The Shidduch Apparently Began at Beth Israel Hospital

by Chona Nosson Gewirtz

My son Meir was born in Beth Israel Hospital “bayn hashmoshos” erev Shabbos, 28-29 Adar 5754, just after the Rebbe was admitted to Beth Israel Hospital. My wife had been using the Beth Israel Midwife Practice, and we were quite surprised that the Rebbe had just been admitted to the same hospital right before the birth.

It was Shabbos evening right after Meir was born, and the hospital staff was bringing Meir up on an elevator to the hospital’s nursery. I took the stairs to follow along. As I was going up, to my surprise I see Rabbi Leibel Groner, the Rebbe’s Mazkir, coming down the stairs, apparently leaving from where the Rebbe was. Rabbi Groner was at that time the Secretary through whom many would communicate requests for brochas to the Rebbe. I told Rabbi Groner my wife had just had a boy, and he said “mazal tov” as he continued on his way down the stairs, clearly with many other things on his mind. I’ve told the above story of hoshgocha protis at Meir’s various simchas, and even once many years later I told the story to Rabbi Groner himself, but Rabbi Groner did not remember it.

Fast forward to this past Sunday, 17 Elul 5783. Meir, his Kallah and their families went to the Rebbe’s Ohel to seek the Rebbe’s bracha for the couple to become engaged. After leaving the Rebbe’s Ohel, the families went to a small side room by the Ohel to say “l’chaim” and “mazal tov”.

The Kallah’s father said divrei Torah, and then it was my turn to speak. Having not really prepared in advance, I told the above story of how Meir by hoshgocha protis was born by the Rebbe in Beth Israel Hospital, and by hoshgocha protis I had passed Rabbi Groner on the stairs right afterwards, and that it was now again hashgacha protis that Meir was getting engaged right by the Rebbe. The Kallah, who had never heard the story about Meir before, upon hearing the beginning of the story looked like she could hardly believe what she was hearing.

“I also was born in Beth Israel Hospital while the Rebbe was there,” she announced to the surprised Chosson and his family, “2 months after the Rebbe had been admitted there.”

It became revealed right after leaving the Rebbe’s Ohel that the Rebbe had not only given his brocha for the engagement, but had himself made the shidduch 29 years ago, while the Rebbe was in Beth Israel Hospital.