They Waited Eight Years. Faith and Prayer Brought Their Son

Rabbi Menashe Ben Porat shared a story in one of his talks that can uplift anyone who’s seeking to strengthen their connection to Hashem. It’s the true account of a couple from Jerusalem who, after giving birth to several children, found themselves waiting and praying for another child—for eight long years.

The waiting wasn’t easy. The mother had undergone surgery on her uterus, and doctors said the chances of natural childbirth were very low. Still, the couple held onto their emunah (faith) and bitachon (trust in Hashem). Instead of giving in to discouragement, they turned to spiritual strength. Together, they began studying the holy book Sidduro Shel Shabbat, written by Rabbi Chaim of Chernowitz, every week on Shabbat.

They continued this weekly study for three full years. As they neared the completion of the book, it was almost time for their eldest son’s bar mitzvah. To mark the end of the learning and to pray for both the bar mitzvah and the child they still hoped for, they traveled to the north of Israel to visit the graves of tzaddikim (righteous people).

In the holy city of Tzfat, they entered the burial cave of Rabbi Chaim of Chernowitz, located near the grave of the holy Ari (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), and poured out their hearts in prayer. When they returned to Jerusalem, the husband began studying the same book again—this time together with a Torah scholar who lived nearby.

That scholar suggested they try a spiritual practice known as "Monday–Thursday–Monday"—visiting the grave of a righteous person and praying there three times, on those specific days. They followed his advice and went to pray at the grave of Rabbi Gedaliah Moshe of Zvhil, located near Sacher Park in Jerusalem.

They performed this special prayer around Chanukah and waited, hoping and praying. But as time passed, the wife began to lose hope. “Maybe it didn’t work,” she told her husband sadly. But that very night, she had a dream—and clearly saw the name “Noa.”

When she shared it with her husband the next morning, he smiled and said gently, “Maybe it means our prayers were heard.”

The next day, their lives changed. The woman discovered she was pregnant. Their home filled with joy and gratitude. And on the following Chanukah, their son was born—healthy and strong.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Just before the brit milah (circumcision), they looked at a Jewish calendar listing the yahrzeits (anniversary of passing) of great tzaddikim—and were stunned. Their son had been born exactly on the yahrzeit of Rabbi Chaim of Chernowitz, the very sage whose teachings they had lovingly studied for years.

Their hearts overflowed with thanks to Hashem. They saw clearly that every prayer, every page of study, every step of their journey was watched.. Their miracle had arrived—exactly when and how it was meant to.