For a year and a half, we were challenged by parnassah problems. These were really serious problems, real hardship. The tiny stipend I received was like starvation rations, and my wife did not have work at all. For lack of a better alternative I borrowed money, thinking I would return the debts by taking additional loans. Thus, as a father of a really young family, I amassed debt amounting to 20,000 shekels.
One day, I got hold of the Hashgachah Pratis newsletter. (Here I want to thank anyone who donated or helped out with the dissemination of this incredible pamphlet.) In the editor’s column, I read about the greatness of reciting Birkas Hamazon from a siddur, and about how this is a segulah for parnassah.
I, who was personally experiencing the pressure, resolved to strengthen myself in Birkas Hamazon immediately after reading the essay – but really. I took upon myself to spend at least five minutes saying Birkas Hamazon, and if I would finish before those five minutes were up, I would continue thinking about the meaning of the blessing, to thank Hashem for all His good and kindness, and to strengthen my bitachon in Hashem that He sends and prepare sustenance for all his creations, including me and the members of my household.
The first yeshuah I experienced after making that resolution came on the day that one of my large loans was due to be repaid. I had to return a large sum of money, and precisely on that day someone transferred enough money into my account to cover the entire sum and return the loan.
That was only the beginning. Suddenly, job proposals started pouring in for my wife. The mere fact that people remembered her was encouraging. However, each of the proposals...
