The Candy That Changed a Verdict: A Story of Simple Faith

A Jewish man from Jerusalem, a father of nine children, suddenly found himself in the middle of a difficult legal situation—even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. To his shock and heartbreak, the prosecution was asking for a long, harsh prison sentence.

On the morning the verdict was to be announced, the man, filled with anxiety, went to speak with Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Fischer, the admired halachic authority and dayan (rabbinic judge) of the Haredi community, and rabbi of Zichron Moshe in Jerusalem. The young man, deeply emotional, shared the terrible pressure he was under and the fear he felt as the court prepared to decide his fate.

Rabbi Fischer listened quietly. Then he opened a drawer, pulled out a candy, and handed it to the man.

The young man looked at him, confused. But Rabbi Fischer gently held his hand and said: “Take this candy and put it in your pocket. When the judge enters the courtroom, ignore everything else going on. Hold the candy, and with full concentration, say the blessing: ‘Baruch Atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha’olam, shehakol nihyeh bidvaro’ – ‘Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the universe, by Whose word all things came to be.’

“When you say shehakol—‘by Whose word all things’—really think about what that means: that everything in the world, without exception, exists only because Hashem said so. The verdict, the courtroom, what the judge says—it’s all from Him! And in the merit of this emunah (faith), Hashem will bring you blessing and success.”

The man left with the candy in his pocket, the Rav’s words burning in his heart. His friends gave him all kinds of advice—legal strategies, courtroom behavior—but his focus was only on one thing: the blessing Rabbi Fischer had guided him to say.

When the judge entered the courtroom, the young man pulled out the candy. He closed his eyes. With all his heart, he said: “Baruch Atah Hashem”—he paused and thought of Hashem as the Master of all, Who was, is, and will be—“Elokeinu”—the Almighty, Who can do anything—“Melech ha’olam”—King of the world—“shehakol nihyeh bidvaro”—everything exists only because Hashem wills it. He put the candy in his mouth.

The prosecution asked for twelve years in prison. The defense hoped for three or four—but no one imagined he’d be completely let off.

Then something strange happened. The main judge leaned over and whispered to the other two judges. They sat together, quietly speaking. A few moments later, they announced a short recess.

Could it be that something unusual was happening? The young man stayed seated, but inside, his thoughts were steady—he kept repeating the meaning of shehakol, clinging tightly to his belief.

Twenty minutes passed. Then thirty. Then a full hour.

Finally, the judges returned. The head judge spoke: “The accusations in this case are serious, but there is a major contradiction in the testimony of the main witness. By majority opinion—two out of three—we are ruling to acquit the defendant due to reasonable doubt.”

A miracle. No other word could describe it.

The man returned to Rabbi Fischer’s home, overwhelmed with gratitude. He shared the unbelievable news. Rabbi Fischer smiled and said: “Now you’ve seen what one shehakol blessing can do. But don’t let it end here. Make sure every blessing you say—every single one—is said with real intention.”

This wasn’t a rare or complicated mitzvah. It wasn’t something only special people can do. It was a simple, everyday blessing—one we often say without thinking. But when said with faith and a full heart, it can reach all the way to Heaven.

From Doresh Tov, Sukkot edition.