The Shidduch

The Baal HaTanya (Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi) desired to make a shidduch with the Meor Eynaim’s descendants. He once came to the Meor Eynaim in Czernoble seeking a shidduch for his granddaughter (his son, Rav DovBer’s daughter). The Meor Eynaim invited the Meor Eynaim in to the next room where his grandchildren were sleeping. “Select the one that you want, except for Aharon who is already a chassan.”

The Baal HaTanya placed his hand on the heads of each sleeping child, and when his holy hands rested on the head of Rav Yaakov Yisroel, the Baal HaTanya declared: “This one is of my mind!” At age sixteen, on 6th Shevat תקע"א in Liadi, he married Devora Leah, the daughter of Rav Dov Ber, the Mittler Rebbe of Chabad.