Go to the Class of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

A single young man who was struggling to find a shidduch (marriage match) received advice from Morinu HaRav (Rabbi Berland) to go to the classes of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in the Yazdim synagogue, because his shidduch was there. The young man did not attach much importance to this, but after he got engaged through the Rebbetzin's shidduch notebook, he discovered to his amazement that his bride regularly attended Rabbi Ovadia's classes at Yazdim, exactly as the Rav had foreseen with his Ruach HaKodesh (Divine inspiration).

The following story was told by the man involved. When he was a single young man, he was very close to Morinu HaRav, and Morinu HaRav and the Rebbetzin handled the matter of shidduchim for him. They made the necessary inquiries for him with the teaching staff and friends of the prospective candidate, and the like, as is customary.

The Shidduch at the Yazdim Synagogue

On one occasion, the young man felt that he could no longer wait, and he asked the Rav to promise him that he would get married soon. The Rav told him that if he wants to get married, he needs to go to the classes of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l (of blessed memory) at the Yazdim synagogue in Jerusalem, because his shidduch is located there. The young man thought the Rav was just putting him off, and therefore did not attach much importance to the Rav's words.

A period of time passed, and other shidduchim came and went, all of which were recorded in the notebook of the Rebbetzin tichye (may she live), who, as mentioned, handled his shidduchim with dedication. After some time, the young man arrived at the home of Morinu HaRav. The Rav was sitting and learning at the time, but when he saw the young man, he began to rebuke him, saying that he must get married and not be too picky, rejecting every shidduch proposed to him. The young man felt a bit uncomfortable from the Rav's sincere and truthful rebuke, and tried to change the subject.

What Will Be With Your Fledglings?

On the windowsill, he saw a bird's nest with fledglings. He said to the Rav, "Look, there is a bird's nest here, maybe it is possible to fulfill the rare mitzvah of Shiluach HaKen (sending away the mother bird)." Morinu HaRav told him that indeed, that morning, their son Rabbi Nachman shlit"a had arrived, and together they fulfilled the mitzvah of Shiluach HaKen. The young man rejoiced in his heart that he had managed to change the subject, but Morinu HaRav returned once again to the pressing issue and said to him, "And what will be with your fledglings? Your children are already crying out, 'Father, get married already so that we can come into the world and fulfill mitzvos!' What will be with your shidduchim?"

The young man tried to justify himself and listed the recent shidduchim that had been proposed, explaining why they were not suitable for him and how clear it seemed that there was no compatibility between them. But Morinu HaRav had no intention of giving up, and he called the Rebbetzin to bring the young man's shidduch notebook.

The Rebbetzin's Shidduch Notebook

The Rav agreed with the young man that the first girl with whom there seemed to be compatibility, he would meet with her and advance in a serious direction toward engagement and marriage. The first name that appeared in the Rebbetzin's notebook was of a certain girl, about whom they had not yet inquired with her teacher. The Rebbetzin called the teacher, but she was not at home at that time.

The second proposal recorded in the notebook was of another girl, and next to it was written the phone number of one of her good friends for inquiries about her. The Rebbetzin called that friend, but she did not answer.

With the third proposal, it was agreed upon by all present that there was compatibility in light of all the inquiries that had been made, and they scheduled a meeting. Within a short time, they became engaged with Mazal Tov, and built their home, which stands magnificently to this very day, with children and grandchildren walking in the path of Torah and fear of Heaven.

Revealed Divine Inspiration

During the period between the engagement and the wedding, the bride innocently told the groom that she draws great strength from the words of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. The groom asked her where she merits to hear him, and she shared that every Motzaei Shabbos (Saturday night) for several years, she regularly attends the well-known classes of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l at the Yazdim synagogue. "Only then did I understand," the man concludes his story, "that the words of Morinu HaRav about my shidduch waiting for me at the Yazdim synagogue in Maran's class, were not mere words, but were exact according to Ruach HaKodesh (Divine inspiration)."

From the book "Pele Elyon, Part 3"