Sizing up My Faith
The following incident is a lesson in faith and trust.
The pasuk in Tehillim (9:11) says, “And those who know Your Name will trust in You, for You have not abandoned those who seek You, Hashem.”
The story took place on a Motza’ei Shabbat, when I was scheduled to fly to Brazil for a wedding at which I was asked to officiate.
I had planned to travel by train from Lyon to Paris, where I would take a connecting train to the airport. There, I would take a direct flight to Brazil. The trip was perfectly timed, and any delay might make me miss the wedding.
The only train from Lyon to Paris on Motza’ei Shabbat is ten minutes after Shabbat ends. Immediately after havdalah, I rushed out of the house to the train station, accompanied by Rav Elbaz and his brother.
- The French express train, TGV
As soon as I reached the train station, much to my dismay, I realized that I had taken my thirteen-year-old son’s hat instead of my own. It would certainly arouse attention, if not cause an outright chillul Hashem, were I to walk around in this too-small hat. I was very distressed by this and told Rav Elbaz that it seemed to be a sign from Heaven that I should not make this trip.
I must insert here that those who planned the wedding obligated themselves to conduct it according to Jewish law only if I would be there. My missing the train could have disastrous results.
Rav Elbaz’s brother spoke up. “Doesn’t the Rav always preach to us, day in and day out, about the importance of trust in Hashem? Aren’t we enjoined to place our trust in Him in every situation? Let us believe wholeheartedly that Hashem will send the Rav his hat, and we will make the train on time for the wedding.”
His words certainly planted seeds of hope within me, but I still didn’t believe that an actual miracle would occur. Skeptically, I turned to him and said, “Look, it’s already late. In another minute, the train is scheduled to stop here. How do you think I will manage to retrieve my hat in that short time?!”
Rav Elbaz suggested I phone my family and ask them to rush my hat to the train station. I followed his suggestion, although it seemed futile. By the natural order of things, there was no chance I would get my hat in time.
The train arrived at the station with a roar. I looked at it with a worried glance, whereas Rav Elbaz stood by calmly, certain it would wait for the hat to make an appearance.
For some unknown reason, the train stood in the station much longer than usual. It ended up waiting a full quarter of an hour, the exact amount of time it took for a member of my family to rush over and bring me my hat. I took the hat and, without waiting a second longer, jumped onto the train, just as its doors were about to close.
To this day, I cannot fathom how the most punctual train in all of France was detained for such a long time at one stop. But I am certain that it was in the merit of the faith of Rav Elbaz and his brother, who trusted in Hashem to send me my hat, so that I should arrive at my destination without delay.
