Welcome to the daily chizuk (encouragement). What might seem to us to be random, insignificant occurrences are really a manifestation of Hashem's unbelievable Hashgacha (divine providence), leading us to where we need to go and to whom we have to meet. Sometimes, in hindsight, Hashem allows us to see how He works, how He weaves together all the random events into a beautiful woven tapestry.
The following story was told by Rabbi Dovi ben Susan and brought down in Rabbi Prusansky's book. He said his friend Shlomo received a call from his wealthy uncle in America, telling him that an orphanage in Hadera needed his financial assistance and that they invited him to come take a tour. The uncle said, “I have a nephew who lives in Israel, and I’ll send him, and he’ll be able to tell me what he thinks.” So Shlomo invited his friend Dovi to come along, and they were going the next day on the 2 o’clock bus, which was to leave from Central Station.
The next day, Dovi left his dorm with enough time to do something else. He had to do some errands on the way to the bus. First, he went to get a haircut. It was a freezing cold day in December, and he came into the barber shop, slipped off his coat and gloves, and rubbed the cold off his hands. He told the barber, “I have an important meeting this afternoon. I need to look good.” Fifteen minutes later, he rushed out to Mahane Yehuda to buy some type of candy for the children. He bought 200 pieces of chocolate and started to stuff them in his jacket pockets. Then he realized that his gloves were missing. He wanted to go back to his home and go back to the barber to get them, but there wasn’t enough time. He had to make the bus.
He and his friend arrived in Hadera about two hours later, and Dovi desperately wanted another pair of gloves. There was an old Teimani (Yemenite) man there selling some wares out of a cardboard box, and he had a pair of unusual gloves. They were elbow-length, designed to provide extra warmth. So, with no other choice, he bought them.
They arrived at the orphanage and were welcomed with tremendous warmth from the staff. At one point during the tour, the guide escorted them to the office of the director. After they waited outside for a while, the door flew open and a ten-year-old boy ran out, all excited. “I got a hundred on my Chumash test,” he shouted. Dovi took the paper from the boy’s hand and admired the grade. “That’s fantastic,” he said. But then he glanced at the name at the top of the test, and it said Yitzchak Alfasi. It was the name of the Rif, a major commentary found in the back of every single Gemara. Dovi said, “Wow, do you know you have the same name as the great Rif?” “I know,” the boy answered. “He’s my great-great-great-great-grandfather. That’s why my father gave me this name.”
Dovi couldn’t believe it. This boy must have tremendous potential. He asked the director how much Torah was taught there, and the director said, “A rabbi comes once a week to teach Chumash. We would love to teach more, but there’s just not enough funding.” Dovi bent down and asked the boy, “What would it take for you to agree to learn Torah every single day if I were to bring a rabbi here for you?” The boy said, “Well, I like those gloves you’re wearing. If you give me them, I’ll learn every day.” He gave him the elbow-length gloves, and when the little Yitzchak put them on, they reached all the way to his shoulders.
They left the orphanage that day happy with this encounter. When Dovi came back to Yerushalayim, he went straight to the barber to try to get his gloves back. He walked in just before closing. He asked the barber if he had seen the gloves, and the barber said, “Wait here.” He went to the drawer, pulled them out, and proudly announced, “Now everyone will know that Moshe Alfasi is an honest man.” Dovi couldn’t believe his ears. “Your last name is Alfasi? Do you have a son by any chance?” “I don’t want to talk about it,” he replied quietly. “Tell me, please, Moshe.” And Moshe started to cry. He said, “Years ago I was married, and my wife had serious issues. We had a son, but she mistreated him, and eventually the court took him away from us and put him in an orphanage. Even after we got divorced, they wouldn’t tell me where he is. I miss him so much. I haven’t seen him in five years.”
Dovi asked, “Is his name Yitzchak?” “Yes,” said Moshe. “How do you know?” “I just saw him. He got a hundred on his Chumash test. He’s doing great. He’s going to learn Torah every day now with the rabbi.”
Moshe was overjoyed. He couldn’t believe it. He ended up moving to Hadera next to his son, and now he has an active role in his life. Look at how Hashem brought them together. First, Dovi was invited to visit the orphanage. Then he decided he needed a haircut. He forgot his gloves in the barber shop. He just happened to be standing outside the office when this little boy came out with a hundred on his test. He got back to the barber shop just before closing, and the barber just happened to mention his last name. Hashem is unbelievable. Nothing is random. Everything has a purpose. Have a great day.