One day, each member of the household of the holy Chasam Sofer was ill. Among the sick was the young six-year-old Shmuel Binyamin. Over time, his illness grew worse and his life was in danger. Everyone davened on his behalf and pledged tzedakah to spare his life. They added the name Avrohom to his name. Eventually, he would endure some five to seven illness -- each severe and life threatening. The final of these harrowing illnesses reached its peak and the doctors concluded that the end was near. The members of the Chevra Kadisha were summoned to perform the final rites. They lit candles and conducted tefillos while the physicians and medical experts turned to the Chasam Sofer and said:
“We know you are a holy man; surely if your prayers remain unanswered then there is no hope!”
Hearing this the Chasam Sofer stood up and began to daven by the bookcase that held all his writings and manuscripts of his Torah. Suddenly the sick child cried out, “Shema Yisroel!”
The Chasam Sofer responded to his son.
The physicians declared, “Now we really see how holy you are and our hope is restored!”.
“I myself, never gave up hope,” declared the Chasam Sofer.
Seeing the child’s miraculous recovery, the Chevra Kaddisha put out the candles and left with a sense of relief. Others heard the tzaddik say to himself: “For one yovel (a jubilee), have my prayers been answered.”
