This story, told by R’ Asher Druk, reminds us that no matter how hopeless things may seem, there is always hope — and no Jew is ever beyond redemption.

There was once a bachur — a boy with tremendous potential. He was naturally bright and capable, but unfortunately, he was a batlan — he wasted his time and didn’t apply himself. He often skipped davening, missed sedarim, and generally seemed disconnected from the world of Torah.

His parents were heartbroken. They received complaint after complaint from the yeshiva. No one had solutions, only criticism. They didn’t know what to do. But they didn’t give up.

They poured out their hearts in tefillah. Again and again, they cried to Hashem: “Help our son. Don’t let him be lost.”

As he reached the age of shidduchim, their concern only deepened. Who would want to marry a boy like this — one with such a reputation? It seemed impossible.

Friends, family, and even mentors gently suggested they stop hoping. “You’ve cried enough,” they said. “Accept reality. Save your energy.”

But the parents refused. They would not stop davening. Their tears flowed steadily — not from despair, but from deep faith that Hashem could send a yeshuah, no matter how far things seemed.

And then — a twist only Hashem could orchestrate.

A rosh yeshiva from America, from a wealthy and respected family, came to Eretz Yisrael looking for a shidduch for his daughter. He visited a local yeshiva and asked some of the boys, “Who is the top bachur here?”

They told him a name.

What they didn’t realize was — there were two boys in the yeshiva with the same name.

The rosh yeshiva began inquiries, but due to the mix-up, he was given contact information for the other boy — the struggling one.

He approached the boy’s parents, and after discussions, the shidduch moved forward. The families agreed, the engagement was made.

Now something incredible happened.

The boy — the batlan — was shocked. He suddenly realized that he had been given an opportunity he didn’t deserve. A respected rosh yeshiva. A prominent family. A future of promise.

He felt a deep sense of responsibility not to shame this family — and not to squander this second chance.

And from that moment, he turned his entire life around.

He applied himself with real diligence, day and night. He transformed into a true ben Torah and eventually became a serious talmid chacham.