Rav Gamliel Rabbinowitz shared a story on Tiv HaHashgacha: For the honor of Shabbos, I bought delicious Challos from an excellent bakery in the north of Eretz Yisroel. I had to take a bus, and according to the schedule, there was a twenty-minute wait at the bus stop.
Instead of wasting precious time at the bus stop, I went into the Bais Medrash which was diagonally across from the bus stop, and I learned calmly. After twenty minutes, I left the Bais Medrash and got right on the bus, happy and pleased that I had not wasted time.
Left the Challos on the Bench in the Bais Medrash
During the trip, however, I realized that I had left the Challos on the bench in the Bais Medrash. I thought about what a waste it would be if they weren’t used, and that someone else should somehow benefit from them. Just then, I received a call from a friend who I usually help, and I realized that he lives in the area I was just in.
I asked him if he knew that Bais Medrash, and he replied that it was right near his house. I told him about the Challos I forgot there, and he got very happy. With great joy he said, “This is unbelievable Hashgacha Pratis, and it can only come from Shamayim. You know that I do not have any money, and my daughter has just given birth. She is staying in our house, and my wife has asked me to lighten the load for her this week, and that I should buy Challos for Shabbos so that she wouldn’t have to bake Challah.
I didn’t know where I would get the money for this, and now you are telling me about delicious Challos that are waiting for me! It could only be from Hashem!”
He sent his son-in-law to the Bais Medrash and then called to tell me that the aroma of these Challos has filled his entire house! I thought I had forgotten the Challos, but Hashem had planned beforehand that I should leave them there for their real purpose!
Reprinted from the Parshas Mattos-Masei 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
