When Rabbi Yankel Galinsky was freed from Siberia he headed south alongside of the train tracks for two weeks until he reached Kazakhstan. He stayed in the home of the local Shochet and started a Jewish school for boys and girls. He was arrested and spent 6 months in prison in non human conditions. After he was released, he found out that the rest of his family had perished in the war. He started searching for a good young lady as a wife.
At the Shabbos table of his host there were many guests. His host spoke up and announced that Yaakov is looking for a shidduch, a good girl looking to build a Jewish home after the war. One of the guests Reb Yisrael Yaakov said, "don't look any further I have the perfect girl for you. Come with me to Tashkent the capital of Uzbekistan and you can meet the girl."
"Why make him travel so far?" Asked his host?
"Let me explain," said the guest. "I spend a lot of time in Tashkent for business and daven in a secret Synagogue, in the basement of an apartment. One Friday night a girl showed up for prayers. When I checked out, I heard her story. She had come to fetch her daily quota of 200 grams of bread. The line was very long and it was nearly sunset when she got her bread. It gave her enough time to make it to the Shul just in time for sunset. She couldn't go any further because she was Shomer Shabbos and wouldn't carry. She asked permission to stay for prayers, then make Kiddush on the bread, eat and go home. If there is such a girl that was educated in such a way in Communist Russia, don't look any further."
Everyone agreed. But how was a Polish citizen, released from Siberia, just spent 6 month in jail, meant to be able to travel without a permit around the country and not be caught.
Reb Yisrael Aharon had a permit for his business. He put Reb Yankel Galinsky into a big cloth bag and took him along as merchandise. To his luck, the tax officer alighted the train making a routine check that no one was smuggling illegal merchandise. All they found was.... Rav Galinsky in the bag. He was lucky that he was just thrown off the train.
Reb Yisrael Aharon found a way out. Saccharin what is popular in Kazakhstan is very scarce in Uzbekistan. He gave Reb Yankel some money to buy saccharin and got him a permit to travel and do business.
Rav Galinsky arrived in Uzbekistan he met the girl at her home. Her father had done everything to give his children a Jewish education. When this girl was born he never registered her birth so she wouldn't be checked out by the education offices. The match was great and they got married.
Now Rav Galinsky had to get a permit to be able to stay in Tashkent. He found out that in the Office of Interior there was a lady that worked there that could arrange it for some bribery.
One day some Jews arrived at the secret Shul and told over that they had arranged a visa for Rabbi Yosef Dov Wiedenfeld from Tchebein to enter Iran. The Persian Sheik had personally called Stalin. However they needed an exit visa which could only be arranged in Moscow.
Rav Galinsky went to the lady at the office of Interior and told her that he needs to go to Moscow to check out the registrar about his wife. For a few kopeks he was on his way. Obviously he found nothing about his wife but he brought the visa for the Tchebiener Rav.
A few months later all Polish citizens were allowed to go back home and for a few more kopeks the lady gave him the papers he needed for his wife to join him on his way back to Poland and then to Eretz Yisrael.
Looking back Rav Galinsky would explain how amazingly Hashem planned everything up front for him to meet his wife and for the release of the Tchebiener Rav. Whilst everyone was busy suffering and running around, Hashem had planned everything so perfectly and everything fitted into place. And if we try a little harder, can't we write our own amazing life stories?!
Let's not look at the little picture. We must remember that we are part of a very big picture! But most importantly, that Hashem is the brilliant artist painting the light of Mashiach!
