Our Sages teach us that the Kabalas HaTorah of our forefathers, thousands of years ago, was not an isolated incident. In fact, in every generation, we revisit this “kabbalah” – this unique acceptance of Torah primacy in our lives; and in return, the Torah uplifts us, guides us, and protects us. With our great leaders showing us the way, each and every Jew, from the simplest to the most scholarly, can have an impact on the world, not only for himself and his family, but with the power of his “kabalas haTorah” on any level, he can affect the lives of others in a great and meaningful way.
A couple living abroad (chutz la’aretz) was married for over 20 years but, unfortunately, they were not blessed with children. They went to doctors for treatment and prayed at holy sites, year after year, to no avail. Someone suggested that they should move to the Holy Land, for Chazal tell us that settling in Eretz Yisrael is a s’gulah for children. They followed this advice and uprooted their lives; but three years later, however, there was still no change in their situation.
One day, they bumped into an old friend, a neighbor from their former city. He inquired how they were faring and when he heard that they were still waiting for children, he tried to console them. “Please, don’t be sad,” he said to them. “If after 23 years nothing has changed, you have no reason to keep hoping for children. There are many couples without children, and it’s not the end of the world; there are many other mitzvos in the Torah that you can fulfill.” This man did not mean any harm, he was simply ignorant. He saw the sadness on their faces, and he thought that he was comforting them, helping them face their disappointment, and giving them strength to carry on with their lives.
When this man returned to his home abroad, he told his wife that he met the couple and what he had said. She scolded him harshly, “How can you say such a thing? Why did you have to mix into other people’s business?”
The man tried to defend himself. “They looked so sad. If you had seen their miserable faces, you would have tried to console them as well, ” he replied to his wife. But she wouldn’t hear of it.
“How do you know they’ll never have children? Even after all this time, how can you be so sure?” she asked.
The man thought for a moment. “You know what?” he finally said, “If they do have children, after 23 years, I will sell my entire business, move to Eretz Yisrael, and become a kollel yungerman! How would you like that?”
She agreed to his off-hand proposition, and the subject didn’t come up for another two years, until they heard the miraculous news: Amazingly, after two years of tearful davening and hopeful treatments, the couple was blessed with twins, a girl and a boy! It was the talk of the town. Everyone was elated. Everyone, except for one man who had opened his mouth foolishly, and now he began to panic. He took the first flight to Israel, and he drove straight to Bnei Brak to Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita. As soon as he was admitted, he told the Rav the whole story. He wanted to know what he should do.
“What’s the question?” asked Rav Chaim, dismissively. “Keep your word!”
The man began to panic again. “Can’t I do Hataras N’darim (to nullify my vow)?” he asked with great urgency.
“No! Your neder was in the category of a neder mitzvah, which cannot be annulled,” replied Rav Chaim.
Practically hyperventilating, the man tried one last time. “Maybe I can appoint a shaliach (emissary) who will learn instead of me in kollel? I will support him and provide him with all his needs. He will lack for nothing!”
Rav Chaim looked at him and smiled. “That’s actually a good idea, to appoint a shaliach. But you should do it in the opposite direction. You learn in kollel, and the shaliach will run the business!” Rav Chaim was quiet for a moment and then with a piercing glance, he added, “Maybe they had children in the merit of your neder to learn in kollel!”
Rav Shlomo Levenstein shlita, who told this story, comments: “Amazing! This Yid hadn’t begun learning yet. All he did was make a neder to start, and already, in the z’chus of his kabalah, a barren woman had children! Is it not clear to everyone that Torah study is oxygen! It provides vitality for the entire world. It causes barren women to have children; it heals all illnesses. Nothing is greater!”
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.
