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A Yissachar / Zebulun Partnership in Loving Memory of Yishak ben Simcha A"H & Felicia bat Miriam A"H
Rabbi David Ashear

Torah Lecture

Emuna Daily Lesson 22

Lectured by Rabbi David Ashear

Published
February 22, 2013
Duration
03:50
Lecture code
RDA-EDL022

This transcript was auto-generated and polished for readability. While we aim for accuracy, errors may occur. If you notice a mistake, please click to submit corrections.

Welcome to the Daily Chizuk (encouragement). The Chazon Ish writes that Bitachon (trust) is the physical manifestation of your Emunah (faith). If you believe Hashem is controlling the world, it will show in your actions.

I recently heard a great story from Rabbi Yaakov Yagen. He said that a few years back, he went to visit his uncle, alav hashalom (peace be upon him), the great Rabbi Nissim Yagen, and spent the day with him in his office. Rabbi Nissim told him, “Today I have to pay the salaries of my kollel (Torah study institute).” His nephew asked him, “Uncle, do you have the money?” He said, “I'm $26,000 short.” His nephew said, “Wow, how are you going to do it?” He said, “Hashem never lets me down. Hashem is going to take care of me.” So his nephew asked him, “But even if someone gives you the $26,000 check, you're not going to be able to cash it and pay out all the money today?” He said, “Hashem can't give me cash? Hashem can do anything.” His nephew was excited to see how the day was going to unfold. He was watching his uncle. He said the whole day was a regular day. His uncle wasn't getting upset. He wasn't getting unsettled. He wasn't worried. He learned his regular sedarim (study sessions). He taught people. He gave classes. He helped people with their problems. The time was running out. There was maybe an hour or two left in the day. His nephew said, “Uncle, what are you going to do about the money?” He said, “Don't worry. Hashem is going to take care of me.” He stepped away and closed the door. His nephew went to listen at the door to hear what he was doing. He said, “Hashem, Hashem, this is your call, Hashem. Please, I'm not doing this for myself. I'm doing this for you. Please send me the money now so I could pay their salaries.” He came out of the office, sat there, and said, “Don't worry. Hashem is going to provide.” It wasn't a few minutes later that somebody ran into the room, dropped a satchel with something on the table, and left. They opened it and saw that it was $26,000 in cash. The nephew said he was floored. It was an open miracle. They don't know who the guy was. They don't know what happened. But he paid out all the salaries.

It was two years later. Rabbi Nissim Yagen was in Baltimore and saw a guy he thought he remembered. He said, “Who are you?” The guy said, “No, no, Rabbi, you don't know me.” He said, “I know you. Who are you?” The guy said, “Remember a couple of years ago, someone dropped some money in your office?” He said, “Yeah.” The guy said, “That was me.” He said, “Why did you do that?” The guy said, “Well, Rabbi, I was visiting Israel. It was the one-year yahrzeit (anniversary of death) of my father, and I was a little upset after I visited. I was a little broken. I went to my hotel room to take a nap, and my father came to me in a dream and said, ‘What are you doing sleeping? Rabbi Yagen needs $26,000. Go give it to him.’ I woke up. I was startled. I said, ‘I don't know who Rabbi Yagen is, but I want to follow my father once.’ I went down to the lobby to find out, and I saw my friend there. My friend was there on business. He told me he just made a big business deal and had a lot of cash on him. He didn't want to bring it back. I said, ‘Wow, perfect. I need cash right now. You give me the cash. I'll pay you back when we get back.’ I ran up to you, found out where you were, and dropped the money off.”

But this is Yeshuat Hashem, keheref ayin. This is Hashem's salvation in the second. The key to the story was that Rabbi Yagen never got frazzled. He was Boteach BaHashem (one who trusts in Hashem), and, as the Pasuk (verse) says, haboteach baHashem, chesed (kindness) yesovevenu (One who trusts in Hashem, kindness surrounds him), be surrounded by Chesed. Have a great day.