Shabbat Will Bless You: A Father’s Pain and a Rabbi’s Wisdom

Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman, one of the great Torah sages of our generation, would often travel around the world to strengthen Jewish communities in Torah learning and yirat shamayim—reverence for Heaven. On one such visit to the United States, he stayed in the home of the well-known philanthropist, Reb Shimon Glick.

The Glick family prepared their home beautifully in honor of their distinguished guest. While enjoying the rare privilege of hosting the Rabbi, Reb Shimon had an idea: why not use this opportunity to help others around him as well? He thought of a fellow Jew he knew—someone who wasn’t observant but was going through a terribly painful time—and asked Rabbi Steinman if it might be possible to invite him over to receive guidance and a blessing.

But the humble Rav Steinman surprised him. “If a fellow Jew is in distress,” he said, “then I will go to his home.”

So they went.

When they arrived, the moment the Rabbi stepped through the door, the man’s emotions overflowed. He shared his deep heartbreak: “Rabbi, I’m not observant, I’ve drifted far from Torah and mitzvot (commandments). But now... my daughter is engaged to marry a non-Jew. I’ve begged her to stop. I pleaded with her not to turn her back on our people. But nothing worked. Rabbi, what can I do?” His voice cracked with helplessness.

Rabbi Steinman listened with compassion and then gave a short but powerful answer: “Begin keeping Shabbat. From today, start learning the halachot—the laws of Shabbat—every day. Learn in order to observe. If you do that, everything will work out.”

The father was stunned. He hadn’t expected that. But he felt the truth of the words. Even if he didn’t understand the connection, the guidance came from a man of holiness. He accepted the advice with humility and faith.

So he started. Every day he studied a little about Shabbat—how to honor it, how to keep it, how to welcome its peace into his life. Then he began observing Shabbat itself. Week after week, he continued, step by step.

And then—something unexpected happened.

The non-Jewish fiancé had gone out riding his bike. But during a fast and dangerous turn, he lost control and veered into a river. Tragically, he drowned.

When the news reached the man’s friends, they were stunned—and some even went to Rabbi Steinman. “How could the Rabbi promise that keeping Shabbat would solve this?” they asked, astonished.

But Rav Steinman looked at them with simple clarity and said, “Did I bless him that things would work out? Shabbat herself blessed him. For Shabbat is the source of blessing.”

This story reminds us of the quiet power of mitzvot, especially Shabbat, which our sages say brings light and peace into a person’s life. Sometimes, when the heart is breaking and the path seems hopeless, the Torah gives us a way to bring blessing not by changing others—but by changing ourselves.

The Glick family home was festively decorated in honor of the distinguished guest, and suddenly the host had a thought: 'Why shouldn't those around him benefit from the influence and blessing of the generation's great leader?' He suddenly remembered one of his acquaintances, a Jew who didn't observe Torah and mitzvot and was in great distress. R' Shimon asked Rabbi Steinman if it would be possible to invite his acquaintance to his home to speak with the Rabbi. In his humility, Rabbi Steinman agreed and said: "If a Jew is in trouble, I will go to his home, and we will talk there."

The great Torah leader arrived at the acquaintance's home, and immediately the words broke through the barrier of pain: "Although I don't observe Torah and mitzvot," the Jew confessed, "I never imagined such developments: my daughter is about to marry a non-Jew, and my life is unbearable because of it. I tried every possible way to dissuade her from her decision, I begged her not to betray her people, not to go that far, but she stands firm. Rabbi, what should I do?!" cried the tormented father.

Rabbi Steinman responded with the following words: "Start observing Shabbat - and then everything will work out. From today, study the laws of Shabbat daily. Learn in order to observe, and everything will be fine..."

The father listened in amazement, but if this was the advice – he would follow it carefully. He didn't exactly understand the connection, but he was receiving a personal answer from an elderly rabbi whose words were trustworthy. He would try to act according to the Rabbi's guidance.

From that day forward, the Jew began studying the laws of Shabbat. For 7 days he studied, and on Shabbat he observed. Several Shabbats passed, and then the great wonder occurred: The non-Jewish fiancé went cycling. During an accelerated ride, the bicycle slid into the nearby river, and the fiancé drowned and died...

The Jew's acquaintances hurried to Rabbi Steinman to inform him of what had happened. "How did the Rabbi take responsibility that through learning halacha and observing Shabbat the matter would be resolved?" they asked in deep amazement.

"Did I bless him that the matter would be resolved?" Rabbi Steinman replied in wonder, "Shabbat blessed him herself: 'For she is the source of blessing.'"

This story reminds us of the quiet power of mitzvot, especially Shabbat, which our sages say brings light and peace into a person’s life. Sometimes, when the heart is breaking and the path seems hopeless, the Torah gives us a way to bring blessing not by changing others—but by changing ourselves.