not understand the significance of the number.
Nine years later, when his wife passed away, he understood: The Rebbe had blessed her with nine additional years of life.
