I live in Yerushalayim and own an apartment in Beit Shemesh. I divided the apartment into two units, each of which I rent out separately, thus paying my rent in Yerushalayim as well as part of the mortgage. One day one of my tenants left, and a new one did not come. The apartment was empty for several months. I spoke to agents, advertised in the circulars...and the apartment remained empty.
One day, when my mother asked me how I was doing, I told her about the state of the apartment, which directly impacts my bank account. My mother told me, “I also rented out an apartment, if you recall.”
I nodded. Yes, our parents have an apartment somewhere in the country, which they rent out. “Our apartment was empty too,” my mother said, “until I decided to approach the chief Agent of the world. We promised to pay the agent’s fee to Hashem, giving all the rent from the first month to tzedakah. Within a few days a new tenant arrived, and we gave the money to tzedakah. Take your mother’s advice and do the same thing.”
I took her advice and accepted upon myself to pay the agent’s fee to Hashem, and indeed, within a few days a new tenant appeared, and I acted on my promise and gave the rent from the first month to tzedakah.
Some time later the tenant from the second apartment let us know he’d be leaving in another month. This time I’d already learned my lesson, and I accepted upon myself immediately to give the agent’s fee to tzedakah.
A new tenant arrived right away. The apartment wasn’t left empty for even one day.
