ואלה שמות בני ישראל (שמות א:א)

A Chassid named R’ Michoel Sternfeld a”h from Yerushalayim, related the following story:

His paternal grandfather, R’ Michoel Sternfeld OB”M lived in Vienna and davened in the renowned Schiffshul.  He was an ehrlich – upstanding and wealthy Yid, who owned a large business employing over forty workers.  Unfortunately, he didn’t merit to have children of his own, as his children did not survive for more than thirty days after birth.

R’ Michoel and his wife Esther tried everything to find a solution to their heart-wrenching calamity.  They traveled to great medical professors, but no one could help them.  Before their sixth child was due to be born, they were obviously very concerned.  One of his non-frum workers advised him to go to a tzaddik for a bracha – a blessing because – said the man – there is a tradition in his family that they were helped through the blessing of a tzaddik.

“At first,” – related R’ Michoel, “My grandfather was hesitant since he was an ‘Oberlander Yid’ –  someone who grew up in what is now Slovakia – but having no choice and nothing to lose, he traveled to Belz for a bracha from Maran Reb Yissocher Dov of Belz zt”l.”

The Belzer Rebbe gave his warm blessing for a safe birth and a healthy child and told him that – for the blessings to have an effect – he would have to fulfill three conditions:

1. He should send an ehrlich shaliach – messenger to daven for them at the Kosel – Western Wall (indeed, R’ Michoel sent his brother-in-law, R’ Shmuel Yehuda Berenfeld z”l as a shaliach).

2. Any child born to them should always wear white flax clothing until they turn three.

3. If a boy is born, he should be named after a Malach – angel.

In the merit of this bracha, R’ Michoel and his wife were blessed with three healthy daughters, whom their mother lovingly dressed in white flax clothing.  Five years later, a son was born.

Says R’ Michoel: “My father was named Gavriel and wore white flax clothing until he was three.”

R’ Gavriel a”h became attached to Chassidus.  First, he learned in the Yeshiva Ketana under the Shoproner Rav and then in the Galanter Yeshiva.  With permission from his father and a blessing of his Rosh Yeshiva, he went to spend Yomim Noraim in Belz with Maran Reb Aharon of Belz zt”l.  When he arrived in Belz, he went – as is the custom – to receive “shalom” – a welcome greeting from the Rebbe, Maran asked him for his name and that of his mother.  He answered: “Gavriel ben Esther.” Maran repeated the names about twenty times and said, “My father helped your father.”

After wandering in Europe during WWII, R’ Gavriel arrived in Eretz Yisroel and settled in Tel Aviv, where he davened with Maran Reb Aharon of Belz.  When Maran put up mezuzos in his new home, he honored R’ Gavriel by putting up one mezuzah, saying: “He is a child of my father.”