A Berachah for Rav Zalmale of Volozhin

When the Shaagas Aryeh left Minsk he traveled to Volozhin and settled there for some time. He served as the Rav of Volozhin but did not remain there long, because the salary was very poor.

Among the baalei batim was one wealthy Jew, Rav Yitzchok, later famous as the father of Rav Chaim, the rosh yeshiva and author of Nefesh HaChaim, and of his brother Rav Zalmale of Volozhin. He had an extensive library of seforim, and the Shaagas Aryeh was a frequent guest in his home, studying Torah.

Once, while the Shaagas Aryeh was learning, Rav Yitzchok's wife, who was expecting a baby, was seized with strong labor pains. She knew that the Shaagas Aryeh was sitting and learning in the next room, and she did not want to cause him any bitul Torah, so she held back from crying out. Silently she bore the pains so as not to disturb his learning. Eventually the Shaagas Aryeh learned of this and was so moved by her mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) that he gave her a berachah. "Ribbono Shel Olam, this woman held back from calling out for the sake and honor of Torah. In this zechus, bless her that the son born to her grow to be such a great Torah scholar that the entire world will know of his genius." The child was named Rav Shlomo Zalman, and he grew to become the great Rav Zalmale Volozhiner.