Avi from Yerushalayim related:
Baruch Hashem, I managed to buy an apartment in the center of the country. I could afford it only because it was bargain-priced, but it would need to be completely renovated. Also, we would need to add on to it so it would be large enough for our family.
As anyone who has been through the process of renovating and expanding his living quarters can testify, getting neighbors’ approval for adding on to an apartment is a tedious and sometimes nerve-wracking task.
On top of that, I would have to negotiate with the municipality and get their approval on the architect’s plans for the expansion. Another challenge was that the city takes a substantial fee to approve adding on to the existing area of any apartment within its jurisdiction.
I knew I’d need Hashem’s help throughout the process, especially in gaining the neighbors’ consent to enlarge our apartment. So many things could go wrong!
When I thought over our situation, I decided that I should look for some additional zechus to merit Hashem’s help in seeing our plans through. But just what sort of step should I take?
Hashem helped me right away. I came across the Rema’s words in Shulchan Aruch, at the beginning of siman beis in Even Ha’ezer, stating that a person should choose a worthy wife and should not marry for wealth. The Rema adds that a person should take from his in-laws only as much of a dowry as they give him willingly, and then he will succeed. I also recalled the story about a Yid who was zocheh to wonderful children and to ample parnassah, because he had given up the dowry that was promised to him.
I decided to follow the Rema’s advice. I approached my father-in-law and thanked him for everything he was giving us. True, he had committed himself to provide a certain sum, but I
