Chaim and Tirtza Feinman*, a couple from Maalot, Israel, had been married for over ten years and had still not been blessed with children. They visited the best doctors and also tried alternative medicine, but to no avail.

Dr. Gad Ben-Dror, a Chabad Chassid who lived in the city, knew the couple and was aware of their struggle. At his suggestion, Mr. Feinman sat down to write a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe to request his blessing. Although the Feinmans did not consider themselves chassidim, they nevertheless had a strong admiration for Chabad and its many programs and activities.

At Dr. Ben-Dror's suggestion, Mr. Feinman accepted on himself to improve in a particular mitzvah, in order to make himself into a “vessel” to receive G-d's blessing. After composing the letter, he inserted it at random into a volume of Igrot Kodesh, the Rebbe's published letters, and waited for the fulfillment of the blessing.

Several days later, on Friday night, Mr. Feinman had a dream. He saw himself in the Rebbe's synagogue, at 770 Eastern Parkway, passing in front of the Rebbe and receiving his blessing for children. The vision seemed very real.

When he woke up from the dream, it was still in middle of the night, but he felt he had to share the dream with his wife. He woke her up and told her what he had seen. She was not as excited by the dream as he was; perhaps she did not want to raise false hopes. “It was only a dream,” she said dismissively, and fell back asleep.

Mr. Feinman went back to sleep, and once more the Rebbe appeared to him. The Rebbe's face was shining, and the Rebbe's penetrating blue eyes looked into his as the Rebbe said, “Tomorrow, when you get to the synagogue for the morning prayer, you will find that the prayer leader is the lawyer, Dov Glazer. He will be holding by Pesukei D'Zimra [chapters of Psalms that are said at the beginning of the morning prayer]. After he finishes the prayer ‘Nishmat Kol Chai,’ you will be asked to take over as prayer leader.”

When Mr. Feinman awoke the next morning, he was curious to see if the dream would materialize. He rushed to the Yahalom Synagogue, where he usually prayed, and indeed, the prayer leader was Glazer, the lawyer, who was holding by Pesukei D'Zimra!

Several minutes later, Glazer finished Nishmat Kol Chai, and the dream continued to play itself out: Mr. Feinman was asked to take over as prayer leader.

Mr. Feinman could not contain himself. He interrupted his prayer in order to share with the entire community about his dream the night before, and how it had been fulfilled in all its particulars.

That week, the dream and its fulfillment were a topic of conversation among all the residents of Maalot. Mr. Feinman took the dream as an omen, and now waited for the fulfillment of the Rebbe's blessing for children.

Indeed, a month later, Tirtza Feinman informed her husband that she was expecting. However, the pregnancy unfortunately was beset with complications, and within a few weeks, she suffered a miscarriage. Their sorrow was almost too great to bear.

Dr. Ben-Dror approached his friend and quoted the words of the Talmud, that blessings rest on hidden things. “Next time, when you and your wife receive good news--and I am certain this will happen soon--don't share it with anyone. Keep it a secret until the right time.” 

The Feinmans accepted this advice. To their great joy, a year later Tirtza again found out that she was expecting, and nine months later their firstborn son was born. At the circumcision ceremony, many friends participated, and heard the miraculous story that preceded the birth of the child, whom they called Netanel, “a gift from G-d.”

Not long after the birth of their first child, the couple was again blessed with a second pregnancy. During her pregnancy, Tirtza suddenly began to experience severe abdominal pains. She rushed to the doctor, who took an ultrasound and diagnosed her with an inflamed appendix. The doctors were concerned. Performing an appendectomy during pregnancy could have serious effects on the fetus.

Again, at the suggestion of Dr. Ben-Dror, the Feinmans wrote to the Rebbe and inserted the letter at random into a volume of Igrot Kodesh. When Mr. Feinman opened the book, he saw that in the letter on that page, the Rebbe had instructed someone to inspect their Tefillin and Mezuzot. Mr. Feinman carried out the Rebbe's instructions, and with a calm heart, went with his wife to the Rambam Hospital in Haifa for her surgery.

When she got to the hospital, Tirtza underwent another round of tests. To the surprise of the doctors, the tests showed that she had spontaneously recovered from her illness, with no need for surgery. She was released from the hospital, and in the proper time, gave birth to a second, healthy child.