פרו ורבו (בראשית א:כח)

The well-known Belzer chassid, Reb Avraham Shonbrun, a”h from Bergsas, was childless for many years. Time and again, he would ask that his name be mentioned to Maran Reb Yissachar Dov of Belz zt”l, pleading for a blessing for זרע של קיימא — children who would endure.

One year, during the Shabbos Bereishis Tish, the Rebbe distributed shirayim (holy food) from his fish and instructed that a portion be sent to Reb Avraham. Later, when the Rebbe began eating meat, Reb Avraham also requested a piece of meat — specifically from the bone (“bein”, which can also hint at “ben”, a son).

The Rebbe responded, “You already received from the fish.”

But Reb Avraham persisted, emphasizing his desire for a portion from the bone, alluding to his yearning for a ben — a son.

The Rebbe smiled and said: “When Hashem blessed Adam with ‘Be fruitful and multiply’, the Targum translates פרו ורבו as ‘פושו וסגו’ — which means ‘they spread out and drew back.’ But it can also be interpreted as: ‘Fish is enough!’ (Fish = פושו, enough = סגו) — You already got fish!”

A year later, Reb Avraham was blessed with a baby girl — but did not merit a son.