I would like to share a story that reveals how Hashem sometimes opens up the curtain, and allows us to see what’s going on. There are different pieces to this puzzle; it’s not that complicated, but it fell into place nicely.
In our class this past Friday, we mentioned that Erev Shabbat Parasha Para is an opportune time to give Sedaka. We quoted Rav Chaim Palagi, who says that Sedaka purifies oneself, which makes Parashat Para an opportune time to give.
In our shul, Yad Yosef, I give a daily halacha, and Hashem and put it into my mind that morning, to discuss that halacha, along with some other aspects.
After mentioning the halacha, I said that I was sure that Rabbi Ozeri, who was sitting to my right at the time, had a needy cause (as he always does- Rabbi Ozeri, Baruch Hashem, is always involved in Hessed).
Sure enough, he said that he did indeed have a worthy cause. He explained that someone was coming to meet him, who needed some money, so he asked that they go around the shul collecting for that man, whose wife needed a dental procedure. So we collected money from people around the shul, some $5s some $20s, and even some $100 bills.
Rabbi Ozeri took the cash.
Then, at Seuda shelishit, Rabbi Ozeri explained the full story:
He said that on Wednesday morning he got a phone call from a fellow who explained that they didn’t know each other, but this man knew that Rabbi Ozeri liked to help Rebbis.
(Ravi Ozeri started the push at Torah U’Mesorah to create a Rebbe Appreciation fund)
The man explained that he was a Rebbi, his wife had a job, and they were usually able make ends meet, Baruch HaShem.
But his wife was in need of dental work. They had been pushing off because of the expense, but she really needed to get it done or it could become dangerous. Her appointment was that Friday, the cost was $1800 and the man had nowhere else to turn. Rabbi Ozeri told him that he could give him $1,000 from his fund and advised the man to call the dentist, offer the $1000 and ask them to waive the rest, or request to pay off the balance over time. He also told the man to try and get the rest, and asked the man to call him back the next day.
After speaking with the dentist’s office, the man called Rabbi Ozeri back to tell him that the secretary said that they would not accept anything less than the $1,800. She told him that even if he had $1,799, he shouldn’t come. They needed the payment in full. Upfront.
Rabbi Ozeri asked the man what he would do. The man said he would keep his wife’s appointment, because he had Emunah and Bitachon. He asked the Rabbi for the check for $1,000, and felt it would work out.
On Friday morning, at 9 AM, he went to Rabbi Ozeri’s to pick up the check.
Rabbi Ozeri themntold him that that morning, in their halacha class at shul, the halacha under discussion happened to be that you are supposed to give Sedaka an Erev Shabot Para, and that they were able to raise more money. Rabbi Ozeri took out a wad of cash and handed it over to the man. The man counted it, and it added up to $786. He was $14 short of his goal. Rabbi Ozeri took $14 out of his own pocket, gave it to the man and the man had his $1800, to take his wife to the dentist. Rabbi Ozeri was surprised that the man wasn’t even shocked. He thanked the rabbi and went on his way. He had been convinced that he was going to the dentist, and it would work out.
At 4 o’clock, he called Rabbi Ozeri to tell him that Baruch HaShem, the procedure had gone well, and told him an added point.
That past Friday was the yahrzeit of a great Hasidic Rebbi, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk.
Many people travel to his kever on his yarzheit every year, but this year, due to Covid, most people, if not all, were unable to go.
Regardless, the man explained that he was a great grandchild of this rebbe, and he promises that for one who takes care of children, he will do things on his behalf in Shamayim. He explained that on his great grandfather’s yarzheit, this congregation was zoche to help his great grandchild.
That is another little twist of Hashgacha
A person could look at this as a random string of events. I randomly mentioned a halacha that I had never said before, on Erev Parashat Para. Or we could say no, it was the great Sadik’s yarzheit. It says that a Sadik’s grandchildren are fortunate to have that zechut, and furthermore, this grandchild had Emunah and Bitachon.
As we know, and have quoted from Mishleh, a man can only prepare his heart, but what comes out of his mouth is from Hashem. This is a rule that is hard to fathom. There are billions of people, with hundreds of languages, but everything that comes out of their mouths is being controlled by Hashem.
This is fascinating and mind boggling. Of course, we do have freedom of choice, and we will be rewarded and punished accordingly. But at the end of the day, nothing will come out of our mouths unless Hashem wills it.That is how it works. Hashem said that this man needed another $800, so He put it into somebody’s head to say those words to the crowd, who, with their freedom of choice, chose to respond positively. That is how Hashem works on a daily basis.
As we have said, once in a while, Hashem reveals His secrets, and we get to see what is really going on behind the veil.
In the sefer Hochma U’Mussar, Rav Avraham Anteby brings down the same concept. He tells the story about man in the crowd who was a silversmith that in to his temptations, and helped a church make a certain item.
Then, that very day, the rabbi mentioned a Halacha about how terrible it is to be involved in Avodah Zara, and making any images for them. Afterwards, the man went over to the rabbi and asked him who had told him that he was involved in that business. He hadn’t told anyone!
The rabbi told the man that nobody told him. The silversmith asked the rabbi why he then decided to speak about this topic, and the rabbi told him that he didn’t know- he had just decided to talk about it.
That is how Hashem works. He is pulling the strings, and we are just puppets. And He is not just pulling the strings on the puppet- He is really more like a ventriloquist. Of course, the words are coming out of our mouths, but we aren’t really the ones talking. Hashem is in charge of everything.
Have a wonderful day.