By Rabbi David Ashear
A shidduch was suggested for Rabbi Diamond*, a widower, with a widow. Sometime later, both sides wanted to proceed to the next step – engagement – but there was a problem. Rabbi Diamond lived in Bnei Brak, where he had a position as a maggid shiur. He also gave various shiurim and learned in a kollel there. He did not want to leave Bnei Brak and move elsewhere.
On the other hand, Mrs. Steingold, the prospective kallah, lived in Yerushalayim and served as the principal of a prominent school there. She did not want to leave her job to move to a different city, and commuting from Bnei Brak to Yerushalayim every day was not feasible. As a result, the shidduch was stalled. Everyone involved was terribly disappointed, as it seemed these two individuals would be a perfect match.
But no one could figure out how to overcome this hurdle. One day, Rabbi Diamond’s daughter Chayah* met one of the board members of the school she works in, in Bnei Brak. The board member, Mrs. Davis*, noticed Chayah’s preoccupation and downcast demeanor and inquired about it. Chayah decided to confide in the older women. She told her how sorry she felt that her father was not marrying Mrs. Steingold, who seemed so perfect for him. She explained that she was a principal in Yerushalayim and would not consider moving to Bnei Brak, and her father would not consider moving to Yerushalayim.
“Honestly,” Chayah added, almost as an afterthought, “my father is very dependent on my sisters and me to take care of his needs, including his meals and household chores. For his sake as well as ours, we would be so happy if he remarried!”
“This conversation is completely orchestrated by Hashem!” Mrs. David exclaimed. She then proceeded to disclose some information that had not yet been publicized. The principal in the school they worked in had recently given notice, and the board was concerned about the challenge of finding a suitable replacement.
“Let’s approach the president of the board and suggest Mrs. Steingold as a candidate,” Mrs. David said. “This is a very distinguished institution, and most people would jump at an opportunity to take this position.”
The two women set up a meeting with the board president, who was very interested. “Mrs. Steingold is quite renowned,” she said. “She has an excellent reputation!” The board offered the position to Mrs. Steingold who accepted it. A few hours after that decision, Rabbi Diamond and Mrs. Steingold were engaged. They married and settled in Bnei Brak, to the delight of all involved. (Living Emunah on Shidduchim)
Reprinted from the Parshas Ki Seitzei 5784 email of The Weekly Vort.
