By Rabbi David Bibi
This morning, after Tefilah, a friend asked me to assure him that everything that happens, happens for the best. The evening before, he was scheduled to take a call from an important, but very busy client in California at 8PM New York time. The call didn’t come at 8, nor 9, nor 10, but finally came at 11 when my friend had fallen asleep. He suggested they reschedule, but the suggestion was met with a disgruntled response punctuated with how valuable his time was. My friend was obviously concerned.
Rabbi Akiva’s Teaching – Everything Hashem Does is for the Best
I responded with the words of Rabbi Akiva, kol ma d'avid rachamana letav avid, which translates to me as, “whatever Hashem does must be for the best”, assuring him that even if he perceived the situation as bad, he should not worry as eventually it would be for the good. Although Rabbi Akiva’s words are a level below his teacher, Nachum Ish Gamzu whose name comes from his belief that Gamzu LeTovah, who saw everything as good, we can be assured that even a situation which may cause distress, will turn out for the good. (We’ll expand on the differences between Rabbi Akiva and his teacher in our class).
What was strange is that I was pondering this question on Sunday evening and wrote pages of notes where I deliberate if it is my free will and a prior decision which places me in a situation which I perceive to be bad or does Hashem in fact, even given our errors or personal deficiencies, still insert Himself into the minutia of the events of each and every one of our lives.
Hashem is Infinite an Nothing is Beyond His Control
Rabbi Abittan often reminded us that Hashem is infinite and nothing is beyond Heaven’s participation quoting the Midrash where Rabbi Shimon states: 'Every single blade of grass has a corresponding 'mazal' in the sky which hits it and tells it to grow." If every blade of grass demands Heaven’s attention, how much more, we human beings with holy neshamot of kenesset Yisrael from below the throne, are the benefactors of Divine Providence.
A moment later I walked out onto the terrace and Rabbi Ariel Mizrahi shared a story he heard from our friend Terry Oved. Terry is a lawyer who was of tremendous help to my dad and Marvin Azrak, A’H when they were expanding the Ahi Ezer senior citizen centers and building the old age home. Terry has a way of making all around him feel good and what I love is that Terry is a collector of stories. Walking with him and sharing stories back and forth is always a tremendous pleasure.
Terry received a call from a dear friend. The man was due in court the next day and his license was subject to suspension. He panicked that he wasn’t prepared, had no lawyer and begged Terry to accompany him. I know that most lawyers would have said that they don’t do traffic and apologized, but Terry is always there for a friend.
A Religous Stumbled into the Courtroom Disheveled and Covered with Grime
Sitting in the court and awaiting to be called up they noticed a religious guy stumble in. He was disheveled, looked dirty, his suit was covered with grime and what appeared to be burn marks. His name was called and he stepped up. The judge looked at him, noted he was late and asked him how he could be so disrespectful to come into the court looking like he did.
The man apologized and asked the judge if he might explain.
“I live up in Monsey and left very early so that I might arrive early given the weather. Driving down on the thruway, I saw a car in front of me swerve, lose control and then flip over into the barrier. I quickly pulled to the side of the road. I am a trained paramedic with Hatzalah and ran to help. The car already caught fire and the driver in the inverted vehicle could not get out. I approached, spoke with the man and was able to pull him to safety before the flames completely engulfed the car. I remained with the accident victim, stabilized him and waited for police and ambulance. Once they arrived, I proceeded to the city and my appearance.”
Taking out his phone, he continued, “And your honor, if I may approach the bench, here are images, the name and badge and contact of the state Trooper who was the first at the scene and who took my report. He told me that the court should call him to verify”.
An officer stepped up to take the phone, but the judge waved him off and invited the man forward taking his phone and looking at the images and had the stenographer note the officer’s name and badge for the record.
The Judge Banged His Gavel and Dismissed the Case
The judge looked at the man and asked, “so you are late because you just saved someone’s life?” And without waiting for a response, banged his gavel and announced, “the case against you is dismissed. Just step up to the clerk to clear up the paperwork”.
They then called up Terry’s friend. He with Terry behind him approached then bench. He too had a kipah on and was dressed in a suit and tie, although not disheveled.
The judge looked at him and at the charges and at the Hatzalah guy standing by the clerk and said, “I guess you are with him. You know what, case dismissed, see the clerk.”
Hearing the Rest of the Story
To say it was surprising would be mild. After seeing the clerk, Terry and his friend went out to find the Haztalah guy and they heard the rest of the story.
He told them that he was also a member of the chevra Kadisha in Monsey and about a year ago got a call from Manhattan. They needed someone to do a tahara (ritual preparation of the body) for someone who had passed and no one was around. He asked if they were sure that he was the closest as he was in Monsey and it was the middle of the night. They told him that not only was he the closest, he was the only one. So, he dressed, got in his car and drove down.
At that time there were few people on the road and he was speeding. He was pulled over and although as a paramedic, he would usually be sent off without a ticket, this time it was different. As he pulled away, he thought that this is very strange. Isn’t one who is osek BeMisvah, involved in a misvah, and in this case of chesed shel emet in helping to bury a person, protected? Why did he get a ticket?
He then delayed the appearance as we are taught to delay puranut – negative things – for as long as possible. But finally had to appear today and scheduled himself to get to the city and court on time, only to find himself in a lifesaving situation.
He then realized that perhaps Hashem orchestrated the ticket, while he was doing the misvah to help bury a person, so that a year later, he would be in the right place at the right time and have the opportunity to save a life. A year in advance, Hashem set the events in motion. It was up to him to act.
The fact that a minute after hearing the question from my friend, concerned about his client and responding with the words of Rabbi Akiva, kol ma d'avid rachamana letav avid, “whatever Hashem does must be for the best”, that this story was shared with me was in itself an act of hasgachat peratit or Divine Providence.
Reprinted from the Parashat Emor 5784 email of Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace.
