Special thanks to Revach L’neshama for the story
Yaakov was the top bochur in his yeshivah. Therefore, it was quite a surprise to everybody that Yaakov was having problems with shidduchim. It wasn’t for lack of opportunities, since he had gone out on countless dates, but nothing ever seemed to materialize.
One day, he made an exception to his schedule and attended the bris of his chavrusa’s son that took place in the Beis Medrash of HaRav Yitzchak Hutner. After the bris, the attendants crowded around Rav Hutner to greet him and receive a bracha. Rav Hutner nodded to each person in greeting. When Rav Hutner spotted Yaakov, he stared at him with his piercing gaze and whispered to him that Yaakov should meet him in his private office as he wished to speak with him. Apparently, Rav Hutner was able to discern Yaakov’s unspoken distress.
When they met in the office, Rav Hutner said: “I have a segulah, a mesorah from our Rabannim of answering Amen, Yehei Shmei Rabbah with all one’s strength. Answering Amen, Yehei Shmei Rabbah is a tefillah for the magnification of kavod Shamayim, and through it, one fulfills the mitzvah of kavod Hashem. It’s possible that once in your life you were mechallel the Shem Shamayim and due to this, the gates of Shamayim have been closed to you. When you answer Amen, Yehei Shmei Rabbah loudly and with kavanah, you are mekadesh Shem Shamayim. This is a tested segulah - if you persist in following it, you’ll soon merit to stand at the chuppa, and if you’ll continue afterwards, you’ll also merit a bris.”
Yaakov thanked Rav Hutner, left the office and returned to yeshivah. When Mincha arrived, Yaakov already began to say Amen, Yehei Shmei Rabbah loudly and with kavanah. A few weeks later, Yaakov became a chassan, and a year later he had a son. Rav Hutner was honored with being the sandek.
