The Wedding Was Days Away—Until the Rebbe Opened His Eyes

Rabbi Dr. Aharon Twerski once shared a powerful story in his book Bringing Them Closer to Torah. It's a story of wisdom, love, and how one soul found its way back—just in time.

One day, an Orthodox Jew was riding the subway in New York when a young man with long curly hair, earrings, and a cheerful expression sat beside him. “Rabbi,” the young man said warmly, “please give me a blessing—I’m getting married next week.”

As they spoke, the older Jew discovered that this young man was indeed Jewish—but his fiancée was a devout Christian. The young man shrugged off the difference. “Neither of us is religious,” he explained. “So does it really matter?”

The rabbi felt a deep ache inside. He silently prayed, asking Hashem to guide him in this moment. Then he said gently, “My friend, you’re right to seek a blessing. But this isn’t just any marriage. This is a union between two entirely different backgrounds—two faiths, two worlds. For something like this, you need a very special blessing, from the greatest tzadik (righteous person) of our generation. Come with me. I’ll take you to him.”

Surprisingly, the young man agreed.

Together, they went to see the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a spiritual leader known for his deep wisdom and boundless love for every Jew, no matter how distant.

The Rebbe welcomed the young man warmly, as if a long-lost son had returned home. They spoke for a while, and then it came out—the young man was a Kohen, a descendant of the priestly tribe in the Torah, those who served in the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple.

The Rebbe became visibly moved. He stood tall and pointed to the wall of holy books behind him—hundreds of volumes, filling the room with the weight of centuries of Jewish wisdom.

“Do you see all these books?” he said. “This is just a small portion of the Torah’s depth, and I learn them day and night. But when the Beit HaMikdash is rebuilt—and it will be, soon—it won’t be me serving there. It will be you. Because you are a Kohen. That is your inheritance. That is your calling. Are you ready to give that up?”

The Rebbe’s words went straight into the young man’s heart. Something awakened in him—something that had been buried, but never lost. The young man promised to end the relationship and rediscover who he really was.

Sometimes, we get caught in the idea that being Jewish is just cultural or by birth. But Judaism is not only a heritage—it’s a soul connection. It’s a mission. And each Jew, no matter how far they feel, has a spark inside that’s just waiting to be lit.

The Torah teaches that a Kohen has unique responsibilities—and one of them is to marry within the Jewish people. But this story isn't just about halacha (Jewish law). It’s about value. When the Rebbe showed the young man his spiritual worth, he didn’t rebuke him—he reminded him of who he truly is.

When a Jewish soul remembers where it came from, it also begins to remember where it’s meant to go.