אות - רנג

One of the Rebbe’s followers had been married for many years but had no children. One day he was in the Rebbe’s house together with a number of other childless men who had come to plead that the Rebbe intercede for them. This man also spoke to the Rebbe and asked him for children.

The Rebbe replied, “Why all this commotion? The main offspring of the righteous are their good deeds ( Rashi on Genesis 6:9) . This is foremost. Ask that you be a good Jew – that you be worthy of following the true path. If you are worthy of physical children, all the better. But the most important thing is to draw close to God.” This brings your main offspring.

From that time on, the man stopped speaking to the Rebbe about children. He occupied himself only with his devotions in the way of the Rebbe’s other followers.

Some time later, a number of childless people asked the Rebbe again to intercede for them. This man was there, but did not say a word.

This time, the Rebbe opened the discussion, saying, “Still, it is well that you should have children. Bring me a hundred rubles and it will be so.” The man quickly went and brought the money to the Rebbe.

It was the night of his wife’s immersion, and she conceived and eventually gave birth to a son.

May it be God’s will that they be worthy to raise him to Torah, to marriage and to a life of good deeds. Amen.