Rabbi Kanievsky’s Unusual Advice Led to Miracles and Protection

On the morning of the second round of the Jerusalem municipal elections, an unusual story unfolded that left doctors, family members, and even strangers amazed. A man suffering from Parkinson’s disease fell and broke several ribs. He was rushed to the hospital, where the doctors discovered that one of the broken ribs had punctured his lung. The situation was serious, and surgery was urgently needed.

His worried family turned to the late Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a beloved Torah sage known for his deep wisdom and holiness. They asked for a blessing before the operation. Rabbi Kanievsky listened—and then asked something no one expected: “Has he voted yet?”

They explained that he was already in the hospital, waiting for surgery. But Rabbi Kanievsky calmly repeated the question: “Has he voted yet?” It was clear that in the rabbi’s eyes, fulfilling this civic and communal responsibility was not something to take lightly—even in a moment of medical crisis.

Taking his words seriously, the family contacted a medical transport organization. They arranged for an ambulance to take the patient from the hospital to the polling station so he could cast his vote. Then he was brought back to the hospital.

Before surgery, the doctors decided to take a new chest x-ray. What they saw left them stunned. The hole in his lung—the one that had required emergency surgery—was gone. It had healed completely on its own. There was no longer any need for the operation.

Another story from Rabbi Kanievsky’s home also reveals how his spiritual vision reached beyond what eyes could see. A man came to ask for a blessing before purchasing a new apartment in Bnei Brak. Rabbi Kanievsky gave the blessing—and then added, “Go get a haircut.”

The man was puzzled. “But I just got a haircut last week,” he thought. Still, he trusted the rabbi and went anyway. When he arrived at the barber, the barber raised an eyebrow and asked what brought him back so soon. The man explained about the apartment and the rabbi’s strange request.

When the barber heard the address of the apartment, his expression changed. “You need to stay far away from that building,” he warned. “I live across the street. There’s constant fighting among the neighbors. No one stays there long—people regret moving in.”

Thanks to the rabbi’s mysterious advice, the man avoided a situation that could have brought him years of heartache.

These stories remind us that true Torah wisdom sees deeper than we can. When a tzaddik—a righteous Jew—gives guidance, even when it seems unusual, it can open the door to healing, clarity, and blessing.