Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger tells a truly amazing story. During the hours that Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l dedicated for people to see him, he was visited by a young man. He came to talk to Rav Chaim because he was having difficulty in finding a shidduch. While speaking he pointed out the obvious: a large scar marred his face.
“This is probably the reason I get so many rejections,” he said despondently.
“How did you get this scar?” Rav Chaim asked, compassion in his eyes.
The young man responded that a few years earlier, he was in the Old City of Jerusalem and saw an Arab chasing a Jewish girl. He pursued the Arab and a scuffle ensued. During the fight, the Arab stabbed his face repeatedly, and when the wounds healed, his face was permanently scarred.
“When the next shidduch is arranged for you, tell the girl how you became scarred,” Rav Chaim advised.
The young man followed these instructions, and upon the conclusion of his recital, the girl asked for more details about the incident.
Finally, visibly moved, she exclaimed, “I am that girl – the one you saved! Ever since that day, I have wanted to find you and thank you for saving me.”
The two got married and the young lady became very close to Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky.
“If a shidduch is bashert (i.e. nassib),” Rav Chaim would conclude after repeating this story, “Hashem works a unique chain of events to bring it to fruition.”
Hashem does not forget a courageous act.
Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Reuven Semah
Reprinted from the Parashat Vayakhel 5784 email of Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspce.
