Reb Nechemia Beker had a serious question that needed the insight from a Gadol b’Torah. His wife had suffered complications after childbirth that the doctors said would require her to undergo high-risk surgery. They weren’t convinced that the surgery would even save her, but it was the only solution that they could offer. In addition, the surgery would prevent her from being able to bear any more children.
He thus approached the Chazon Ish, zt”l, to ask how he should proceed. The Chazon Ish replied, “If that is the case, then what’s the question? Certainly, she should have the surgery. It is pikuach nefesh. You must proceed with the surgery!”
With his answer, R’ Nechemia got up and began to leave the house of the Chazon Ish, determined on surgery. Before he could, the Chazon Ish asked him if he’d davened Minchah, which R’ Nechemia replied that he hadn’t. The Chazon Ish suggested that he stay and daven Minchah with them, and so he did.
After Minchah, the Chazon Ish called R’ Nechemia over, told him that after rethinking the matter, he decided that his wife didn’t need the operation. She’ll be fine by avoiding the surgery.
“Why Did the Rav Change His Mind?”
Shocked by the response, Reb Nechemia asked, “Just several moments ago, the Rav clearly affirmed that surgery was a necessity, since it was a matter of life and death, r”l. Why now did the Rav change his mind?”
The Chazon Ish simply replied, “That reply was before I davened Minchah. But now it is after Minchah. Now is a new situation. After davening, things change.” It didn’t take long for Rebbetzin Beker to have a complete turnaround. She lived to bear another eight children and lived past the age of eighty.
One davening can be the single event to merit the yeshuah. One davening sufficed for her complete salvation. Going from a lifethreatening situation to a complete salvation changed with one Shemoneh Esrei. Hashem is there for us, and anyone’s davening has the potential to bring the special yeshuos
Reprinted from the Parshas Korach 5784 email of Zichru Toras Moshe.
