A Most Unusual & Marvelous Din Torah

(Tuesday, June 19th, 2012)

HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Wosner Shlita, Gavaad Beis Din Zichron Meir announced he plans to sit in on this most unique din torah being handled & heard by the beis din. The rav rarely hears cases due to his pressing schedule, simply lacking the time to adjudicate dinei torah. He has his talmidim hearing the cases but in this case, he wished to be a part of the process.
This story is that of two families belonging to a certain chassidus outside of Eretz Yisrael. A shidduch was made between chosson and kallah, and sadly, a short time later, the chosson was diagnosed with a serious illness. Baruch Hashem it was detected in an early stage and treated aggressively.
The family of the chosson, truly unique individuals with special midos, approached the family of the kallah and explained that while it appears the chosson will be fine they would understand if they family wishes to back out of the shidduch given the reality of the illness which was unknown to all when the deal was made.

The kallah however intervened and stated emphatically that she wishes to marry the young man, realizing his hasmoda and learning, explaining to both sets of parents that illness is decided by HKBH and she cannot know how long anyone has on this earth, but she is aware of the caliber of her chosson and she is unwilling to let him go.
The chosson’s family however feared that the kallah was just being eidle, really not wishing to go through with the shidduch and by all logic, given this opportunity to back out; she should accept and find another chosson. The chosson’s parents feared the kallah is too fine a person to accept the offer to abandon the shidduch and therefore insisted on continuing.
The chosson’s family found itself in a quandary, not knowing what to do. They felt compelled to seek guidance and turned to a prominent Mo”tz in Bnei Brak to direct them. According to Kikar Shabbat, the Mo”tz instructed both sides to present their side to Hagon HaRav Wosner and he would render a decision and regardless of the decision, it would be accepted by all.
Rav Wosner heard the question and stated that despite his demanding schedule he wishes to personally sit in on this case and hear from both sides first hand.
Chosson, Kallah and their parents got on an airplane and headed for Bnei Brak. After hearing both sets of parents, the rav explained that it is clear that the kallah is healthy and well and the chosson was diagnosed with an illness and treated, and this was not the case when the shidduch was made. Therefore the shidduch is void and the parents of the chosson are correct that the kallah may leave the shidduch without any second thoughts.
The kallah stood and asked if she is compelled to leave the shidduch or if she is permitted to do so if she wishes and may therefore not back out. Rav Wosner explained that she is certainly not compelled and may continue as planned if that is her wish. “Yes, I wish to continue” the kallah replied. She then asked Rav Wosner for a bracha that her chosson should have arichas yomim and good health.
When Rav Wosner heard the kallah’s request he burst into tears and the participants waited for a few minutes for the rav to speak. The rav said “A kallah like this is not in need of my bracha. After this act of gevura I don’t have to give her a bracha, rather I wish that she would give me a bracha for arichas yomim and that I may continue being marbitz torah”.

(Credit & Copyright: YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

First published on 2 July 2014, on Jewish P.O.S.T. - the Jewish Voice for the People Of South Tottenham (this Blog is now defunct).