I’d like to share three remarkable stories I recently heard from their protagonist, each illustrating the power of a brachah from our Gedolei Yisroel.
Story One: Yitzchak and Rivka* live in Eretz Yisroel and were both excited and nervous about the birth of their next child, due just before Pesach. The pregnancy had been healthy and uneventful, but the doctor warned that if Rivka passed a certain date without giving birth, the baby could be at risk. To avoid this, she needed to deliver by a specific date, either naturally or through induction. When that date arrived with no progress, the doctor sent them to the hospital. They arrived at 7 p.m., where staff examined Rivka. Labor hadn’t started, so they assigned her a bed and placed her ninth on the waiting list for induction, noting it could happen soon or take a day, unless labor began naturally. Yitzchak returned home to care for their other children, promising to come back when Rivka called.
Twenty-four hours later, Rivka was exasperated. She had tried exercises all day to induce labor, but nothing worked. Still sixth on the waiting list, she grew desperate and anxious, with the baby’s safety at risk. At 7 p.m., she called Yitzchak in tears, wanting to leave for another hospital. A 6 p.m. check showed minimal progress. Yitzchak knew leaving wasn’t wise, but Rivka’s distress concerned him. After consulting his Rav, who has medical expertise and advised staying, Yitzchak worried she was nearing panic. Then he had an idea: he’d call Reb Binyomin Kirschner.
Who is Reb Binyomin Kirschner? Originally from Hillcrest, Queens, he now lives in Eretz Yisroel, learning and teaching Torah. He spends much of his time with Gedolei Yisroel, having spent ten years with Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, many years with Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, and continues to connect with other Gedolim. His primary goal is to learn from them and build personal relationships, but he also helps others visit Gedolim and receive their brachos.
Reb Binyomin answered Yitzchak’s call. After exchanging sholom aleichem (they had met before), Yitzchak explained the situation and asked, “Which Gadol can you reach for a brachah now?” Reb Binyomin replied, “I’ll soon be with Rav Don Segal shlita. Give me her name, and I’ll try to get it to him.”
Yitzchak arrived at the hospital by 8 p.m. and tried to calm Rivka, but she was unreceptive, insistent on going home to wait for natural labor. At 8:45 p.m., Yitzchak suggested they daven maariv in the hospital’s shul before deciding. Rivka agreed. Just then, Reb Binyomin called, saying, “I was just with Rav Don, who gave your wife a heartfelt brachah for a healthy delivery at the right time, with good news soon! Please tell her!” Yitzchak thanked him and shared the news with Rivka. Though she acknowledged it, her mood didn’t lift immediately.
After maariv, Rivka said, “I still want to leave, but I’ll ask for one more check.” To their surprise, the doctors found significant progress since the last exam and moved her to the delivery room immediately. A few hours later, Yitzchak and Rivka welcomed a healthy baby boy! Both mother and child were well. Rivka stayed in the hospital until erev Pesach, while Yitzchak and their family miraculously completed the kitchen turnover for Pesach before her return.
They attributed the breakthrough to Rav Don’s brachah. A Jewish midwife, puzzled by the sudden change, asked, “Nothing was moving, and then it all changed? What happened?” They replied, “We received a brachah from Rav Don Segal.” She nodded, saying, “Say no more! That brachah made all the difference!” Baruch Hashem, they held the bris on the eighth day and were honored to have Rav Don serve as the sandak.
Story Two: The day before the bris, Yitzchak’s friend Avraham* called. Avraham shared that his vibrant grandmother in her nineties had suddenly fallen gravely ill, with doctors giving her no chance of recovery. He asked if Yitzchak could request a brachah for a refuah shleimah from Rav Don Segal. Yitzchak promised to try at the bris. Two days later, Yitzchak met Avraham and inquired about his grandmother. Avraham apologized for not updating him, hesitant in case the brachah hadn’t been requested. But Baruch Hashem, by the afternoon following the bris, the hospital reported a miraculous recovery—she was out of danger! Remarkably, the turnaround coincided with Rav Don’s brachah.
Story Three: At the bris, Yitzchak’s father, Yossi*, met Reb Binyomin Kirschner and thanked him for his help. That night, Yossi’s wife, Leah*, received a call from their daughter, Dina*. One of Dina’s toddlers was struggling to breathe, and Leah urged her to call Hatzolah. They directed Dina to take the child to the emergency room immediately. There, doctors connected the toddler to oxygen and monitors but couldn’t diagnose the issue, requiring further observation and tests. Dina stayed awake all night with her distressed child, and the family, especially Yossi and Leah overseas, were deeply worried.
The next morning, Yossi thought to call Reb Binyomin and asked which Gadol could give a brachah for his grandson. Reb Binyomin replied, “I’ll be visiting Rav Moshe Sternbuch soon and will submit the name then.” Yossi also pledged tzedakah for added z’chus. Throughout the day, the toddler’s condition stabilized slightly.
The following morning at 11 a.m. in Eretz Yisroel, Reb Binyomin called Yossi to report that Rav Moshe Sternbuch had given a brachah for a refuah shleimah. Yossi thanked him. Shortly after, Dina called with good news: the toddler was much improved, and the doctors planned to discharge him soon. While further checkups were needed, the child was restored to health. The timing of the recovery, so soon after the brachah, was striking.
These three fresh stories demonstrate the incredible power of a brachah from our Gedolim. Through the z’chus of their Torah, Hashem heeds their brachos. While Hashem also hears our tefillos and our z’chusim influence the Heavens, our tzaddikim share a unique connection with Hakadosh Boruch Hu. Over the past year and a half, many families of hostages have visited the homes of Gedolim, describing a profound, holy connection to Hashem unlike any other.
In the z’chus of these tzaddikim, may we be zoche to hear good news soon with the coming of Moshiach!
*Names have been changed
