A Woman’s Unusual Prayer to Hashem
Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro
Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro told an amazing story about a woman in her forties who hadn’t yet found her zivug—match. A friend of hers suggested she go to Rav Yissachar Meyer to get some advice. The woman was from France and didn’t speak Hebrew, so she asked her friend to help translate the Rabbi’s message to her. The Rabbi suggested to the woman to read Tehillim— to “recite perek 32, perek 38, perek 82, and perek 121, every day for 30 days.” The friend translated this for the single woman, and she vowed to do just that.
On day 30 she got engaged, and she asked her friend to find the Rabbi to share the amazing news! While they were getting in touch with the Rabbi, the friend realized something. She said to the new bride, “I know you don’t speak Hebrew because I need to translate for you, but do you read Hebrew?”
The woman said, “No, of course not.”
The friend, dumbstruck, said, “Well, how did you say the four perakim for 30 days?”
The woman answered, “I did exactly what the Rabbi said to do! I held the Tehillim close to me, and I said with all my heart, ‘perek 32, perek 38, perek 82, perek 121, please Hashem find me a husband,’ every day for 30 days.
The woman intended to pray to Hashem with sincerity and emunah, and although her prayers weren’t exactly traditional, they were heartfelt prayers, nonetheless, and Hashem sent her a shidduch. We must always remember Hashem is in charge and have faith that everything will work out the way it's supposed to.
“Worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you cannot change. Prayer is a conversation you have with Hashem about things He can change.”
Reprinted from the Parashat Chayei Sara 5786 email of Jack E. Rahmey based on the Torah teachings of Rabbi Amram Sananes.
