Rav Noach Weinberg zt”l was one of the first people who tried to be mekarev Yidden and bring them to teshuvah. Once he said: Imagine a large crane from which emerges a strong chain, and inside it we put a very heavy load of bricks. A worker stands near the crane and moves it a bit from here a bit from there. It seems as though he is lifting the heavy burden, when in fact it is the crane that is actually lifting everything. It’s the same when it comes to teshuvah: Hakadosh Baruch Hu returns His nation Yisrael in teshuvah! But to be like this worker, who stands near the crane and seems to be doing something — this is a zechus.
Baruch Hashem, I also have this type of zechus. I give shiurim to people who are drawing close to Hashem, and I was zocheh that one of the talmidim started keeping Shabbos. I was very excited along with him, and before Shabbos I prepared a package for him, including all of his Shabbos needs, such as a hot-water urn and a hot plate, and several nice dishes that are not strictly necessary but that also beautify the Shabbos.
I sent everything with a messenger, and only afterward did I realize that the urn had not been toveled. What would be? I had sent the dishes in order to help him and not in order to cause him to stumble. I wanted everything to be done in utmost comfort, and now I had to teach him a halachah he did not know, and I had no idea how he would react. The first steps are so sensitive, and I so much wanted to do everything good for him. I really didn’t know what to do. I davened to Hashem and asked, “Ribbono shel Olam, my talmid is Your son. Please arrange everything for him.”
And He did. Close to Shabbos, the talmid called to thank me for the package. “Regarding the urn,” he told me, “I’m not going to use it this week because I didn’t have time to wash it with soap and water.”
“Baruch Hashem,” I reacted. “I forgot to let you know that you also need to tovel it, and before that, it is forbidden to use it.”
I explained all the details of the halachah, and the talmid listened with understanding and joy.
Abba in Shamayim arranged everything.
