The Power of Prayer: A Tzadik’s Blessing that Overturned a Diagnosis

A powerful story is told in the book "Toldot Yaakov" about the Steipler, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, a renowned Torah sage of the previous generation. A woman suffering from heart problems had been scheduled for surgery. She waited six months for her appointment, and finally the day arrived.

She and her husband got into a taxi headed to the hospital. On the way, her husband asked the driver to take a short detour through Rashbam Street. He wanted to go to the Steipler’s home to ask for a bracha, a blessing, before they continued on.

When the Steipler heard the request, he responded with words that shocked everyone. “Surgery? There’s no need for it at all. It’s possible to live a long life without surgery.”

The husband stood there, stunned. How could he go back to his wife in the taxi and tell her she didn’t need the surgery anymore? She was already emotionally prepared for it. The Steipler’s grandson, noticing the husband’s confusion, quietly suggested he tell his wife that the Steipler had asked him to consult with Rabbi Shach, another great Torah sage. That way, she could process the change gradually.

The husband agreed. He went to Rav Shach’s home and shared the story. Rav Shach replied simply, “If the Steipler said there’s no need for surgery, then there’s no need for surgery. He knows what happens in Heaven.”

The couple accepted the guidance of both Torah giants. They canceled the surgery. And something amazing happened. The woman’s heart condition disappeared. She recovered completely and went back to living a full, healthy life.

Years passed. After the Steipler passed away, her health began to decline again. The same heart issues returned, and once again doctors recommended surgery.

This time the husband went to Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, the Steipler’s son. He explained the entire story and asked what to do.

Rabbi Chaim answered with deep insight. He explained that there is a disagreement among our sages in the Midrash. Does the blessing of a tzadik, a righteous person, only apply during their lifetime, or does it continue even after they have passed away?

Rabbi Chaim explained that in this case, all the sages would agree. Since the Steipler had blessed the woman with a long life, and that blessing sanctified Hashem’s name, it could not be in vain. Even after the Steipler’s passing, the blessing remained in force. And once again, the woman recovered.

Still, the Steipler had always expressed concern about a growing trend among people. Too often, even Torah scholars would rush to seek a tzadik’s blessing for every problem, big or small, while neglecting the most powerful tool Hashem gave us, our own tefillah, our own heartfelt prayer.

He would say that while there is value in receiving blessings, people sometimes forget what really matters. The most important prayer is the prayer of the person who is suffering and the prayers of their loved ones. These are sincere, personal, and deeply beloved before Hashem.

Sometimes, it might feel like prayers are not working. But the Steipler taught that this feeling is a mistake. Even when a harsh decree has already been made, prayer can still help. It can ease a person’s suffering, and even extend their life. And every moment of life, even a short one, is more precious than all the treasures in the world.

To illustrate this, the Midrash in Parshat Beshalach offers a powerful teaching. When the Torah says “Pharaoh drew near,” it can also be read as “he brought Israel close”, meaning close to teshuva, spiritual return. The fear they felt when Pharaoh pursued them caused them to lift their eyes to Heaven and cry out to Hashem in prayer.

The Midrash compares this to a princess attacked by bandits, who cries out to the king to save her. Later, when the king wants to hear her voice again but she is silent, he sends the bandits once more, just so she will call out to him. Hashem does the same with us. When we drift away, He may send difficulties to awaken us, because He loves to hear our voice in prayer.

Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein explained this beautifully. People tend to think prayer is a tool to escape suffering. But really, it’s the opposite. Suffering is sometimes the tool that brings us back to prayer, and prayer itself is the ultimate goal. It strengthens our bond with Hashem and brings divine kindness into our lives.

When a tzadik gives a blessing, it is powerful. But even more powerful is the sincere, heartfelt cry of a Jew reaching out to their Father in Heaven. And that is something each of us can do, every day.