A Letter That Moved a Nation’s Leader

Judith Berl, was a proud Jewish woman living in the United States during the presidency of Harry Truman. At that time, President Truman had a tradition: once a week, he would deliver a formal address to the American people, broadcast across all major media channels.

But then came the announcement: on the advice of his staff, the president's weekly speech would be broadcast every Friday night.

When Mrs. Berl heard the news, her heart dropped. Friday night is Shabbat—the Jewish day of rest, which begins at sundown. Observant Jews refrain from using electricity on Shabbat, which meant many would be tempted to break this precious mitzvah (commandment) in order to hear the president speak.

But instead of just sighing or shrugging her shoulders, Mrs. Berl did something extraordinary. With quiet courage and deep faith, she took a pen, sat down, and wrote a letter to the most powerful man in the country: the President of the United States.

In her letter, she respectfully explained her deep loyalty to her country and her admiration for the president. She shared how much she wished she could listen to his words. But, she added simply and sincerely, as a Jew who observes Shabbat, she could not turn on a radio or television during those sacred hours. “Therefore,” she wrote, “I kindly ask you, Mr. President, to consider moving the broadcast to another day.”

Let’s pause and think about that for a moment. What were the chances that such a letter would even be opened—let alone considered—by the president? After all, it came from an ordinary woman, representing a small minority. And the broadcast schedule had been carefully planned. Would her voice matter?

A week later, Mrs. Berl opened her mailbox—and found a reply from the White House.

The president had read her letter. And he was taking it seriously.

Then, just two weeks later, something amazing happened. At the end of his Friday night broadcast, President Truman made an announcement: for various reasons, his weekly speech would now be moved to Tuesday.

That one small letter—written with faith, care, and concern—had changed the lives of countless Jews across America. Thanks to Mrs. Berl’s heartfelt words, many Jews were spared the inner conflict of choosing between honoring Shabbat and hearing their president. She stood up for what mattered, and Hashem took care of the rest.

Years later, her son shared this story after her passing, so others could learn from her quiet strength. In her own modest way, she did something that had a huge ripple effect in the world.

Sometimes we think we’re too small to make a difference. But this story reminds us that one sincere action, done with love for Hashem and His mitzvot, can move mountains—even the schedule of a president.