A Storm of Generosity
The charitable organization Chessed Chaim, which is connected to our institutions, is very active in France. Like its name implies, its goal is to provide resources for the destitute of Lyon. Its entire purpose is kindliness and charity. A large fundraising dinner is held annually, and I am often called upon to participate in this event.
One year, on the day of the scheduled dinner, the weather was especially stormy. A heavy blanket of snow covered the streets of France. As though the hand of the Satan was at play, a huge soccer game was slated for that very night. This game always drew multitudes of spectators, among whom were philanthropists and various guests who had been invited to the dinner.
The organizers of the event contacted me. They bemoaned the fact that the game was slated for that very night, and suggested that they might not even manage to cover the cost of the evening, never mind raise revenue. Moreover, the caterer demanded advance payment for the food. She was afraid that she might not get paid afterward. The organizers were wondering where they could get the vast sum of fourteen thousand dollars to pay her fees.
I was pained at their plight. I tried calming them with words of faith in Hashem, Who would surely not forsake them. Then I thought of ways of paying the caterer in advance. I suddenly remembered that I was carrying that amount in my pocket. Although this money was earmarked for the yeshiva, and I needed it back in a short time, I trusted that Hashem would return the money to me, for I was doing a good deed with it. I took the money and gave it to them.
A short time passed when a Chassid of Chabad came to me. He explained that he had heard that my blessings are effective, in the merit of my forefathers, zy”a. He wished to donate a sum for tzedakah, in the merit of which I would bless him.
I sat there stunned. I could not hide my wonderment at Hashem’s quick way of repaying the yeshiva’s money. I told the entire story to the man.
Needless to say, if the arrangement of the dinner was accompanied by Hashem’s miracles, certainly He would bless it with great success.
That is exactly what happened. A tremendous kiddush Hashem resulted from the evening. Huge profits came pouring in. I was so impressed by Hashem’s kindness to us that I myself donated the sum that had been returned to me earlier.
