A Shabbat Prayer That Changed Generations

Rabbi Aharon Bialistotsky once heard an incredible story directly from the Chofetz Chaim, the great Torah scholar of the last generation.

There was a cherished custom in one Jewish community. Every Shabbat, just before evening prayers (Maariv) that end Shabbat, people would gather in the synagogue to recite Tehillim (Psalms) together.

One Shabbat, a Jewish visitor entered the shul and noticed something unusual. In one corner, a man stood reading Psalms with deep feeling. His voice was different. He didn’t just read the words, he poured his heart into every line. The sincerity in his voice moved everyone around him. The visitor couldn’t help but be drawn in. He joined in, saying Tehillim with fiery passion, each man silently praying for his own private troubles.

After the prayers ended, the visitor approached the man who had inspired him. “Your prayer was so heartfelt,” he said. “It’s clear something is weighing heavily on you. Can I help somehow?”

The man, tired and troubled, spoke honestly: “I have a daughter who’s ready to get married,” he said quietly, “but I have no money at all for a wedding. Every Shabbat, as we sit together at the table, my heart breaks. I see her sadness, and I feel so helpless. The only thing I can do is cry out to Hashem to ease our pain.”

The visitor’s eyes lit up with hope. “My friend,” he said warmly, “I also have a son—a fine, young man devoted to Torah and mitzvot with good middot (character traits). Like you, I have no money for a wedding. But what if we arranged a match between your daughter and my son? Maybe together we can bring salvation to both our homes.”

The Chofetz Chaim, his voice full of emotion, concluded the story: “Their prayers were not in vain. In fact, they brought even more blessing than they imagined. The shidduch (match) was made, the children married, and from their home came four sons who lit up the world of Torah: Rabbi Yehuda HaKohen, author of Kuntres HaSfeikot; Rabbi Chaim HaKohen; Rabbi Aryeh Leib HaKohen Heller, author of Ketzot HaChoshen, Avnei Miluim, and Shev Shmaatsa; and Rabbi Mordechai, the rabbi of the city of Khodrov.”

Rabbi Yisrael Liush shared this moving story with the Dirshu website and added a beautiful insight from the weekly Torah portion.

In that portion, we read about the very first shidduch in the Torah—how Avraham’s trusted servant Eliezer was sent to find a wife for Yitzchak (Isaac). It wasn’t a simple mission. This couple would be the foundation of the Jewish people. The bride would become the mother of Yaakov (Jacob), and from her would come the twelve tribes of Israel.

From this Torah portion we learn an essential truth: when it comes to finding a shidduch, the first step is always tefillah—prayer.

When Avraham sent Eliezer on this holy mission, he told him, “He will send His angel before you.” The commentator Sforno explains this wasn’t just instruction—it was a prayer. Avraham was asking Hashem to send help from Heaven, just as He had guided Avraham throughout his life.

And Eliezer, even though he trusted that his master’s prayer would be answered, still added his own heartfelt tefillah: “Hashem, God of my master Avraham, please grant me success today.” As Or HaChaim explains, Eliezer wanted to be worthy of playing a role in this great mission, so he added his own sincere prayer.

Later, we see Yitzchak joining this chain of prayer. When he went out to the field to “meditate,” the Torah is really telling us that he went to daven (pray). The Kli Yakar explains that Yitzchak was praying about finding the right wife, knowing that Eliezer was on his way back with a possible match. And Hashem answered him right away: “He lifted his eyes and saw, and behold—camels were coming.” At that very moment, Rivka (Rebecca), his future wife, was arriving—the clear result of his heartfelt prayer.

This story and the Torah portion remind us of something so powerful and comforting: sincere prayer never goes unheard. Whether in the corner of a small shul, or in the fields of ancient Israel, heartfelt tefillot have the power to open gates and create miracles for generations to come.

Courtesy of the Dirshu website.