Community Magazine September 2019

48 Community Magazine Helping Singles Through Blessings, Inspiration, and Prayer A conversation with Rav Yitzchak Kolodetsky, shlit”a , esteemed son-in-law of Rav ChaimKanievsky, shlit”a “Blessings are not on earth; they are in the heavens, and they are brought down to earth through prayer.” Pnina Souid R av Yitzchak Kolodetsky, shlit”a , says that his passion is to see buildings built. No, he is not a real estate developer. The “buildings” he builds are beautiful Jewish homes, homes filled with peace, joy, serenity, and sanctity. And he does this, in part, by traveling the world, inspiring audiences, and giving blessings to men and women searching for their nasib (intended soulmate). That’s not all he does. At the behest of Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l, and of his father-in-law, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a – regarded by many as our generation’s leading Torah sage – Rav Kolodetsky opened a kollel in the Pardes Katz neighborhood in northern Bnei-Brak, in order to strengthen the Torah observance in the neighborhood. The kollel has had a profound impact, drawing many of the area’s residents closer to religious observance. But Rav Kodoletsky is known far and wide, well beyond Bnei-Brak, as a dynamic speaker, inspiring spiritual guide, and expert on the topic of shidduchim . His wife, Rabbanit Kolodetsky, is widely recognized as the “successor” of her renowned mother, Rabbanit Batsheva Kanievsky, a”h , who was the primary address for girls and women throughout the world in need of encouragement, guidance, and blessings. Untold numbers of women were helped and inspired by the Rebbetzin’s words. Her role has since been assumed by her saintly daughter, Rabbanit Kolodetsky. Rav Kolodetsky travels extensively to raise money for his kollel but also to inspire audiences and give blessings. Recently, he traveled to New York and the Midwest, returning for less than a week before coming back to these shores for several days in order to lead a special prayer assembly for shidduchim run by the Chazaq organization. This event was so important to him that his grandson’s bar-mitzvah in Bnei-Brak was delayed because of this trip! During his brief stay in New York, I had the opportunity to sit with Rav Kolodetsky and hear his insights into the delicate topic of matchmaking and building a happy Torah home. As I sat at the table with the rav and his gabbai (attendant), my mind transported me back to 11 Breslev St. in Bnei-Brak, where I had lived for nearly five months, before Gd brought me back to Brooklyn. My apartment shared a yard with the Kolodetsky family, and in that brief period I had the special privilege of forging a close relationship with Rebbetzin Kolodetsky. Back then, Gd blessed me with the opportunity to live next door to the great sage in Bnei-Brak; now, Gd blessed me by bringing the great sage to me here, in New York. The Power of Prayer… Citing his revered father-in-law, Rav Kolodetsky explained that prayer is vital for bringing a zivug hagun (suitable soulmate). One must plead and beseech Gd for his or her intended match. His remarks echoed the message I was given by his mother-in-law, Rebbetzin Kanievsky, nine years ago, when she told me, “Blessings are not on earth; they are in the heavens, and they are brought down to earth through prayer.” And Rabbanit Kolodetsky tells unmarried girls to pray every day. If only women knew the power of their prayers, the Rabbanit said, and prayed as they should, the final redemption would arrive. Based on a verse in a prophecy given by Malachi, the last of the prophets, the rav said that until Eliyahu arrives to announce the final redemption, our nation must join together in heartfelt prayer, which opens the doors to all the yeshuot (“salvations”) that we need. Rav Kolodetsky says that public prayers are especially powerful, which is why he leads many prayer assemblies (“ kinnus tefilah ”) on his trips. He begins with a 15-minute address, offering words of