A Jewish family living in Russia, had a young daughter, about ten years old, when one day, she simply ceased to utter a sound. At first, the parents thought it was a passing phase. They tried to coax her to speak, showering her with affection and encouragement, promising her gifts and sweets, but she continued her silence. This gave her parents no rest.
What didn't they do for her? They took her to the best doctors, sat her before consultants and specialists, but no one had a solution to the mystery: how a healthy, whole girl, who until recently conversed and spoke like any other child, suddenly became mute overnight. No one had a way to diagnose the strange affliction or understand what she was experiencing. The pain and suffering of the daughter merged with the pain and suffering of the parents, who cried out and wept, but there was no savior.
After days and weeks passed with no salvation in sight, a single spark of hope glimmered in the darkness. The parents heard that in the city of Kraków, Poland, resided Rabbi Shimon Sofer, author of Michtav Sofer. He was the oldest son of the Chasam Sofer, who mirrored his father's greatness. Through the power of his Torah and holiness, he could surely decree a matter and bring about salvation for their unfortunate daughter. Immediately, the mother set out on the journey with her daughter, traveling from their home in Russia to Kraków.
After the townspeople directed them to the home of the city's rabbi, the brokenhearted woman entered the house with her daughter. She began to cry out and scream: "Rabbi, save me! See the pain of my unfortunate daughter, whose power of speech has flown away! Woe unto us! Please, let the Rabbi decree through the power of the Torah—by the decree of a Tzaddik who commands and Hashem fulfills—that her power of speech return to her!"
The Michtav Sofer, torn by their grief, responded "My heart goes out to you in your pain, but I am sorry to tell you that I cannot save you. At most, I can pray for you and bless you. Who am I, to issue decrees and work salvations?! There are many Tzaddikim in our generation who perform wonders? Please, travel to them..."
But the bitter-souled woman did not despair. She was steeped in pure, simple faith in Hashem and in the Torah sages of every generation, knowing that Hashem, hears their cries and fulfills the desire of those who fear Him. The next day, the woman returned to the home of the Michtav Sofer, and repeated her cry and plea. However, he repeated his words from the day before, stating that he does not work salvations, and that she would do well to turn to the Tzaddikim of the generation whose power is fit to save her. The scene repeated itself for several weeks, day after day. In her bitter spirit, the woman came to the house of the Michtav Sofer, crying and weeping. The Rav understood and listened, his heart overcome with compassion, yet he was forced to send her away empty-handed.
Until the day the gates of salvation swung open. It turned out that the woman's stubborn daily visits bore fruit. After several weeks of her coming every day and repeating her cry, the Michtav Sofer suddenly relented and said to her: "Please come to my house Friday night, along with your daughter, at the hour when I recite Kiddush over the cup!" Though these words breathed new life into her! When the Rav entered the house, his face glowing and greeted the household Good Shabbos. He began with Shalom Aleichem with joy as he walked around his table. And then, the sublime moment arrived: The hearts of the mother and daughter began to race, their breath nearly catching in their throats from sheer excitement and anticipation of what was to come. Sitting near the table at that moment was also his grandson, Shmuel Dov-Ber Kornitzer, son of the Chasam Sofer's son-in-law, Rabbi Akiva Kornitzer, who was also waiting to see how things would unfold. After the Michtav Sofer finished reciting Kiddush and drank from the wine, he placed the cup back on the table, turned to the girl, and said to her: “Take the cup and recite the blessing of Borei Peri HaGafen!" To everyone's astonishment, the girl opened her mouth and said in a clear, sharp voice: the bracha Borei Peri HaGafen..."
Emotional tears poured from the eyes of the mother, as her child returned to talking and conversing just like old times. The mother was thinking how she would relate the miracle to her friends in Russia. However, the Michtav Sofer commanded her: "Do not tell a soul about anything that happened here!" The woman returned home joyful and glad of heart, without telling anyone how the wondrous miracle of her daughter's restored speech had occurred. The story could have remained hidden was it not for Rabbi Shmuel Dov-Ber Kornitzer, who recounted the event in the Sefer Beer Miriam (page 27).
