The first two children born to a Lubavitch couple had Down’s Syndrome. Many doctors advised the two to forget about having children of their own; the risks against having an ordinary child were obviously too high. But the couple wanted children very much, and against the doctors’ recommendations, the woman entered her third pregnancy.

One of the natural steps for a Lubavitch couple expecting a child is to seek the Rebbe’s blessing for a successful pregnancy and a healthy child. Needless to say, this couple felt a particular need for the Rebbe’s blessing.

But their letter remained unanswered. This troubled them greatly, because they had not received an answer from the Rebbe after notifying him with regard to the woman’s first two pregnancies either. This third silence filled them with foreboding.

Anxious and distraught, the man went to the office of the Rebbe’s secretariat. “Please, you must get us an answer,” he implored.

The secretary promised to bring the matter to the Rebbe’s attention, and to tell the Rebbe of the stress the husband and wife were experiencing.

Several hours later, the secretary called the husband. The Rebbe had given his blessing, but had also advised the couple to observe the laws of kashrus, behiddur (in a careful and punctilious manner).

The couple weren’t sure what the Rebbe meant; they already kept strict standards, they ate only glatt kosher meat and cholov yisrael dairy products (i.e. from dairies owned and operated by Jews). What more were they supposed to do?

So they began to study and seek advice from Rabbis and friends. As a result, they became aware of a level of observance even more stringent than their own. Anxious to be worthy of the Rebbe’s blessings, they adopted these practices.

After a full-term pregnancy, the woman gave birth to a healthy girl, and the couple proceeded to have other healthy children.