By Yoni Schwartz
Rabbi David Ozeri once visited Israel and came across a bochur he knew who was struggling to get married. Rabbi Ozeri was going to visit Rav Shach and took the bochur along to get a bracha. When they arrived, Rav Shach asked who the young man was, and R’Ozeri explained he had come for a bracha to get married. Rav Shach asked, “How old is he?”
“Twenty-four,” responded Rabbi Ozeri. Rav Shach asked, “Why is he not married?” “Well,” replied Rabbi Ozeri, “he’s very shy and hasn’t mustered the strength to go on a date yet.”
Rav Shach said, “Humility is a great thing, but you have to get married.”
The boy responded, “I want to get married but...” “Promise me you’ll get married this year,” said Rav Shach. The boy was flabbergasted at his request and was afraid to make a promise to the Gadol Hador, which he might not be able to uphold. Nevertheless, Rav Shach didn’t let him leave until he promised. Eventually, the boy gave in with tears in his eyes, afraid to break his word, so Rav Shach gave him a bracha that he should be zocheh (merit) to uphold his promise.
Afterward, Rabbi Ozeri had to stop by a certain hotel and brought the bochur in, too. While there, he bumped into an old friend who mentioned that he had a daughter in seminary. Six months later, the two got married. At the vort, Rabbi Ozeri got up and mentioned this story. The father of the kallah responded, “That’s not the end of it. We were also by Rav Shach that week because my daughter was also too afraid to go out, and Rav Shach made her take the same promise.”
Comment: In Parshas Ki Savo, we learn about all the tragedies that were predicted to befall us. Why? Because we didn’t do the Mitzvos with joy. Humility is a great thing, but there is a time and place for everything. When in a world that shames Jews for being Jewish, we must stand tall and say, “I am proud to be an ambassador of pride in serving G-d.
Reprinted from the Parshas Ki Savo 5785 email of Torah Sweets.
