By Rabbi Aryeh Kerzner
When my wife and I were married and had our first child, we were quickly faced with a daunting challenge. A few months after our daughter was born, she suddenly began refusing to eat, struggling to sleep, and vomiting every single night. We were at a loss, and despite our efforts to find a solution, nothing seemed to help. We consulted with numerous doctors and specialists, but none of them were able to offer any answers. After months of uncertainty, when our daughter was 11 months old, we made the decision to travel to Bnei Brak to seek a blessing from the Gadol Hador, Reb Chaim Kanievsky zt”l.
It was the height of summer—one of the hottest days of August—when we made our way to Bnei Brak. I presented our issue to Reb Chaim, asking for a bracha for my daughter's complete recovery. Reb Chaim, with his characteristic sparkle and gentle smile, looked at me thoughtfully and said, “You know, your daughter is not dressed in a tznius’dik manner.”
I was taken aback. "Does the Rav know that she is only 11 months old?" Reb Chaim nodded and acknowledged that he did indeed know her age. I asked again, “Is it required to dress an 11-month-old baby girl in a tznius’dik way?” To which Rav Chaim replied, "No, it is not halachically required. In fact, for future children, it is not something you need to be concerned with. But I would like to share with you a powerful mesorah, a tradition that I hold dear. When facing a challenge, when we are in need of salvation, there is a very effective way to secure that salvation. If we commit to taking on something special in the realm of sanctity and purity, if we make an effort to elevate the level of kedusha in our home and in our family, Hashem responds in kind and grants us unbelievable salvations."
Reb Chaim then made a promise: “If you commit to this level of tznius and kedusha for your daughter, I guarantee you will receive tremendous bracha and success, and your daughter will experience a full recovery."
In a state of shock, I left Reb Chaim’s presence, and my wife and I decided, together, to follow the guidance of the Gadol Hador. Within just one week, our daughter was completely fine.
This experience taught us an invaluable lesson about earning salvation. When faced with difficulties and challenges, and when we are in desperate need of a yeshuah, we can find a powerful segulah by taking on something, no matter how big or small, that enhances the kedusha in our lives. Whether it’s a personal commitment to an increased level of sanctity or purity within our home, this act becomes a profound way for Hakadosh Baruch Hu to reciprocate and offer His blessing. When we do something special for Hashem, He, in turn, does something special for us.
