The Chofetz Chaim Marries His Step-Sister

The Chofetz Chaim’s father passed away when he was only ten years old. His widowed mother initially moved to Vilna and eventually married Rav Shimon Halevi Epstein. The Chofetz Chaim was offered many shidduchim. Indeed, he was offered substantial dowries that would enable him to study Torah without worrying about earning a livelihood. However, his step-father really wanted him to marry his daughter, Freidah. To promote sholom bayis between his step-father and mother, he agreed to the match. However, his mother was not in favor. The Chofetz Chaim spent time convincing his mother to agree to the shidduch to ensure the success of his shalom bayis plan. And so it was that the Chofetz Chaim married a poor girl who was older than he was for the sake of shalom bayis with little hope of financial support. However, the Chofetz Chaim credited everything he achieved in life to his wife, who ran their store while he became the Chofetz Chaim.