The Five-Minute Deal: Why Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky Promised "a lot, a lot, a lot of money"

Rabbi Avraham Fuchs shared a remarkable story on the Dirshu website, which he heard from a close acquaintance.

“One of my children was an excellent student in Talmud Torah and later in the yeshivot,” the father recounted. “But at a certain point his learning weakened significantly, and he was asked to leave the yeshiva. After that he was dismissed from another yeshiva as well, and he began drifting from place to place. I became deeply worried about his future.”

A Father’s Concern

“After a long period with no improvement, as my son continued moving farther and farther away from Gemara study and no yeshiva was willing to accept him, I decided to turn to Maran, the Sar HaTorah, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, of blessed memory.

“I hoped he would speak with my son and inspire him to renew his aspirations to grow in Torah and in yirat Shamayim.”

At the time, Rabbi Chaim had recently suffered a stroke, which made it more difficult to meet with him. Still, the father discovered that every morning, very early, the Rav would go out for a walk in a park in Bnei Brak.

“I contacted the person who accompanied him and explained that I planned to come the next morning with my son so the Rav could bless him. I asked that he briefly explain to the Rav in advance that we were bringing a boy who needed encouragement. Even if I wouldn’t say it explicitly in front of my son, the Rav in his wisdom would surely know how to strengthen him.”

The Meeting in the Park

“My son was very excited. I told him that we had the opportunity to receive a blessing from Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, and he was thrilled.

“The next morning we woke up early and arrived at the park with trembling hearts. As we approached, I silently prayed that Hashem would perform a miracle and help my son return to the right path.”

From a distance, the father noticed the gabbai speaking to the Rav and explaining that the father and son he had mentioned were now approaching.

“We came closer, and the Rav asked, ‘What do you want?’”

The father allowed his son to speak for himself.

“My son said that he wanted a blessing.”

The Rav asked him, “What kind of blessing do you want?”

An Unexpected Request

“My son answered simply: ‘I want a lot of money.’”

The father recalled the moment with embarrassment.

“I thought I would faint. Is that what you ask from the Sar HaTorah? Money? From such a great sage you ask for a blessing for yirat Shamayim, success in learning, good children. But money?”

Yet Rabbi Chaim responded calmly and simply.

“May you have a lot of money,” he blessed the boy.

But the boy still looked unsatisfied.

The Rav noticed and asked him, “Nu… isn’t that a good blessing? After all, that’s what you asked for.”

The boy replied, “Yes, but I don’t want just a lot of money. I want a lot, a lot, a lot of money.”

The Rav’s Condition

Rabbi Chaim fell silent and thought for a few moments, resting his forehead gently on the cane he used while walking.

“I hoped the ground would swallow me,” the father said. “Such a craving for money. Surely the Rav had not heard such a request in a long time.”

Still, the father hoped that the Rav had a plan. Perhaps he would use the moment to explain the importance of Torah learning and inspire the boy to return to his studies.

Finally the Rav lifted his head and said to the boy:

“I agree to bless you as you asked, but I have one condition.”

“If you learn five minutes of Gemara every day, at exactly the same time each day, without fail. The time must be fixed and never moved, not on Purim and not on Yom Kippur. Every day those same five minutes.”

“If you keep that commitment,” the Rav continued, “I bless you that you will have a lot, a lot, a lot of money.”

The Rav even repeated the phrase in the same tone the boy had used.

“A lot, a lot, a lot of money.”

The Result Years Later

“My son lit up with joy,” the father said. “He knew that a blessing from Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky is not something ordinary. His words do not fall to the ground.”

But the father himself felt disappointed.

“I had come hoping the Rav would correct my son and inspire him to return to Torah learning. Instead, we received a blessing that he would have a lot, a lot, a lot of money. What is money worth without Torah?”

Only years later did he fully understand the wisdom of the Rav.

“You do not argue with the great sages of Torah,” he concluded. “Maran blessed him exactly as he asked, but that short conversation had an enormous impact on him.”

The boy began faithfully learning five minutes of Gemara every day at the same fixed time.

Slowly those five minutes grew.

“Today, ten years later, my son is a true ben Torah. He is careful in observing mitzvot, and he has already authored several Torah books.

“In the end, it turns out that his path back to Torah began with a blessing for ‘a lot, a lot, a lot of money.’”