One hundred and fifty-thousand shekels; that was the entire sum I needed before entering my new apartment in Bnei Brak. This sum created a huge amount of anxiety for me. Where would I get hold of so much money? How would the money get to me, to be given over to the seller on the designated day? This is a small sum relative to the full price of the apartment, but this was the hole; this was what was missing and standing in the way of our purchasing the apartment.
Until I moved into my own apartment, I had rented. I’d already informed my landlord that I was leaving. We were already preparing excitedly for the move, and there was nothing left to do other than daven to Hashem that He be mashpiah all the good upon us.
On Erev Shabbos I called the phone line for chizuk from one of the mashpi’im of our generation shlit”a, and he started to speak about the power of Shabbos Hamalkah, and our zechus to keep Shabbos k’halachah. “Foolish is the person who thinks about money on Shabbos,” he said, “because Shabbos is the source of brachah, and Shabbos is mashpiah on the whole week. It is specifically when one disconnects from all his weekday needs that he can accomplish much more.”
Upon hearing these poignant words, I accepted upon myself that, bli neder, on Shabbos I would act as though “all my work has been finished” and I would think that I was a great gevir and lacking for nothing. That is indeed what I tried to do. Then, immediately on Motza’ei Shabbos, I said, “Ribbono shel Olam, on Shabbos I was lacking for nothing, so I’m asking You that I should continue lacking for nothing!” Indeed, in the beginning of the week Hashem sent me the first third of the sum: 50,000 shekels.
Another week passed, and once again I strengthened myself in this kaballah, and I acted and thought like someone who is lacking for nothing on the day of rest and joy and light for Yidden.
On Motza’ei Shabbos again I asked of Hashem that I would lack for nothing during the week as well...and that Monday I succeeded in getting hold of another 75,000 shekels, baruch Hashem!
This week was not easy. I continued trying to get hold of the rest of money, traveling here and there, but it did not come. Once again I was zocheh, and Shabbos kodesh came two days before I needed to hand over the final installment and get the key to the apartment!
Once again I reminded myself and said, “This Shabbos we are not thinking about anything having to do with the apartment!” That Shabbos I totally relaxed and refrained from talking or thinking about anything related to money matters. I had an exalted Shabbos without a shadow of worry, with joy and good-heartedness. And once again, when three stars appeared in the sky, I asked Hashem that just like on Shabbos I was lacking for nothing, so too I should lack for nothing during the rest of the week.
I must tell you that, believe it or not, when the time came that I had to leave my rented apartment and move into my permanent apartment, Hashem sent me the entire sum, down to the last shekel! Shabbos is the source of brachah, and with Shabbos one can accomplish everything!
