There was a young man who was in his early forties who became very ill, R”L. He had a wife and children, and his condition was critical. The doctor told his worried wife, “I’m sorry, I can’t risk operating on him unless you get approval from a higher authority. I am afraid that he may not survive the procedure.”
The doctor expected her to consult a more experienced physician, but she had a different idea. She recalled that her husband had learned by Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, in his youth, and she decided to seek his guidance.
When the doctor later asked if she had consulted a higher authority, she replied, “Yes, and I’m going to see him tomorrow.” He asked, “Which doctor are you going to see?”
She explained, “He’s not a doctor. He’s a Rabbi.” Shocked, the doctor said, “A Rabbi? How can he decide on a medical matter?” With confidence, she responded, “You asked for the highest authority. To me, this is it.”
Intrigued, the doctor asked to join her. The next day, they visited Rav Moshe, who listened carefully to the details of the illness and the operation. When the wife showed him a photo of her husband from his Yeshivah days, Rav Moshe recognized him and began to cry. Moved by the Rabbi’s genuine compassion, the doctor turned to the wife and said, “Now I understand. Someone who cares so deeply will be guided to the right decision.”
Rav Moshe advised that the operation should proceed, but he added that the man should commit to saying every Brachah out loud so others around him could answer Amein. He explained that the Gematria of the word ‘Amein’ is 91, which is the same Gematria as the word ‘Malach’.
Rav Moshe said that every Brachah that is answered with an Amein creates a Malach, and these Malachim provide protection. Baruch Hashem the operation succeeded, and the man fully recovered. He also fulfilled his commitment to always say Brachos out loud, and he would always encourage others to do the same!
Reprinted from the Parshas Beshalach 5786 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
