Many times, in the spring and summer months, pigeons or doves would nest on the air-conditioner box outside the home of R’ Chaim Kanievsky Shlit’a. Since the mitzvah of shiluach hakan is brought in the Medrash as a segulah for having children, many childless couples would perform the mitzvah of shiluach hakan (sending away the mother bird and taking the chicks) on the air conditioner, as both R’ Chaim and his Rebbetzin performed the mitzvah many times.
On the 10th of Tammuz 5754 (1994), Rebbetzin Kanievsky’s mother, Rebbetzin Shaina Chaya Elyashiv A”H, passed away. Rebbetzin Kanievsky was preparing to be driven to Yerushalayim for the funeral. As she was leaving her house, she noticed a dove’s nest on the air conditioner outside her home, with eggs already incubating. The Rebbetzin immediately thought about a young man and his wife, Shlomo and Sigal Marciano, who came every Motzaei Shabbos at a designated time to speak with her. The Marcianos had been married for more than ten years and had not yet been blessed with children. The Rebbetzin was eager to offer them the mitzvah of shiluach hakan, with the hope that it would be a merit to start a family.
Despite her great sadness at the loss of her mother and the pressure of rushing to Yerushalayim in time for the funeral, Rebbetzin Kanievsky stopped in her tracks. A mission of chesed lay before her. As if she had forgotten her personal tragedy, she went to the home of a neighbor who had a phone and called the Marcianos. When no one answered, the Rebbetzin asked one of her grandsons to go to the nearby kollel where Shlomo Marciano learned. Family members told her that they would find someone else to notify Shlomo about the nest, but she wouldn’t hear of it. “I gave him my word that I would notify him if a bird begins nesting on our air-conditioner box, and I must keep my word.”
Fifteen minutes later, when Shlomo Marciano arrived, the Rebbetzin told him where the nest was located and handed him the key to her house. “R’ Chaim is inside,” she informed him, “but since he is always immersed in his learning, please let yourself into the house. Ask R’ Chaim, and he will explain to you how to do the mitzvah. He will be leaving for the funeral later today, as he first has to finish his learning at home.”
A little while after she left, Shlomo Marciano let himself into the Kanievsky home. R’ Chaim was sitting in his study, engrossed in learning. Shlomo told R’ Chaim that the Rebbetzin had sent him to do the mitzvah of shiluach hakan. R’ Chaim asked him, “Are you the one who is married for more than ten years and hasn’t yet been blessed with children?” When Shlomo replied that he was, R’ Chaim welcomed him into his home and told him that he should do the mitzvah after sunset, as then one can be sure that it is the mother who is nesting. R’ Chaim went through the halachos of the mitzvah with Shlomo and gave him his own stick to chase away the mother bird. R’ Chaim was to be driven to Yerushalayim later, as the funeral was taking place that evening, and he waited for Shlomo to complete the mitzvah. After the mitzvah was done, R’ Chaim gave him many berachos that he should merit the blessing of children right away.
Baruch Hashem, eleven months later, Shlomo’s wife gave birth to their first child, a precious daughter. Following R’ Chaim’s advice, they called her Ayala; the Medrash says that an ayil (ram) gives happy tidings. They had a son two years later. R’ Chaim served as sandek at the bris, where the new baby was named Yaakov Yisrael, after the Steipler Gaon ZT”L.
Shlomo Marciano relates that it was Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky A”H who always helped him and his wife during their long period of childlessness. She cried along with them, encouraged them, and always managed to say the right words. Several times, they mentioned how hard it was to eat the Shabbos meals at home alone. After sympathizing with them and offering encouraging words, the Rebbetzin would beg them to join her and R’ Chaim for the Shabbos meals, emphasizing that they had an open invitation. When they shared their wonderful news with her several weeks after her mother’s death, even before telling any family members, the Rebbetzin cried tears of joy with them and told them how she would daven for them daily until they were holding a precious baby in their arms. Then she immediately begged the Marcianos to notify their parents.
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.