The Kalla and the Washerwoman

A distraught kalla and her upset parents once came to seek Rav Sonnenfeld's advice. Rav Yosef Chaim had made the shidduch himself, and he was very upset too. Someone had spoken loshon hora and told the kalla's family that their future chosson had developed a speech impediment and was stuttering. The supposed proof was that he was no longer seen during morning seder in yeshiva, because he was embarrassed to be seen stuttering in public.

The parents pleaded with the Rav. "We could accept this as a decree from on high and continue with the shidduch, for if it is Hashem's will, we will accept it. But the kalla is so disappointed that she refuses to continue with such a shidduch at all."

Rav Sonnenfeld was very upset, because he knew the chosson personally and he knew that he did not stutter. He also knew the real reason for the bochur's frequent absences from yeshiva during sedorim. The chosson had an uncle, a choshuve talmid chochom who reviewed Shas daily. Sadly, the uncle had recently taken ill and was confined to his home, and his eyesight had deteriorated. The yeshiva bochur was visiting him, helping him review his learning and studying Shas with him, since the uncle could not read until he recovered.

"You have been told lies, falsehood and terrible loshon hora," said Rav Yosef Chaim. "Worse than this, you and your daughter have accepted it as true. Therefore I myself can guarantee you that it is utterly false. Come back to me tomorrow and I will prove it to you."

"Kevod HaRav, honorable Rav, please do not delay us another day," begged the parents. "Our poor daughter wishes to know the truth. Please do not push us off."

"Chas vesholom," responded Rav Yosef Chaim. "I am not pushing you off with needless delay. Rather, I have not yet davened Ma'ariv, when we ask of Hashem, Vesakneinu be'eitza tova milfonecha, 'Please give us good advice.' I will daven, and tomorrow I will give you a good piece of advice."

The parents returned the next day, and Rav Yosef Chaim told them, "You have greatly sinned in hearing and accepting loshon hora from jealous, wicked people who obviously wish to ruin this shidduch. I shall now rectify the matter. The kalla must do teshuva for accepting such loshon hora as well. Her teshuva will be to dress up as an Arab washerwoman. Then she should approach the home of the chosson's uncle and offer her cheap services to clean his home and wash his clothes. As she does this, she will be present and will overhear the chosson himself. He will never recognize her, but she will hear him learning Torah with his uncle. This will show that he does not stutter, that the stories spread about him are slander, and that this is the true reason for his absence from yeshiva."

All parties agreed. The kalla dressed up as an Arab washerwoman and did her work in the home of the chosson's uncle. What relief it was. She cried pure tears of joy as she saw her chosson and heard his clear, strong voice reciting the Gemara. The chasuna was later celebrated with great simcha.