G-d works in wondrous ways. Often, we just have to sit back and watch Him orchestrate His world. What we will see, will strengthen our belief and faith in Him. The following fantastic story, which was sent to me, is an excellent illustration.
The brand new Rabbi and his wife had been newly assigned to their first congregation to reopen a synagogue in suburbanBrooklyn . They had arrived in early February excited about their opportunities. However, when they had seen the condition of the premises, they had been deeply disappointed. It was very much run down and needed lots of work. They had set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on the night of Purim, the 13th of the month of Adar. They had worked hard; repairing aged pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on the 8th of Adar, 5 days before they were ahead of schedule and had just about finished.
Then the next day four days before the celebration, a terrible snowstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. The next day, the Rabbi went over to inspect the synagogue. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary, just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The Rabbi cleaned up the mess on the floor, and, realizing that he would have to postpone the Purim service, headed for home.
On the way, he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth, with fine colors and a Mogen Dovid embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the shul. By this time, it had started to snow again. An older woman, running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. But she missed it.
The Rabbi invited her to wait in the warm synagogue for 45 minutes, until the next bus was scheduled to arrive. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the Rabbi while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The Rabbi could hardly believe how beautiful it looked; covering up the entire problem area.
Then the Rabbi noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was as white as a sheet. “Rabbi,” she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?” The Rabbi explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials EBG were crocheted into it there. He checked and discovered that they were. The shocked woman told him that they were her initials, and that she had made this tablecloth inPoland
The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people inPoland Brooklyn for the day, for a housecleaning job.
What a wonderful service they had on that Purim. The synagogue was almost full and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. At the end of the service, the Rabbi and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. However, one older man, whom the Rabbi recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare. The Rabbi wondered why he wasn’t leaving. The man asked him where he had gotten the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they had lived inPoland
The brand new Rabbi and his wife had been newly assigned to their first congregation to reopen a synagogue in suburban
Then the next day four days before the celebration, a terrible snowstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. The next day, the Rabbi went over to inspect the synagogue. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary, just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The Rabbi cleaned up the mess on the floor, and, realizing that he would have to postpone the Purim service, headed for home.
On the way, he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth, with fine colors and a Mogen Dovid embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the shul. By this time, it had started to snow again. An older woman, running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. But she missed it.
The Rabbi invited her to wait in the warm synagogue for 45 minutes, until the next bus was scheduled to arrive. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the Rabbi while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The Rabbi could hardly believe how beautiful it looked; covering up the entire problem area.
Then the Rabbi noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was as white as a sheet. “Rabbi,” she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?” The Rabbi explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials EBG were crocheted into it there. He checked and discovered that they were. The shocked woman told him that they were her initials, and that she had made this tablecloth in
The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in
What a wonderful service they had on that Purim. The synagogue was almost full and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. At the end of the service, the Rabbi and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. However, one older man, whom the Rabbi recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare. The Rabbi wondered why he wasn’t leaving. The man asked him where he had gotten the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they had lived in
The Rabbi asked the old man if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to