A young mother once came to the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Yissachar Dov Rokeach zt”l, and tearfully told him about the problem with her sweet young son who stood beside her: He was mute, completely unable to speak. She asked for a blessing, and the Rebbe blessed the boy that Hashem should help his condition to improve.
However, the young mother was not satisfied with this. “Please, Rebbe,” she insisted, “help my little boy now! I know the Rebbe has a special connection to Heaven. Please do whatever you can and give my son the ability to speak!”
Rav Yissachar Dov was quiet for some time. Finally, he indicated to the mother to listen carefully. “I will do what I can to help your little boy, but you must never, under any circumstances, divulge how it came about!”
Having secured her commitment to secrecy, the Rebbe told the woman to come to the beis midrash with her son on the following morning, where he would speak to them after he had immersed himself in the mikvah.
The next day, when the Rebbe entered the beis midrash, he called the boy over and, pointing to an open siddur before him, told the boy to repeat the alef-beis after him. The boy stood helplessly, tears flowing down his cheeks. He shook his head vehemently, then threw his hands up in despair. He could not utter a sound! Again, the Rebbe instructed the boy to read, but, try as he might, he could not. Once again, the Rebbe pointed to the siddur, raised his voice, and commanded the child to read. The boy looked down at the page, at the letters dancing before his eyes, and suddenly he opened his mouth, and the sounds of the letters came tumbling out, one by one, shaky at first, but then in a clear and vibrant voice.
“My son is speaking!” cried the young mother in delight. “My son is speaking! I am forever grateful to the Rebbe for my child’s miraculous recovery. This is the happiest moment of our lives!”
She joyously returned home with her son, surprising the townspeople and arousing their curiosity more than a bit. They were delighted that the child could talk but wondered how the cure had been wrought. There were several theories bantered about, some claiming that it was the work of a great professor, others insisting that it was a miracle of a tzadik. A few people decided to resolve the matter by approaching the boy’s mother directly.
At first, she resisted her questioners staunchly, reminding herself of the solemn promise she gave to the Belzer Rebbe. “There is no way I can reveal the secret!” she declared firmly. However, one day, in the face of persistent inquiry, she let slip the mention of the Belzer Rebbe as the one who had effected the dramatic recovery of her son.
As soon as she uttered that fateful remark, her heart sank. Realizing her grave mistake, she frantically tried to retract her words, but it was too late; the promise had been broken. “What have I done?” she cried. “What will become of my son now?” She called to him, but there was no reply. He stood rooted to the spot, motioning with his hand that his speech was lost.
Shattered, the woman raced to the home of the Belzer Rebbe with her son, though she was almost too ashamed to face him. Sadly, Rav Yissachar Dov shook his head, informing the heartbroken woman that there was nothing more he could do. “I am afraid that I can no longer help you. You did not keep your word – that was the condition of your son’s relief. I can only advise you to consult with a top professor in Vienna; perhaps he will be able to do something.”
Disappointed, and under far different circumstances than their last visit, mother and son left the Rebbe’s house. Following his suggestion, they traveled to Vienna and sought out a renowned specialist named Professor Neuman.
After months of intensive treatment, the professor succeeded in restoring some speech to the boy; however, it was clearly not the same as it had been the first time, after the Belzer Rebbe had effected his cure.
“Look at the difference between the Rebbe and this professor!” declared the distraught mother with great emotion. “The holy Belzer Rebbe was able to cure the boy instantly, and his speech was perfect. The professor, on the other hand, did not manage to cure him completely, even after many months.”
(Adapted from “Gut Voch” by A. Barash)
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.
