The Belated Wedding

On the steps of an old apartment building in Jerusalem about 70 years ago sat a little girl crying.  The Jerusalem of old had something very special.  Many tsaddikim (righteous individuals) regularly walked its hallowed streets.  Tzaddikim such as Rav Aryeh Levine, Rav Ben Zion Abba Shaul, Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and many others would be seen walking, deep in Torah thoughts.

“Why are you crying, little girl” came the warm greeting of Rav Aryeh Levine, as he approached sad little Estie.  Estie lifted up her head, pleasantly surprised to see the Tzaddik of Jerusalem kindly staring back at her.  “My mommy is very sick, and I can tell from the doctors’ faces that they don’t think there is much hope” said the little girl in a raspy voice, as she wiped away tears with an old kerchief.

“I bless you” said Rav Aryeh “that your mother will walk you down the aisle to your chuppah.”  Then, a small but sure smile appeared on the little Estie’s face, as she knew with a pure faith that the blessing of a tzaddik are always fulfilled. The years went by and although the mother remained weak, she survived her illness.  Estie, who was the oldest child in her family, was now of marriageable age.  However, she turned down every shidduch (marriage offer) that was suggested to her for one reason or another.  So much time elapsed that it was now her sister’s time to find a shidduch.  Her sister, thank G-d, found her intended match quickly and wedding plans were set, while Estie remained single.

More time passed.  By now, a younger brother was looking for a bride.  Surely enough, the right girl was found and another wedding was planned while the older sister remained single.

More years and more time elapsed and the last of Estie’s siblings were now happily married.  Even though the offers for Estie (who was not so young by now) were limited, there were nevertheless still a few eligible men on the singles list.  Estie continued searching and finally found her intended match.  With great joy, a grand wedding was planned.  Estie’s weak but elated mother walked her daughter who had chosen a beautiful white wedding gown, down the aisle.

And then, sadly enough, a few months after that happy wedding celebration, Estie’s mother passed away.  That little girl who received the blessing from the tzaddik of Jerusalem clearly knew that his blessing would come to fruition. Out of immense kindness and self-sacrifice, Estie decided that she would wait to get married until all her brothers and sisters merited to have their mother walk down the aisle with them, so that they too could experience the same blessing that tzaddik gave her as a little girl.