The king sent a written message to R’ Shlomo, stating that his daughter refuses to marry anyone other than his son, Yitzchak. He notified R’ Shlomo that a servant will soon come to bring his son to the king.
R’ Shlomo broke into bitter weeping. The Rebbitzen almost fainted. How could they refuse the king’s decree; yet how could they let their son marry a gentile woman? Friends and neighbors offered ideas and advice. Tuvia, head of the community, told them, “The princess wants your unmarried son. But she would not want him if she knew he was married...”
All the Respectable Suggestions Seemed to Have Disappeared
They realized that Tuvia was right. They quickly began searching for an appropriate girl for Yitzchak to marry post haste. All the respectable suggestions seemed to have disappeared, yet they needed to marry him off immediately. Then they thought of Bluma, the maid, who was not particularly beautiful, did not come from lofty lineage, had no money and no parents. She possessed only one important trait – she was an available unmarried Jewish girl.
A minyan was called together and a hasty chuppah was swiftly arranged. In their worst nightmares, R’ Shlomo and his wife had never dreamed that their splendid son would marry a simple and homely maidservant in a swift and somber ceremony! A few days later, R’ Shlomo understood the wisdom of Tuvia’s advice. The king sent soldiers to summon Yitzchak, so that he could be taught to become a good Christian as preparation for his marriage to Princess Wilhelmina.
Brought Proof that His Son Was a Married Man
When R’ Shlomo stated that his son was a married man, and brought proof of this fact, the decree was annulled. Several weeks later, when it was clear that the danger had passed, the rebbetzin told Bluma that she should now accept a divorce from her son, as it had only been an emergency arrangement. Bluma refused; she claimed that her marriage was a proper one and she would not give it up!
The rebbetzin then called Yitzchak and commanded him to give his wife a divorce, as she was not his proper partner. Yitzchak would not hear of it either. “This was destined in heaven,” he said. “Hashem checked all the matches, examined all the factors, and caused this to happen, because in the natural way there would have been no chance of the rabbi’s son marrying the maidservant Bluma.”
His mother cried to him, “Yitzchak, are you mad? The greatest in the land are nothing compared to you, and you will stay tied to a homely maid?!?”
Yitzchak replied, “Yes. I prefer to be tied to the maidservant, who is beautiful in my eyes, rather than humiliate a Jewish woman.” At that moment, a great furor broke out in heaven, and the Heavenly Tribunal judged that Yitzchak should be granted a great gift. Bluma bore Yitzchak 24 children, all beautiful, sensitive and successful – 12 pairs of twins! And from these twins came the famed Teomim (twins) [or Thumim] family, spread in communities around the world.
Reprinted from the Parshas Pekudei 5784 email of The Weekly Vort. Excerpted from the ArtScroll book – “Tales for the Soul” by Yair Weinstock.
