Once, after the war, a young man approached the Satmar Rav for a beracha. “What makes you think I can give you a beracha?” asked the Tzaddik.
"Someone whose opinion counts even in heaven surely has the right to bestow berachos," answered the young man.
"Well, if you could prove that were true about me, surely I would bestow my beracha upon you. Any person who knows that someone's opinion counts in heaven is worthy of a beracha!" smiled the Satmar Rav. "Pray tell, how you would know such a thing."
The young man told how, as they were almost liberated, he and a friend ran in search of food to feed their starving brethren. The Nazis caught them both and hanged his friend immediately.
"They would have hanged me too on the spot, except that I had done some favors for a few officers and they decided to at least grant me one final wish as thanks for my good deeds. I asked to be able to see my mother one last time and to say goodbye. At first they protested that the women's camp was too far and it would take too long, but finally they agreed. They took me to her and as I stood there before her, I said goodbye, explaining that they were going to kill me. My mother fainted on the spot. As they were taking care of her to revive her, she came to and whispered to me, ‘You will live! You will live!’
“I was dragged away by the Nazis and as they led me to the gallows, the American forces attacked and began to rain heavy artillery and bombs on the camp. The noise and explosions caused the Nazis to flee for cover and I escaped. Later, when the American officers liberated us, I was reunited with my mother. I asked her how she knew I would live. She told me that when she fainted, she rose up before the Heavenly tribunal and saw many Tzaddikim with long beards and hadras ponim (radiant countenances). She did not recognize any of them till she spotted the Satmar Rav, whom she recognized from her childhood in Rumania. ‘Rebbe, Rebbe, save my son!’ she cried to him, ‘Have mercy.’
‘Do not worry,’ said the Satmar Rav, ‘he will live.’ Then she woke up."
So saying, the young man turned to the Satmar Rav and said, "You see, Rebbe, my mother told me how your opinion counts in heaven and I am living proof!"
"Well said,” smiled the Satmar Rav – and gave him his beracha.
(Yiddish Licht Vol. 33 No. 8 Kislev 5742, pages 9-12)
