A Child After 28 Years

Dovid and Fibi Marciano, members of the Lubavitch community in Israel’s northern section of Krayot, had their first-born son this past week.

They have been married for 28 years.

And in a conversation with COLlive, the happy father credits the Rebbe with the miraculous birth.

“After we got married we had a problem and didn’t merit to have children,” Dovid, 56, said in a conversation over the phone.

“We asked the Rebbe for a bracha a few times. He gave a blessing but never something clear.

“In 1990 my wife and I traveled again to New York, and decided that this time we wouldn’t settle for less than a clear answer and blessing.

“I spoke to the secretary, Rabbi Binyomin Klein, and he agreed to arrange that we should be first in line when the Rebbe hands dollars for charity.

“It was Sunday, 21 of Chevshan 5750. We waited an hour and a half for the Rebbe to come out of his room. We were very excited and feared we would not be able to talk.

“When we approached the Rebbe, I mustered up the strength, and said, ‘Rebbe, we want children.’

“He gave me another dollar bill and said, ‘This is for the children that will be born.’ The Rebbe gave a similar blessing and second dollar to my wife.”

Years passed and the couple kept waiting.

A few years ago, Dovid sustained severe burns all over his body from an accident while working for Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel’s developer of weapons and military technology. He lost both hands due to the injury.

The two began running a large food distribution charity for needy families and the elderly in the area.

“I kept telling people that the blessing must be fulfilled – it must be. I didn’t know when or how, but the Rebbe promised and the Rebbe must live up to it.

“Although we had some very difficult moments, we were encouraged because of the blessing.”

News of Marciano’s newborn last week spread quickly with many calling and stopping by to share in the simcha.

“We still can’t believe the fact that we are now parents, after 28 years of marriage,” Dovid said.