The Rebbe Makes A Shidduch Today 29 Years Ago
by Chona Nosson Gewirtz
My son Meir was born in Beth Israel Hospital “bayn hashmosos” erev Shabbos, 28-29 Adar 5754, just after the Rebbe was admitted to Beth Israel Hospital. My wife had been using the Beth Israel Midwife Practice, and we were quite surprised that the Rebbe had just been admitted to the same hospital right before the birth. It was Shabbos evening right after Meir was born, and the hospital staff was bringing Meir up on an elevator to the hospital’s nursery. I took the stairs to follow along. As I was going up, to my surprise I see Rabbi Leibel Groner, the Rebbe’s Mazkir, coming down the stairs, apparently leaving from where the Rebbe was. Rabbi Groner was at that time the Secretary through whom many would communicate requests for brochas to the Rebbe. I told Rabbi Groner my wife had just had a boy, and he said “mazal tov” as he continued on his way down the stairs, clearly with many other things on his mind. I’ve told the above story of hoshgocha protis at Meir’s various simchas, and even once many years later I told the story to Rabbi Groner himself, but Rabbi Groner did not remember it.
Fast forward to this past Sunday, 17 Elul 5783. Meir, his Kallah and their families went to the Rebbe’s Ohel to seek the Rebbe’s bracha for the couple to become engaged. After leaving the Rebbe’s Ohel, the families went to a small side room by the Ohel to say “l’chaim” and “mazal tov”. The Kallah’s father said divrei Torah, and then it was my turn to speak. Having not really prepared in advance, I told the above story of how Meir by hoshgocha protis was born by the Rebbe in Beth Israel Hospital, and by hoshgocha protis I had passed Rabbi Groner on the stairs right afterwards, and that it was now again hashgacha protis that Meir was getting engaged right by the Rebbe. The Kallah, who had never heard the story about Meir before, upon hearing the beginning of the story looked like she could hardly believe what she was hearing. “I also was born in Beth Israel Hospital while the Rebbe was there,” she announced to the surprised Chosson and his family, “2 months after the Rebbe had been admitted there.”
It became revealed right after leaving the Rebbe’s Ohel that the Rebbe had not only given his brocha for the engagement, but had himself made the shidduch 29 years ago, while the Rebbe was in Beth Israel Hospital.
Mushkie
Let me get this straight: two babies born in the hospital while Rebbe was there. Years later, they get engaged. That means the Rebbe made their shidduch?!!
Let’s expand the criteria – any two babies born in NYS while the Rebbe as in NYS, would mean the Rebbe made their shidduch?!
Am I missing something???
What You're Missing
The “chance” encounter with the Rebbe’s Mazkir on the hospital stairs right after the Chosson’s birth (what were the odds of that happening?), the “chance” discovery by the Chosson & Kallah that the other was also born in the same hospital as the Rebbe, immediately after asking for the Rebbe’s brocha, and connecting the dots…
Mushkie
Oh, now I get it (-as I nod my head in wisdom).
“The “chance” encounter with the Rebbe’s Mazkir on the hospital stairs right after the Chosson’s birth” – wouldn’t that mean that the Mazkir made the shidduch, especially since the Mazkir said Mazel tov???!!
Continued (more “dots”)
Mushkie
Oh, but there are more “dots” –
“the Chosson & Kallah that the other was also born in the same hospital as the Rebbe, immediately after asking for a brocha”
Oh, that’s obvious (-said as I smack my forehead) – the Kallah was born TWO MONTHS LATER in that hospital.
That “can” be considered born “immediately ” after “asking fir a brocha”, if you are למעלה מזמן (not constrained by earthly time).
Mushkie
Continued
And van you define “asking for a brocha” – meeting the Maxkir on the steps and telling him you had a baby is “asking for a brocha”???!!
And when the Mazkir answers you, “Mazel tov” – is THAT the brocha???!!!
Wow, the dots really do connect and lead you down a rabbit hole.
But I don’t follow anyone down rabbit holes or drink the kool-aid.
Mushkie
You ask “what were the odds of that happening” (to encounter the Mazkir on 5he hospital steps)?
Let us think (- putting on my thinking hat):
It’s shabbos, right? Yidden don’t use the elevator on shabbos, right? So we use…the stairs! (Someone shout, “Bingo!”).
You use the hospital stairs, the Mazkir uses the same stairs…and you encounter him. Unusual? No!
What are the chances?! Very high!!
Mushkie
Those who know me, know that I get inspired by stories. But they need to make sense. At least a tiny little bit. Because when they don’t, it’s really not. No offense but, okay, believe whatever makes you happy (even if it’s not reality).
What You're Missing
…and when the Jews left Egypt there were no miracles, just good timing for when the water naturally splits… Making a shidduch is like splitting the Yam Suf. The chance meeting with Rabbi Groner (both taking the stairs in opposite directions within the same short time it took to walk up a flight of stairs) was a sign of the Rebbe’s involvement.
What You're Missing
The request for a brocha, for the engagement, was only this week, 29+ years later.
Mushkie
Suppose I ran into the Mazkir on the street. He is walking on shabbos towards 770, I am walking towards him. I tell him, Good shabbos. He answers, Good shabbos.
Wow!
It’s as you wrote:
“The chance meeting with Rabbi Groner (both [walking Eastern Park] in opposite directions within the same short time it took to walk [to 770]) was a sign of the Rebbe’s involvement.
A brocha for the cholent!
Mushkie
My point is, everyone fantasies that their___(fill in the blank: child, shidduch, life mission) is so special and unique.
Truth be told, we are ALL special and unique.
But another truth is that each one is not more unique than the other.
Hashem makes every shidduch. The Rebbe, as the neshoma klolli and Nasi of the dor, is involved with each shidduch.
Yes, each shidduch. Equal involvement!
Mushkie
Adding
I did hear of a few shidduchim that took place many years ago, that the Rebbe himself suggested.
We can be envious. But out fantasies don’t create reality.
Torah is emes – real. Chasidus is emes – real. Chassidim are emes – real. Emes despises sheker!
Leave the fantasies to Walt Disney and Hollywood.
Mushkie
But here are a few more “dots”:
The hospital is named (drum roll): Mt Sinai. And we know that Har Sinai was the Chupah over Bnei Yisroel. Get it? Chupah! Shidduch! Connect the dots!
And what do we wish every chosson and kallah? To build a Bayis Nemen B’Yisroel! And guess what? The second half of the hospital’s name is Beth Israel!!! Bais Yisroel!! Get it?
So obvious (in the world of fantasy)!!!
Mushkie
And the biggest “dot”:
The shidduch is made 29 years later. Twenty-nine is significant. It correlates with Breishis Chapter 29.
In that chapter, Yaakov marries Leah and Rochet and the birth of the first shevatim, including Yehudah.
And Yehudah is the forefather of Moshiach…the Rebbe “planned” it all so perfectly in this little fantasy!
In the great fantasy, did you miss this huge dit?!