...אִם־כֶּסֶּף תַּלְוֶּה אֶּת־עַּמִי - When you lend money to My people...(parshas Mishpatim, Shemos 22:24)
"I desperately need a loan for a half year," said the newcomer to Yeshaya Jochovitzer. "Since I am new here, I cannot provide any guarantor. Only Hashem knows that I am an honest person and He can be my guarantor."
"There is no better guarantor," said Yeshaya as he extended the requested loan.
Half a year later the borrower smilingly returned to repay the loan, adding that the money had helped him to succeed in his business. But Yeshaya refused to accept the money, explaining that the Divine Guarantor had already repaid the loan by blessing him with an unexpected profit in the exact amount of the loan.
(A similar tale regarding Rabbi Akiva is found in the commentaries in the Mesechta Nedarim 50a.)
by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt”l
