An avreich from the South told me a lovely story. Due to the war, he relocated to an apartment in the center of the country. He needed a washing machine, and he put a notice on a Bnei Brak community phone line. “I am looking for a washing machine, and I would be grateful to anyone who could help me with this.”
The help came quickly. Someone called the avreich from the South and told him, “I have an old machine for you, and I have a car. If you agree, I’ll send the car right over to your house with the machine.”
But even before the avreich from the South called back to confirm with owner of the washing machine, he got a call from an acquaintance. While they were talking, the man mentioned that his son had just moved and needed a washing machine. “I have one for you!” the avreich said, and he explained about the call he had just gotten from someone who wanted to donate a washing machine. “He has a car, and he can take the machine to your son’s house.”
The avreich became the broker between the washing machine and his friend’s son. “Look what hashgachah pratis,” he told me enthusiastically. “I was able to help my friend.”
He was so happy, and I couldn’t understand. “What are you so excited about? This is the machine they offered you. You also need a washing machine.”
“This is the way I work,” the “broker” responded. “When I see that someone needs something, the first thing I do is give it to him, and Hashem helps me.”
“And how did you manage in the end?”
“The following day, someone else brought me a big, almost new machine. So did I lose out on anything? Everything is emunah. Everything is hashgachah and siyata d’Shmaya.”
This story impressed me tremendously. The incredible timing in hashgachah pratis that enabled two people to get a washing machine is something we’ve heard of before. But this avreich, who was concerned about the other person before he himself was taken care of – that’s a chiddush to me.
