The Blessing of Aharon HaKohen

Rav Yekusiel Yehuda of Sanz-Klausenberg told this story at Shalosh Seudos. The Chida was among the younger talmidim of the Ohr HaChaim, yet his Rebbe held him dear, drew him close, and gave him a unique berachah: that he should be sanctified from Heaven with the kedushah of Aharon HaKohen.

The Chida first understood this to mean that he would be able to bless Klal Yisroel with love, as Aharon and the kohanim do. Decades later its true meaning was revealed. In his old age the Chida was in Livorno. Again and again he had refused the post of Rav, though community leaders pressed him, and he preferred to learn without interruption. His only exception was a four-year period when he served as Rav in Egypt. Even with no title, all Yidden knew his greatness.

One day a community leader told the Chida that his wife had been seen alone with another man. The Chida ruled that he must divorce her and give her a get, and that she would lose her kesubah. The dayanim were stunned that he ruled without testimony or evidence, but did not dare to object. The Chida had the woman summoned to where he sat learning and tried gently to persuade her to accept the get. She was brazen, and spoke back to him with chutzpah. As she did, the Chida remembered the berachah of his Rebbe.

He asked her to listen while he read one portion from the Torah. She agreed, and he took out a Sefer Torah and began the parshah of Naso, which describes the sotah. Partway through, she started to leave, but she did not escape in time. As she reached the stairs, the Chida read the last words. She froze with her foot on the step, her face twisted and her eyes bulging, let out a cry and fell dead. Many people ran to the scene and saw the miracle.