Doling Out Money
A Yid related the following story that transpired with him. This story has an incredible lesson that we must internalize and allow to permeate our hearts:
There’s a well-known telephone line called קו השגחה פרטית to which thousands of callers from throughout the world dial in to hear stories of Hashgachah Pratis that strengthen their bitachon. In one of this shiurim, Reb Dovid Kletzkin outlined a mashal for half an hour... pretending that it was an actual story.
The mashal went as follows: There was a gevir in Florida who made an announcement. Since there are Yidden who call in to listen to shiurim on Sha’ar HaBitachon and Hashgachah Pratis, he is offering to pay down all the debts of these Yidden who strengthen their emunah in this way. Rav Dovid told this story... it mamash seemed real. He even outlined the “terms:” One who learns a little Sha’ar HaBitachon will have 50 percent of his debts paid, and so forth—depending on how much debt he have and how much he works on his bitachon.
But at the conclusion, Reb Dovid clarified: You should know that the Ribbono shel Olam does pay down one hundred percent of the debts of those who place their trust in Him!
The Great Nisayon
Wishing to continue the pretense, some people sent around the story—but without the conclusion. The way things are today, it quickly reached thousands of people, and people began believing that there really is a gevir in Florida who’s offering to pay people’s debts.
Says this Yid, “I got a call from a friend who said, ‘I know you—and you’re the prime candidate for this program. You have a large amount of debt, and you’re a person who works on your bitachon. You can mamash transform your life. Call the number and sign up... it’s bal tashchis not to!’”
This is Yid who has indeed worked on his bitachon extensively. He truly internalized what bitachon is, and he has experienced so many instances of the way the Ribbono shel Olam helped him. He sat down that night and thought, “It’s true that I have a great amount of debt, but I never wished to rely on people. We supplicate Hashem during bentching that we should rely only on Him alone... why should I change my policy now? Why should I need to come to another person to pay my debts? I don’t want this! This isn’t coming from Hashem Himself!”
The Proper View
Still, it wasn’t easy. A human is still... well, human, after all. Who said this isn’t Hashem sending me a messenger, the feeling gnawed at him. We must do hishtadlus, mustn’t we? And so, he tossed and turned all night with these thoughts, back and forth.
In the morning, he went to daven—placing a special emphasis on the plea that Hashem should give him the wisdom not to fall for this nisayon. “Ribbono shel Olam! I don’t want their money. I want it from You!” He emerged from his tefillah with a firm resolution to stay far away from this “offer.” The Ribbono shel Olam will help me; I don’t need gifts from anyone,” he resolved.
This is what happens to a person who works for years on his bitachon... he learn to sniff out a fraud.
An Answer from Above
That afternoon, this Yid made a phone call to his accountant to discuss his business debts and to analyze the overall financial picture. Says the account to him, “I have an offer from a buyer for your entire business. He wants to purchase it as is, with all its debts, as a regular business transaction. He will buy it outright and take over all its operations.”
This Yid was stunned—most importantly, because the answer from Above couldn’t be clearer. The Ribbono shel Olam showed him outright, “Don’t rely on anyone! I can wipe out all your debts, not through charity, not through gifts, and not through loans—but through an avenue that you never imagined; someone will buy your entire business!”
People around him would sometimes scoff at his earnest and sincere bitachon. “You need to be
Point to Ponder
The Debts Were Wiped Away —Not by the Wealthy Man in Florida
