My story took place many years ago when I was a young chasan who had just gotten married. Both sides agreed on a certain sum for an apartment, and as the chasan, the responsibility fell on me to find a suitable apartment within the allocated budget, supplemented by a bank loan (a mortgage). After much searching, I found an apartment that seemed fitting and asked my father if he had the money ready to sign a contract with the contractor.
My father responded that I should proceed as needed, and when the time came, he would have the money for me. From my father-in-law, I expected nothing, knowing their financial situation. Still, I asked him cautiously and with trepidation whether he had the required sum to sign the contract. Surprisingly, I received the exact same response: “Sign, and with Hashem‘s help, I‘ll have the money ready by the due date.”
I am not one to believe in phrases like “it‘ll be fine” or “just sign, and Heaven will send us what we need.” So, I politely asked my father again: “How much money do you have right now?” My father replied earnestly: “I don‘t have a single penny on me, but I‘m sure that when the time comes, it will work out!”
I realized there was no money to purchase the apartment and halted the process. A month later, I thought to myself that if I continued on my path of insisting that everything be ready in advance, I might never buy an apartment. Perhaps it was worth trying their way and relying on a miracle!
I contacted a lawyer and scheduled an appointment for signing the contract a week later, on Monday at precisely 2:00 PM. I arranged with my parents to come by two hours earlier to pick up the money. I was under immense pressure and called my father every day to ask if he had managed to secure the required amount, but my father calmly replied that he hadn‘t yet and that there was still time until Monday. Friday, Shabbos night, and Sunday, I called again, only to hear the same calm response: “There‘s still time until Monday.”
In my heart, I was convinced that nothing would come of this, but I had done my part in making the effort. On Monday at 11:00 AM, I arrived at my father‘s peaceful and serene home and asked if any money had come in. His response was that the time hadn‘t yet arrived. I was stunned by his answer and knew there would be no apartment. Just as I came to terms with the fact that there wouldn‘t be an apartment, my father-in-law knocked on my father‘s door and brought his share. I have no idea where he got the money, but he fulfilled his commitment.
In the meantime, I sat and chatted with my mother about everyday matters. Then my father approached me with a check for $40,000 and told me I could go sign for the apartment in good health and success! I was stunned—I couldn‘t believe my eyes. It turns out that my father‘s cousin had arrived from abroad and decided to visit my father at exactly 11:45 AM, just before my appointment with the lawyer. The cousin inquired about my father‘s well-being and offered his help. My father asked if he could lend him $40,000, to be repaid in installments of $300 a month. The cousin gladly agreed.
Even though I witnessed firsthand that one who trusts in Hashem is surrounded by kindness, and that Hashem alters the natural order on their behalf, I am still far from truly trusting. I hope one day to reach this level and live a life of tranquility and serenity!
