WEDNESDAY 7.09.2022 (our 14th meeting)
WEDNESDAY 31.08.2022 (our 13th meeting)
A man had been managing a wine and liquor store for more than ten years.
And he was very successful.
Grateful to Hashem for all the blessings He bestowed upon them,
he and his wife decided to tithe, the tenth part of their income, to Gd's Work.
However, a short time later, to his great surprise,
our tradesman saw that they were opening, in the neighboring street, very close to his business, a store much larger and more luxurious than his, superbly laid out and magnificently stocked!
He and his wife did not understand:
they wondered how such a blow had happened to them, when they had just begun to give their tithe.
Nevertheless, they kept all their trust in G‑d who is faithful and who always does everything for our good.
They even thanked Him for what had just happened to them, which was necessarily for good, even if they could not yet understand it.
The store next door was very successful.
With all the choice of merchandise he had, he was attracting a lot of customers and even, little by little, our friend's customers.
But he continued to pray, putting all his trust in G‑d who is faithful.
Full of faith, he and his wife continued to tithe their income.
Shortly after, the store owner phoned and said:
"You have been renting my business for more than ten years, and you have managed it perfectly well.
But now I would like my son to continue.
I give you a month. After which, I will no longer be able to rent it to you. And my son will replace you."
Stunned, in shock at this new event, our trader didn't know what to think.
How did these successive blows come about, just as he and his wife began to tithe?
But he held firm, reaffirming to Hashem his faith that He is Almighty, that He manages all the events of our lives and that everything is for our good,
And he was thanking Him for what was happening, and for this opportunity to affirm his faith and trust.
He went out into the street to walk and take his mind off things, and not think too much about everything that was going on...
And now, in the next street, a sign was on the door of the magnificent competing shop.
He approached to read.
The sign bore these words: "For Sale".
For sale ? But the store had opened shortly before!
Intrigued, he entered and asked the boss:
"Are you selling your store?"
"Yes, I've invested too much and I can't pay my debts. So I'm selling it at a very attractive price, because I absolutely have to repay what I owe."
This is how our friend was able to buy, at a very good price, a store that was much nicer and much better stocked than his!"
In fact, as soon as he and his wife started paying their tithing, G‑d wanted to bless them.
And He had started to prepare everything, by the installation of the new store, then by the telephone call from the owner...
Apparently, problems arose, one after another. But, in reality, our problems are Blessings from Hashem, which are hidden from our own eyes. Sometimes we will be given to see it later. Sometimes...we will see it in Eternity...
The Torah shows it to us, notably through the life of Joseph, or that of David:
we see how Gd has prepared His Blessing and the fulfillment of His promises.
From the outside, there were terrible trials and catastrophes: the sale of Joseph, then his imprisonment...
And also, all the sufferings of David, whom his stepfather Shaul pursued to kill him... then, even, his own son wanted to kill him... And many other sufferings...
And hadn't Hashem promised Avraham:
"Leave your country and your father's house, to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you..."
However, hardly arrived in this promised country, the famine occurred and Avraham had to go down to Egypt, his wife was kidnapped...
Many people who begin to walk with Gd suddenly have problems or trials they never had before.
In reality, Gd is testing their faith and trust in Him.
And... He is preparing them to receive Blessings that they could not have received before!!...
So don't be discouraged when this happens to us.
But, on the contrary, like Joseph, David and Avraham, and like the couple in our story,
let's keep looking to Gd, affirming our faith and trust.
And let us thank Him, already, for the blessings He is preparing for us, by the present difficulties,
blessings He will soon give us,
Beezrat Hashem...
May Hashem bless you all and always keep us in Faith and Trust in His perfect Projects, for us and for His world.
WEDNESDAY 25.08.2022 (our 12th meeting)
After the Shoah, a 12-year-old Jewish child arrived in the United States, in New York, the only survivor of his entire family who had been murdered in the death camps.
To live, he sold newspapers in the streets. And at night he slept outside on a bench.
It was almost winter. The members of a synagogue, hearing that a small Jewish child was sleeping in the street, had compassion for him and proposed to him: "Soon it will be very cold. You cannot stay outside.
If you want, we offer you to sleep in a room adjoining the synagogue.
During the day, you can take care of the premises, keep them clean. That way you'll be safe."
Very happy and grateful, he accepted.
He could neither read nor write, but he was a very lively and very intelligent child, and he began to render great services.
In particular, after Shabbat, he remembered perfectly who had pledged to pay the "Torah rises", as well as the sums.
And, during the week, when everyone came to pay the amount he owed, he knew how to tell the person in charge of the synagogue who had come to pay, and how much.
Eventually, his presence settled everyone, so that he remained in the synagogue premises for many years. Especially since, without knowing how to read and write, he would not have known what work to do and how to look...
And then he got married and the couple had children.
After 25 years of living and serving in the synagogue, the leaders once said to him:
"We've been wanting to talk to you for a year, but we don't know how to tell you...
Now everything works with computers. So you have to know how to read and write, and you have to work with the synagogue computer.
If you accept, we give you time to learn to read and write, then to learn to do the work of the synagogue secretary.
If not, we're really sorry about that, we'll have to tell you to leave, and we'll hire someone else."
He tried to persuade them to let him stay:
“At my age, how am I going to learn to read and write?
But I've been here for so long! You can't fire me!
And how am I going to find another job? And now I have a family to feed!"
"We're sorry. But that's our proposal. If you want, we'll give you time to learn to read and do the job. Or else you have to go."
He was shocked at first, after so many years in that synagogue!
Then he was angry. Not at them, but angry at Gd:
"How does G‑d allow the synagogue officials to treat me like this?
I served Him as well as I could, always in love and joy, and in total dedication?!!"
When he met Rabbanim, he complained to them and spoke against the synagogue which had thus sent him away, after 25 years of good and loyal service.
But, as we said, he was very sharp and intelligent. The synagogue had given him compensation for the 25 years of work. It was a good sum. He invests it in a small business. He managed it very well, to the point that, quickly, he was able to buy another, then another.
After seven years, he already had a whole network in the city of New York, then in all the United States.
He even became a billionaire!
One day, he came to an appointment to sign an extremely important contract: it was about the purchase of a building of 7 million dollars.
The seller's notary presented the contract.
The salesman took his pen out of his pocket and signed.
And he himself took out of his pocket... a gold box containing an ink pad, thanks to which he signed by putting his thumb on the contract...
The salesman, taken aback, asked him:
"Excuse me if I ask you this question, but with all the business you do and the fortune you have built...you can't read and write?
He replied with a laugh:
"If I had known how to read, I would still be cleaning the floor of a synagogue!..."
Suddenly, while pronouncing this sentence, he realized:
"I saw everything upside down!! Gd did not cause me to be fired ALTHOUGH I served Him faithfully for 25 years.
But, on the contrary, it is BECAUSE I served Him faithfully that Gd caused me to be fired!!...
He wanted to give me much better, but I couldn't see it! In fact, from this dismissal, only Tov, Good came out!!"
Often, looking at our lives, we see the evil, the difficulties, the sufferings, the trials. But it is only the outer envelope in which Hashem has hidden the good He wants to give us, that we cannot always see.
He created this world in the image of our lives, to send us messages and teach us, through what we see around us:
We all know it: the grain must be buried in the ground and must rot there. It is only from this descent and this rot that an ear of wheat will come out.
In the same way, to build a house, you have to start by digging. And the higher you want to build a building, the deeper you must first dig and make a solid foundation. Only after descending deep, we can begin to build the building...
Gd asks us to do our part. When we do it, whatever happens to us, we can be sure it is for our good.
Sometimes we will see him later, like this man in our story.
Sometimes we will see it... in eternity...
But let's be sure that Gd always only gives us Tov, Good.
WEDNESDAY 17.08.2022 (our 11th meeting)
A rabbanite who teaches us, told us this story that shocked us all:
Although he was already of a certain age, a Rav had decided to go door to door in the northern neighborhoods of Tel Aviv, in order to bring closer to Gd and His Torah people who would like to open their doors to him.
One evening, he entered a building and knocked at the door, on the ground floor. No one answered. He went up to the first floor, then to the second...
It looked like there was no one in the building.
He came back down.
But, before leaving, he had the idea of knocking again at the door, on the ground floor, but this time louder.
The door opened.
A young guy with tattoos and earrings stood in the doorway. He looked at the Rav in amazement.
Suddenly he called out to her, "Who told you to come?"
The Rav, caught off guard, did not really know what to answer...
"No one. I came on my own. I wanted to study Torah with you."
But the man was not satisfied with this answer. He insisted:
"Who told you to come?"
"No one. I came to study Torah with you."
The man pulled him inside the apartment, sat him down and repeated his question,
to which the Rav replied in the same way.
"You won't get out of here until you tell me who brought you here!"
The man went into the next room.
The Rav sat there, not quite knowing what to do or what to say, not too reassured by the appearance of this man, by his tone and by his insistence.
He didn't understand what he wanted from her and didn't know how to get out of this situation...
After a while, the man came back into the room, still with the same question,
to which the Rav replied again:
"I came on my own, to study with you."
The man then explained:
"I'm going to show you something in the bedroom":
he showed... that he had prepared everything to commit suicide!
“I am all alone in life. I have no family, no friends. Nobody! I am very badly. Desperate!
And I prepared everything to end it!
But, before, I said to Gd:
"If you exist, help me now! Do something! Intervene and save me!!"
"No sooner had I said those words than you knocked on my door!
And I was amazed to see you! A Rav!!
No ! You did not come on your own! Gd sent you!!
Gd heard my cry of despair and He answered me!!!"
The Rav began to teach this man and to help him, as much as he could.
The man sincerely engaged with Gd and moved forward, both in Torah study and in keeping the Commandments.
The Rav suggested him a shidduch. The man got married. Him and his wife founded their family on the Torah.
All this was told, during the funeral of the Rav, by a religious man who concluded:
"And do you know who this man is whom the Rav thus saved from suicide and whom he introduced to G‑d and His Torah?
It is me.
The Rav saved me!!
May Gd rest his soul."
Nothing we do is trivial. Everything is important.
Whether we take on big projects, as also in the acts of our daily lives, ask Gd to guide us and to use us. And let's listen to Him.
And, if the idea comes to us to knock again on a door, in a building that seems completely empty, let's do it.
He has projects for us, beyond anything we can imagine...
Baruch Hashem!!!
WEDNESDAY 11.08.2022 (our 10th meeting)
Rabbi Zaïd told this magnificent story, very moving and edifying, on the Mitzvah of respect for parents:
A young neighbor told him that he had a very good job, very interesting, with a high salary and even a nice car put at his disposal by his boss. And, every day, he thanked Gd for this work!
However, one day, this young man asked the Rav how to get a bus pass, which surprised Rav Zaïd... The young man replied that he had to quit his job.
Leaving such an ideal job??!
The young neighbor explained: "My father's leg has to be cut off. But, to try to avoid this amputation, the doctors first wanted to try a knee operation. And the doctors insisted that my father had to absolutely remain lying down for three months, and it was essential that he be constantly accompanied, so that he did not move at all.
"So I asked my boss to give me three months off. But he refused. I insisted, explaining the risk of amputation, for my father. But my boss didn't want to know. .
"I left his office and went for a walk outside to think things over. Then I came back to tell him that I had decided to take these three months off on my own. My boss got into trouble. angry and told me that if I took this leave, he would fire me. I replied that for me, my father in good health, and with his two legs, was more important than anything else, even that a job with a good salary and a nice car.
"This is how, these three months, I stay with my father. I no longer have a car, nor even a salary, but Gd will provide!"
A few months later, this young man told me that the operation had been very successful and that there was no longer any need for amputation: "my father is keeping his leg!" He added, "Now I'm going to look for a job."
Very soon after, he said to me: "Gd has provided for a new job even better than the previous one: this time, it's very close to my home; it's also in my professional specialty, but still much more interesting. My salary is much higher than the previous one, and I have an even nicer company car!"
"But I'll tell you what happened even more extraordinary:
the office where I used to work got into really big trouble. The boss borrowed a lot of money. Eventually, he went bankrupt. If I had stayed, I would have lost my job and I wouldn't even have received compensation!"
"Honor your father and your mother as Hashem your Gd commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may be good for you" (Devarim 5, 16) And, as we see from this example, He will bless you and meet all your needs.
Out of gratitude for all they have done for you, take care of your parents, call them, go visit them and do them any favors you can.
Rav Zaïd also told this story of a young man who, for his Bar Mitzvah, asked the Hafetz Chaim what commitment he could make, for his whole life.
The Hafetz Haim answered him:
"The Mitzvah of respecting your parents: Every day, do something for them. And Gd will surround you with His Divine Providence throughout your life."
WEDNESDAY 3.08.2022 (our 9th meeting)
Rabbi Zamir Cohen told, in one of his lectures, this very moving story, and how rich in teachings for us:
The Rav of a yeshiva having died, his widow accepted the invitation of her daughter and her son-in-law to come and live with them.
She asked her son-in-law if he would take care of renting her apartment in Tel Aviv, which he did.
The rent was 5,000 shekels per month.
Among all the people who wanted to rent the apartment, there was a widowed woman, with her three children. But she explained that she could only pay 3,000 shekels.
The son-in-law kindly told her that the rent was 5,000.
To which she replied that she and her children had to leave an apartment whose rent was 3,000 shekels, to be closer to her work. And she couldn't pay more.
The son-in-law consulted his mother-in-law, who answered kindly:
"I have everything I need. Besides, I am now living with you. And anyway, the doctors said that I am very sick and that I don't have much time to live. If it can help this woman with her children, I agree to rent the apartment to her for 3,000 shekels."
So the woman came to live there with her children.
After a year, the question arose of the possible renewal of the rental contract, and at what price.
The son-in-law reminded the woman that the rent was 5,000 shekels. But, as she still could not pay such a sum, the owner agreed to renew the contract at the same price, 3,000 shekels.
Then, the same, the following year...
One day, the woman gave her notice: she was going to leave the apartment on the annual expiry of the lease, because she was going to remarry and she would be going to live, along with her children, in her husband's apartment.
The very day after their departure from the apartment, the owner died.
At the funeral, his son-in-law brought this extraordinary message:
"Now we understand how my mother-in-law, who was so ill, and whom the doctors had long since said that she had not much time left to live, received from Hashem several extra years of life: because she wanted to help this poor widow with her children...
In these times when we remember, in a special way, the destruction of the Temple, due to gratuitous hatred, may Hashem show us all the opportunities where we can "love our neighbor as ourselves".
And let's be sure that not only will we accumulate eternal merit, but Hashem will also bless us in this present life.
The teaching of this moving story is, moreover, in both directions:
Not only Hashem blesses us when we do good to our neighbour.
But it is also a reminder that, when we are in need, Hashem is Almighty to provide for our needs: He will dispose hearts towards us and He will do, for us, all the miracles necessary, to provide for our needs. needs.
How many times is it said in the Torah that He takes care of the widow, the orphan and the poor!
And this is true for all areas of our lives: we can trust our lives to Him: we do our part and we can trust that He will do all of His.
"What am I asking of you? If not that you love one another and honor one another".
[Tana deBé Eliyahou rabba 28]
WEDNESDAY 27.07.2022 (our 8th meeting)
The Rav of a Yeshiva is invited to speak at an important event.
The room is full of people.
As the Rav stands up to speak,
another Rav gets up, too, and signals to all the people who are with him, who occupy two full tables, to leave the reception with him. Everyone gets up and leaves the room after him.
The son of the orator Rav wants to intervene, in favor of his father.
But he signals to him to remain seated and not to react. Out of respect for his father, he obeys.
And the Rav addresses to the assistance which remains, the words of teaching for this evening.
A few days later, the Rav receives a check to help his Yeshiva: one million shekels!!
The Rav calls his son and shows him: you see, when we remain silent in the face of an affront, when we give in to an argument, that rejoices the Heart of our Father, who loves Shalom between us. And He will bless you... especially since we are not doing it for that, but for Hashem and for Peace between us.
Shortly after, someone else came to the Rav to make another large donation for his Yeshiva: three million shekels!!
The Rav thanked him heartily and blessed him. He added :
"For our Yeshiva, I need 500,000 shekels.
But, for the rest of the sum, I ask you to give it to another Yeshiva who is in very great need. But, above all, don't talk about me."
And the Rav gave him the name... of the Rav who had stood up, during the reception, when he had started to speak...
May Hashem teach us, at the same time, to remain silent in the face of an affront or in an argument,
but also to keep nothing in the heart, of bitterness or resentment, like this Rav...
May He help us to see, in everything that happens to us, an opportunity that He Himself offers us, to work on our character traits and to react out of love for Him and in Shalom with others.
(this was told by his son, after the Rav's departure from this world)
May Hashem bless you all. See you next Wednesday, for a new story, beautiful and uplifting.
WEDNESDAY 20.07.2022 (our 7th meeting)
Here is a moving story, told by Rabbi Itshak Fanger, during his program "daily inspiration", on 17 Tammuz:
During one of my classes, a young woman said:
“One day, in winter, I was driving with my sister.
The car skidded on the ice, spun around and came to a stop.
We went out to see if there was any damage.
Then another car also skidded and came straight at us.
My sister was killed.
And I was injured so badly that I had to undergo 16 years of treatment and rehabilitation.
This terrible event destroyed my life!!
Since then, I have had two Tich'a béAv in the year!!
(Tish'a b'Av, the 9th of the month of Av, is a day of fasting for the Jewish people, a day when the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem is remembered, because of gratuitous hatred, and all the catastrophes that the Jewish people suffered, that day)
After all these years of care, one day I decided to call the man who had destroyed us. I wanted to destroy his life too!
I called him, but he didn't answer. A little later he called me back.
I had prepared a sheet with everything I wanted to hit him!
But he begged me:
"First, please listen to me, I'm going to tell you what happened:
my wife and I had an extremely violent argument, to the point that, me who absolutely never drinks alcohol, I drank. I wanted to get out of the house, so there wouldn't be a terrible argument at home. I took the car and, with the ice, I skidded and knocked you over.
I was sentenced to prison and because of that my wife left me.
During all those years in prison, I had two cancers.
I was released a year ago.
But no one wants to hire me because I've been in prison."
The young woman, who told us all this, continued:
"When I heard him tell me his story, it upset me so much that I immediately told him:
"I forgive you, with all my heart!!"
Through this forgiveness that I gave him with all my heart, I felt an extraordinary liberation!! So much so that it opened a new life for me!
SINCE, ME WHO HAD TWO TICH'A BEAV,
I NOW HAVE TWO BIRTHDAYS IN THE YEAR!!!"
Gd gives us to experience events, situations and relationships.
We choose how to see them, what colors to give them and how to experience them.
Instead of keeping her hatred and destroying others, this young woman chose to listen to her, to hear her suffering and to have pity.
It is never too late to fix the situations in our lives, our hearts and our relationships.
May Gd help us to want it and to do it...
... especially during these three weeks when we remember the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, because of wanton hatred...
God bless you all.
THURSDAY 14.07.2022 (continuation of our meeting on Wednesday 13.07)
Today we will tell another story on this theme "OUR PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS HEARD AND ANSWERED":
As in yesterday's story, a man was praying to get married.
He went to ask for a Bracha, a blessing, from Rav Kanievsky.
He said to him.... "Perhaps your wife has not yet been born?..."
This answer of the Rav was for him an enigma! He said to himself: "How so, not yet born? I can't wait for her to be born and grow up, so that I can get married!?..."
He continued to pray for G‑d's intended bride and to meet her, in G‑d's time...
Shortly after, he met the one who was to become his wife...
It was then that he understood the riddle. Because, indeed, she had just been born... since she had just been converted...
In praying for her, he had prayed, without knowing it, for her conversion process and for her success. Then they met and got married.
Gd already knows all things. His plans for us and for our lives are perfect. Every event in our lives happens at the exact time and in the exact way that Gd intended it to happen. And it's for our good.
Baruch Hashem!!!
WEDNESDAY 13.07.2022 (our 6th meeting)
OUR PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS HEARD AND ANSWERED,
even if we don't see it
In one of his lectures, Rabbi Zamir Cohen told this true story:
A man asks his Rav what he must do to get married,
because all his friends are already married, with children, and he is getting older...
His Rav told him which prayer to read, every day, for 30 days.
He does it.
But he sees no answer to his prayers.
He returns to see his Rav who tells him to continue praying, for another 30 days, which he does.
But still without seeing any results.
He again asks his Rav who tells him:
pray another 30 days, with the same prayer.
Full of Faith and Trust in Hashem, and in the advice of his Rav, he is not discouraged and does as he is told.
It is then that he is offered to meet someone.
Both feel that they are made for each other and they decide to get married.
At the wedding, the bride's father shares with the family and guests his joy and gratitude to Hashem. He explains :
"I have three daughters aged 39, 37 and 35.
Until now, none were married and, thank you Hashem, in just a few months, they are getting married! The three of them !"
The groom's Rav then speaks:
"This joy, we owe it to this boy," he said, pointing to the groom.
"On my advice, he prayed for 30 days, which resulted in the marriage of your eldest daughter;
he then prayed for another 30 days, prayer also answered, by the marriage of your second daughter.
He himself did not see these answers to these prayers. But, undeterred and unquestioning, he continued to pray for another 30 days and Gd gave him, finally, to meet his own wife.
He saw no answer to his prayers, but he continued for another 30 days, then another 30 days, without doubt and without becoming discouraged.
All along, his prayers were heard and answered, but he couldn't see it yet. He only sees it now!"
We should never be discouraged in prayer!
Sometimes Gd gives us the Gift to see that He hears our prayers and answers them.
And, other times, we will see it later, or in eternity.
But LET'S MAKE SURE GOD HEARS ALL OUR PRAYERS AND ANSWERS THEM ALL!!
May Hashem bless you
THURSDAY 7.07.2022 (continuation of our meeting on Wednesday 6.07)
Thank you for all your messages saying how much yesterday's story touched you, with also a very deep teaching, like every week.
As promised yesterday, here is a new true story, also very impressive, told by Rav Zamir Cohen, on the same theme:
"Gd has found no vessel for BLESSING except SHALOM, PEACE".
When we yield to make shalom...we prepare the vessel for our own blessing!...
It's Sukkot. A Jewish family, having no balcony, built their sukkah on the parking lot of the building where they live.
The whole family is busy decorating it and preparing everything for the Feast which begins in the evening, and for the meal.
But one of the residents of the building arrives by car and, seeing the sukkah, demands that it be moved, since it was built on his parking space.
The father of the family tries to persuade him to allow him to leave his sukkah there, since it is only for a few days and the sukkah is already built; there is space to park elsewhere in the parking lot. But the man does not want to hear anything: he wants to park at his location and he demands that he be released.
The sukkah had to be taken down and then reassembled somewhere else. But, in the name of peace with this neighbour, the father accepts: he dismantles the sukkah and rebuilds it later...
The Feast of Sukkot begins with joy... Prayer; the family meal. Then the father stays to sleep in the sukkah.
During the night, he is awakened by a huge noise:
the facade of the building featured a stone ledge. This ledge crumbled... crushing the neighbor's car... right where, a few hours earlier, the sukkah was located and where the father would have slept, if he had not given in to keep the peace ...
Give in to make the shalom... you prepare the receptacle for your own blessing!...
In this case, it even saved the life of this father of the family, as in the story of yesterday it had saved the child of the man who had given in...
WEDNESDAY 6.07.2022 (our 5th meeting)
The Masters of Israel say that "Gd has not found a CONTAINER FOR BLESSING except SHALOM, PEACE". (Mishna Uktzin)
And how do we make peace?
In prayer, when we say "osé chalom, He makes peace", we bow, while taking three steps back. Because, to make peace, often, you have to give in, step back and give in.
But, when we yield to do shalom... we prepare the vessel for our own blessing!...
Rabbi Zamir Cohen told, in one of his lectures, this very powerful and moving (true) story:
A widowed woman lived on the ground floor of a building. To support herself, she sold furniture and various things that she had placed in the courtyard of the building.
But this courtyard was common to all the inhabitants of the building! They began to complain, demanding that she clear the court of her affairs.
But it was the source of his sustenance...
To win their case, the co-owners went to the Beth Din.
The judge's decision was that the court was common to all and that the woman should release her from her property.
However, once the legal decision has been made, the judge to the co-owners:
"In law, you are right. But, you know, this woman is a widow. Her only resources are the product of what she can sell, displaying it in the yard. So I ask you, if you are right legally, to show kindness and let this poor widow occupy the court, to support her thus."
Touched by the kindness of the judge and her request, the owners, one after another, gave in and declared that she could continue her sale.
Finally, all accepted, except one, who lived on the third floor. He didn't want to know anything.
Out of humanity, the judge insisted and ended up persuading him: this man accepted.
Some time later, the son of this man was having fun, on the balcony of the apartment. At one point, he climbed on the railing... The parents had just enough time to see him fall into the void...
They rushed down...
Their son was safe and sound: He had fallen on the sofa that the woman had put on display in the yard, just under their balcony...
Bow down and step back three steps back, to make peace: you are preparing the vessel where G‑d can put the blessing He wants to give you.
Tomorrow, Thursday, we will tell another equally impressive true story on the same subject.
May Hashem bless you and all yours with all His Abundance.
THURSDAY 30.06.2022 (following our meeting on Wednesday 29.06)
After the very pretty story, yesterday, of Rav Zaïd and his little boy, today here is a story (just as true and just as rich in lessons!) told by Rav Igal Cohen, in one of his courses :
The Rav was talking about trust in G‑d:
“King David says in the Psalms, “Cast your burden on Hashem and He will supply all your needs.” (Ps 55:23)
If you throw all your problems on Hashem, He is obligated to take care of them and He will help you!”
“A man was completely crushed by absolutely enormous debts. His wife had even left him, because of his catastrophic situation.
He had never heard a Torah lesson in his entire life. But Gd caused him to hear a lecture where this verse was quoted and it was said: "throw everything on Hashem and He will take care of it!"
The man, overwhelmed by what he had just heard, in the depths of his completely desperate situation, decided to carry out, to the letter, what he had just heard: he opened the window and threw all the documents concerning his debts, to show Hashem that he abandoned everything to Him!...
Shortly after, his lawyer called him to tell him that his trial was the next day. The man replied that everything would be fine, because he had entrusted all his debts to Gd.
The next day, the lawyer told him that he had never seen such a miracle: the court had sentenced him only to pay 150 shekels per month (about 40 euros) and canceled all the rest of his debt...
In an instant, all his problems were erased!"
The Rav continued:
“We often worry. But, in reality, nothing is in our hands.
Gd deals with every leaf that falls in the world; He gives his food to each ant, to each bird... So, all the more reason, He will take care of us!
Of course, we must do our part, but with the assurance and confidence that then Hashem will do everything, for our good!
Ps 32.10: "Whoever puts his trust in Hashem, His bounty surrounds him"
Baruch Hashem!!!
WEDNESDAY 29.06.2022 (our 4th meeting)
We will tell, today and tomorrow Thursday, two nice stories about PRAYER: HOW TO ASK HASHEM
First, a story of Rav Zaid and his little boy. In one of his lectures, the Rav says:
“One day I came home and found that I had lost my wallet.
There was money in it, and especially my identity papers, my bank cards, checks...
Upset, I started to think about what I should do: should I contact the bank and object?...
At that moment, my little boy, Moïshé, arrived from school and, as usual, he wanted to play with Papa and talk to me.
I answered him gently:
"You see, Moishe, now dad doesn't feel like playing. Dad is preoccupied."
Moishe looked at me, all surprised: "Why, dad, what's going on?"
Concerned, and thinking about what to do, I didn't really want to talk.
But Moishe insisted.
So I told him that I had lost my wallet and that I had to think about what to do now.
Moishe answered me: "You have to ask Hashem, and you will find everything!"
Amused, but finding his childhood faith very pretty and how simple and obvious things were for him, I replied:
"Yes, you're right, Moishe, ask Hashem that Dad find his wallet, with everything in it!"
His little sister came just then.
Moishe took her by the hand and said to her: "Dad must not be disturbed: he is thinking. Come. You and I are going to ask Hashem that Dad find his wallet."
They went into the next room, sat down and I heard them asking Gd "may dad find his wallet now, with all its contents."
A few minutes later, they returned. Moishe asked me:
"Here, Dad, we asked Hashem. Did you find your wallet?"
Impressed by the simple faith of my little boy, I tell him:
"Thank you, Moïshé. So, I'm going to find it soon!!"
At that moment, the doorbell rang. A man from the company that manages the elevators in our building was in front of me. He asked me:
"Mr Zaïd lives here?"
"Yes it's me".
"I found, stuck in the elevator shaft, your wallet."
And he gave me the precious object...
He told me he was furious:
"My company sent me to fix your elevator, although it's not broken at all! It works great!
"I telephoned my boss, he continued, and he has just told me that it is a mistake: in fact, it is the same street name and the same number... but in another city!! I came all the way here for nothing!! And now I have to go there..."
I answered him:
"Don't be mad at your boss: he didn't send you here, it was this boy! He was the one who brought you here!" I showed him Moishe and he told the whole story!
If we could always see every situation and ask Hashem, with the simplicity of my little boy...
In the Jewish prayer we say each morning that Hashem is "Master of all events, Lord of all souls, Governor of all creatures".
Nothing escapes Him! How could we care about anything?!!
And we can ask Him, quite simply, like a child asks his Dad...
May Hashem bless you and all yours. See you tomorrow, with the help of Hashem, for another nice story, on this same theme of trust in Hashem and prayer...
THURSDAY 23.06.2022 (following our meeting on Wednesday 22.06)
A grandfather and grandson go to a nursery together and buy two small trees.
They decide to put one outside, in the garden, and the other inside, well sheltered in the house. They want to see which one will grow the most...
You guessed ?...
The one who was outside, in the garden, became the biggest and the strongest. Because he had to face all the weather and was exposed to all the bad weather and all the forces of nature.
This made him much stronger and more robust than the one inside, who was pampered, protected and remained much smaller and more fragile.
It is a fundamental teaching for us, both to understand the difficulties and the challenges by which Hashem sometimes guides our lives, and also to enlighten us in the education that we give to our children, in order to know how to properly measure the protection that we provide them.
WEDNESDAY 22.06.2022 (our 3rd appointment)
A grandfather gives his grandson a chrysalis. He explains to her:
"You have seen, until now, the crawling caterpillar. It will soon become a magnificent butterfly that flies and gathers pollen from the flowers!
"For this, the caterpillar has locked itself in an envelope called a chrysalis, while this deep transformation takes place in its body.
“Then the butterfly will come out of it and start a whole new life!
"I am entrusting you with this chrysalis. But I am asking you one very important thing: you must let the butterfly come out of its envelope on its own! Above all, you must not help it!"
Very happy, the little boy takes home the precious chrysalis, curious to see such an extraordinary transformation, from a simple crawling caterpillar, to a magnificently colored butterfly that will flutter in the air and gather pollen from the flowers!
After a few days, the envelope tears and you can see the butterfly struggling to get out. But it is really very difficult!! He tries, and tries again, but the envelope doesn't want to give in and let him escape. The little boy suffers to see him, thus, making so many efforts, but without succeeding in freeing himself. Taken by pity, he can't stand it any longer: he takes scissors and cuts the envelope, to allow the butterfly to come out.
And the butterfly, indeed, emerges from the chrysalis. But... he falls to the ground and dies! The efforts he would have had to make to free himself would have enabled him to develop the strength necessary to fly and to live!!
So it is in our lives: Gd is our Father. He loves us and wants the best for us. How, then, should we go through difficulties and even trials?
There are of course many other reasons (repairs, etc...) but there is also this explanation: so that we have the strength to "fly", that is to say to live and o accomplish the tasks and mission for which our Father has brought us to this earth, He "trains" us, as we do for soldiers or athletes. In order for us to become Hashem's elite soldiers, He puts us through one training, then another... He prepares us! Like the caterpillar that becomes a magnificent butterfly. Thanks to all his efforts, he will become strong enough to rise and fly...
May Hashem give you a wonderful day, blessed with all His Abundance.
THURSDAY June 16 2022 - SHARING (following our meeting on Wednesday 06.15.)
Here is a little story, which nicely illustrates our Relationship with our Father:
A father sends his son for training in another country:
"You'll call me every night to tell me how much you spent that day, and I'll send the money to your account."
Thus, each evening, the son telephones his father: he tells him about his day, what he has done, what he has learned. And he tells her how much he spent.
The father thus sends him, every day, everything he needs.
At the end of the month, the son said to his father:
"I calculated how much I spent, in total, during the month. So you don't have to call me every day anymore. For the whole month, I need..."
And he gives him the amount, so that the father sends him, at the beginning of each month, the amount necessary for everything he will need.
But the father replies:
"No, you will continue to call me every day, and I will send you as you go.
Because I love you and I love talking to you every day."
Gd loves us and He loves us to spend time with Him, to look at Him, to listen to Him and to talk to Him.
In particular, He causes us to have needs, so that we tell Him!
He wants the Relationship and the Dialogue with you, with me, and with each one of us,
like a father with his child whom he loves.
Don't wait to have needs: take time with Him, listen to Him and talk to Him. You will give Him joy
He is your Father and you are His child
WEDNESDAY June 15, 2022 (our 2nd meeting)
"In the beginning Elokim created heaven and earth..."
Gd created EVERYTHING, out of NOTHING!!!
And, even, says the Jewish prayer: "He renews every day, constantly, the work of creation": He recreates everything, every day and at every moment: He recreates you and He recreates everything anew, every moment. who passed !
What purpose ? Because He is looking for a dialogue, a meeting and a relationship with you, with me...! To do us good!
Many of us have discovered this Relationship with our Father, "thanks to" a difficulty, or even a test.
But... no need to wait for difficulties!
Every moment we can look to Him, connect with Him, talk to Him, take time for this Relationship, the most important of our entire existence, and talk to Him, with all our heart, in our own words.
Listen to this story:
A man came for a very important appointment. But he arrived very early and he has to wait. He goes out on the terrace. But the door closes behind him: he is locked out! But it is very cold. And there is no one to open the door for him!...
He sees the people downstairs and he shouts. But no one can hear, because of the distance, and all the noise and bustle down there.
He has a wad of cash in his pocket. He then has the idea of throwing tickets: people rush to pick them up; concentrated on this manna and very busy collecting it, they do not think of looking up.
He wonders what he can do to get their attention!!
He then sees small pebbles and he throws one, then another... Immediately, people raise their heads to see who dares to throw pebbles at them...
Let's not stay with our heads down, focused on this material world, only preoccupied with our difficulties and problems, or occupied with our "tickets" and with all the manna that Gd gives us.
Let's not wait for Him to try to get our attention by throwing one pebble at us, then another...
Let us raise our heads, not, moreover, for fear of the "pebbles", but quite simply because He is there, He is our Father and we are His Child, whom He loves, with whom He wants a Relationship, a dialogue. And because we love Him, too, in return.
And also, of course, because we see all the Abundance (in all areas) with which He continues to fill our lives at every moment: we are grateful to Him and we thank Him.
A wonderful day to all. May Hashem bless you all and your families with all His Abundance.
THURSDAY 9.06.2022 - SHARING (following our meeting on Wednesday 8.06)
It is indisputable that we are in very special times.
Sharing with many of you, and with many other people, Jewish and non-Jewish, I hear that people are suffering. Not necessarily dramas, or problems in their life or in their environment, but an inner suffering: the person who is not married suffers from not being married, others who are married suffer in their marriage; people without children have this suffering, while others suffer from the behavior of their children; for others it will be their job, or the lack of it... Some are sick, or have sick relatives and, of course, are suffering... Sometimes it seems that whatever our situation, whatever be the concrete reality of our life, there is suffering within us. Even sometimes for no particular reason, just: "life is hard and difficult!"
Sometimes it seems like we're right at the gate, just a minute before the big Unveiling, Mashiach and Final Deliverance. After which, it will no longer be possible for us to acquire any merit, for Eternity. And it's as if Hashem wants to give each of us the opportunity to acquire (during the short time that we still can!!!) the maximum of ETERNAL MERITS.
It is Gd who created this yetzer hara, this inclination that is in us, which sometimes makes us focus on the difficult and tries to push us - 'has veshalom! God forbid! - to give up and become discouraged, because "life is hard". And Gd allows that. Or, rather, He is giving this to us as a Gift, to give us the opportunity (and the merit!) to focus on all of the infinite Abundance of His Blessings with which He fills our lives!
Besides, what I feel difficult in my life, maybe it is precisely this point that I came to repair, in this existence? Because, if it is difficult for me (while another will not see at all where the difficulty is), it shows that I have a job to do in this area!
Or maybe I'm on the mission I came for? So the yetzer hara wants to prevent me from doing it! But Hashem, there too, gives me this as a Gift, so that I have all the eternal merit of accomplishing my task, of bringing my stone to the completion of His creation (About this, you can read the text " What is G‑d's Project for His world", in this blog, at the link: http://bneinoah-lareparationdesnations.blogspot.com/p/le-projet-de-dieu-pour-son-monde.html which tells us about what we come to accomplish in this life, and why it is difficult and we suffer in it)
For my part, in the streets, I very often see blind people, who need to be guided and helped for all things, or people in wheelchairs (sometimes even very young children!! God bless them , help and heal them!!) And more and more people begging, or even sleeping on the streets... So, I thank Gd with all my heart for the eyes He gave me , by which I see clearly, and I can go where I want, to contemplate his magnificent creation, and the faces of children and other people; and I can read and write (I can write you these messages and read yours!) And he gave us ears, to listen to a Torah lesson, or a beautiful song, and the birds... I thank Him for give not to suffer, to be able to get up, to walk, to have a roof and everything that I need materially, to eat, to dress myself, and everything that I need. And even internet, computers, phones and zoom to communicate with you...
And, above all, more than anything, I thank Him for having revealed to me in my heart that He is my Dad, who loves me, who wants my eternal happiness and WHO DOES EVERYTHING FOR MY GOOD!!! And for leading me to His Torah of Truth...and still so many Blessings and miracles every day and every moment, since He creates us all anew every moment!!
Of course, if I am concentrated on this Good that He constantly does to me, like the little girl, at the end of the story, I remain permanently in THANK YOU, in gratitude and in joy. So, He gives me all the Strength necessary to accomplish the difficult, which costs me, and to carry out the repairs for which I came, as well as the mission for which He made me come, at this precise moment in history. of His Humanity and of His world, may He be blessed and thankful!
WEDNESDAY, June 8, 2022
Hi there,
I wanted to offer you a new form of communication between us:
two weekly meetings for a sharing that strengthens us. For example, if it suits you, every Wednesday morning, then Thursday: each time, I will post a reflection here and you can answer me, if you wish, either by Facebook Messenger or by the Federation's email:
federation.noahide@gmail.com
If you wish, you can already tell me what you think of this new form of communication.
Today, I thought I would share with you a story that I found very beautiful and extremely rich in lessons for all of our lives. I've heard it in Rabbanim classes in Hidabroot. Here is that story:
A little girl lived in a house on the side of a mountain. From her window, she saw, in front of her, on the side of the neighboring mountain, an extraordinary house: the windows were made of gold!!
The little girl dreamed of the day when she could go and contemplate this house up close, and see these golden windows, and all that this house must have, necessarily, magnificent and special!!
When she was older, her parents gave her a bicycle for her birthday! From now on, she could go and contemplate the extraordinary house!!
So she left and arrived at the house in question. But, to her great surprise, she saw that the house was very simple, with windows similar to hers and to the windows of all the other houses.
Disappointed and full of questions, she then turned back to the mountain where her own home was and, to her even greater surprise...she saw that her windows were gold!!!
Yes, you have understood it, it was the radiation of the sun which, from afar, made the windows appear like gold...
She then looked at her own house, realized how beautiful, special and extraordinary it was. She felt how comfortable her home was, and much more suited to her and her life! What a discovery!!
She hastened, then, to return to her own life which now appeared to her rich and blessed, as she had never been able to discover it before.
She could now be conscious and grateful, for her own part, which filled her with a simple and new happiness.
For those of you who wish, we will share, tomorrow Thursday, a reflection on the times we are in and what we are seeing...
Until tomorrow, so...
Then every Wednesday and Thursday morning...
May Gd bless you and your families with all His Abundance, as well as all the Noachide Family around the world
