Eldad from the center of the country relates:
Shortly before Pesach, we found a blockage in our bathtub. Calling in a professional plumber is a big expense, and I tried to save the cost by calling my friend who somewhat understands these things. He listened to my request, and he came over to take care of the problem. He released the blockage, and all he asked as payment was 150 shekels.
I paid him and he left, but then I realized that he’d made a severe error: He had removed the entire pipe; instead of helping, he had made matters much worse. The water started flowing freely under all the tiles, and now we would have to repair the damage and put in a new pipe. I asked experts and plumbers what such work should cost, and it became clear that the lowest price possible was 1200 shekels. This seemed to be a harder-than-average job, because a lot of plumbers hemmed and hawed and told me they were loaded with work and could not come help me.
I complained to my friend. I told him about the damage he had caused me, and he argued with me and claimed that he was not obligated to pay for it. We almost went to din Torah, but b’siyata d’Shmaya, I stopped in time. I decided to let it go, with the emunah that one doesn’t lose out from letting something go, and I anticipated Hashem’s salvation.
Soon complaints started to come in from the neighbors about dampness in their walls. At that point I could not wait any longer. Moisture in the walls meant that the damage would only get worse and the cost would only grow, and what would I do then?
I spoke to my mother, and she recommended wonderful experts – a grandfather and his grandson who do plumbing and installation work together. “They’re good-hearted people,” she emphasized, “and they’ll...
