Yoel* was on his way to a shidduch date when he saw an older man fall to the ground at a red light. He immediately pulled over to help. The man, Mr. Friedman*, brushed himself off and said, “I’m okay, I just lost my balance.”
Yoel offered to drive him home, but Mr. Friedman insisted he was fine. However, Yoel wouldn’t take no for an answer and helped him into the car. Even though Yoel was due to pick up his date in five minutes, he decided the chessed took precedence. He called to say he'd be late and drove Mr. Friedman home.
While driving, Yoel mentioned he was meeting a girl that night, and Mr. Friedman replied, “I never got married. I lived my whole life alone.”
Yoel was struck by the sadness of it and suggested, “Let’s daven for each other to get married.”
Mr. Friedman responded, “I’m 72. If I didn’t marry by now, I’m not getting married anytime soon.”
Yoel replied, “Never say never. Anything is possible. I’ll daven that you get married, and I hope you daven that I do, too.” They exchanged numbers and kept in touch over the years. Eventually, Yoel got engaged. During the vort, he received a text from Mr. Friedman:
“I get a mazel tov! I’m getting married next month! I want to invite you to my wedding.” Mr. Friedman, in his mid-seventies, was marrying for the first time! The hashgacha in this story is astounding—two men who had prayed for each other, one at 24 and the other at 74, got engaged at the same time! (Living Emunah on Shidduchim)
Reprinted from the Parshas Mishpatim 5785 email of The Weekly Vort. Excerpted from the ArtScroll book – “Living Emunah on Shidduchim.”