Ki Korov

A bochur was seeking a shiduch (as bochurim are wont to do, sooner or later), and decided to ask the Rebbe for a brocho. He came on Sunday, while the Rebbe was distributing dollars, and when his turn came to pass in front of the Rebbe, he requested a brocho for a shiduch.

The Rebbe gave the bochur a brocho. In fact, the Rebbe gave him an unusual and remarkable brocho! The Rebbe said to the bochur – with regards to his anticipated shiduch – כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד, indicating that his shiduch was not only forthcoming, but would happen (apparently) very imminently.

Amazed but delighted, the bochur left the Rebbe with a spring in his step and a gleam in his eyes.

But, strangely, days, weeks and then months passed by, with no sign of his long-awaited salvation. The bochur continued to do his part in trying to move things forward, but, despite his best efforts, nothing was materializing.

Finally, after a very long wait and much worry and heartache, the bochur’s prayers were finally answered; - he found his bashert, and they were engaged. They had their l’chayim, and, in an auspicious time, their chasuna, everyone was overjoyed and they lived happily ever after.

But there was a troubling thought niggling in the mind of this bochur (who was, of course, no longer a bochur). What did in fact happen to the Rebbe’s amazing brocho?! The Rebbe had, after all, not just given him a brocho for a shiduch, but had stated quite unequivocally that it was very near, and would take place very speedily. Was all that time that he spent waiting and wishing and working on it and worrying to be considered “very speedily”?! What was he to make of it?

Years passed, and the bochur-turned-yungerman had the opportunity to acquire and view the video in which he had requested the brocho from the Rebbe, when the Rebbe had responded in such an unusual manner.

And there and then, while watching (after all these years had elapsed), he suddenly discovered something extraordinary: He had been, on that fateful day, at the very back of the “men’s line” for dollars. Behind him was the beginning of the woman’s line, and that line was headed by (although they didn’t know each other yet at the time at all)  . . . none other than his ultimate kallah and wife!!

Indeed, כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד! In the most literal and simple sense – although in a way that, at the time, none of them would have imagined – his shiduch, his kalah was as near to him as can be. She was physically near, - she was right behind him!