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In the course of daily operations at CMC we often experience reminders of the presence of Divine Providence. Each of the following CMC stories features a pattern of extremely unusual events occurring at exactly the right moment to facilitate a propitious outcome. Read on to experience a deep sense of awe and wonder at the unmistakable display of Divine Providence revealed therein!
HOSPITAL BED “DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN”
“Mrs. G” was facing a predicament. Within the next few days her husband would be discharged home from the hospital and his health condition required him to use a special hospital bed along with two special air mattresses. Overwhelmed by the entire situation, Mrs. G felt like she needed the hospital bed to miraculously descend from the very heaven above. She picked up the phone and called CMC.
Upon receiving Mrs. G’s phone call, Rabbi Wolf wasn’t sure what to do. Although CMC maintains a well-stocked “medical mobility gemach” that lends out many types of wheelchairs, rollators, walkers and scooters, due to storage constraints CMC had never accepted a donation of a hospital bed. Nevertheless, in trying to help patients and their families in need, CMC will leave no stone unturned. Thus, after reassuring Mrs. G, the Rabbi began brainstorming how to obtain the urgently needed items.
Before long, the needed hospital bed began its miraculous “descent from heaven.” The very next day, CMC received another phone call from an individual who had a most unusual request to make.
“For the last two months,” the caller explained, “I’ve been asking my neighbor to hold on to a hospital bed that she no longer needs because I thought that a family member of mine would need it. I’ve just realized however, that my neighbor’s hospital bed isn’t suitable for my family member. I feel bad about all this time that I’ve caused my neighbor to needlessly hold on to this large piece of unwanted furniture in her home, so I want to help her move it along as soon as possible to someone who could use it. Would you happen to know a patient who needs this particular kind of bed at home?”
Indeed, this unwanted hospital bed that had been waiting two months for a new home was exactly the right bed that was needed by the husband of Mrs. G! It had all the necessary features and was exactly the right size too. Overcome with excitement, Rabbi Wolf immediately set about arranging to have the bed moved into the patient’s home. But then the caller once again reached out to CMC, to deliver yet another unexpected piece of information.
“There’s one more thing I forgot to mention,” the caller began. “In addition to the hospital bed, my neighbor also has two accompanying special air mattresses that he wishes to donate!”
EXQUISITE HAND OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
A number of years ago, a local community member had his tefillin scrolls checked, whereupon they were found to contain a particular issue that rendered them invalid according to many opinions. Upon asking his Rabbi for guidance, the owner was told that while his own tradition follows the opinions that invalidate tefillin with such an issue, the scrolls could still be used by someone whose tradition follows the opinions that tefillin scrolls with such an issue may be fixed and used. Consequently, the community member decided to donate the scrolls to CMC.
Soon afterwards, a local Judaica store called CMC and offered to donate an empty pair of tefillin batim (the boxes that house the scrolls) that were proving difficult to sell. Thus, the donated tefillin scrolls were now newly matched up with their own batim too. But who would use this particular pair of donated tefillin containing scrolls that were kosher only according to some opinions? The answer to this mystery was revealed with exquisite timing by the hand of Divine Providence when shortly thereafter, CMC received a phone call plea from across the country in New York to assist an impoverished family whose young teenage son had recently lost his tefillin.
As you’ve surely guessed, this family’s tradition follows the opinions that tefillin scrolls containing the above-referenced issue may be fixed and used. Rabbi Wolf immediately shipped the donated tefillin to the boy’s family.
A CASE OF “MONUMENTAL” DIVINE PROVIDENCE
A woman in the local community called CMC for a most unusual reason. “My family needs a particular blessing,” she stated. “And I recently read somewhere that sponsoring the matzeiva (tombstone) for someone in need is an especially auspicious method (“segulah”) for meriting that exact blessing. Right now I would like to make a donation to fully sponsor – even in advance – the cost of a matzeiva for someone in need.”
After processing the woman’s advance sponsorship, not even five minutes had passed before CMC’s phone was ringing once again. “I buried my mother after her passing,” said the caller, “but I simply cannot afford to pay for a tombstone for her grave. Would CMC be able to help?
“THE ONE GUY I CANNOT REFUSE”
Unsolicited, a local community member called CMC, explaining that he was selling his home and offering to donate his appliances. Rabbi Wolf visited the home, and although the appliances turned out to be unsuitable, the home featured a large patio with many tables and chairs. Rabbi Wolf suggested that the owner consider donating the tables and chairs to CMC’s newly constructed outdoor garden and the homeowner promised to think it over. Days turned into weeks but the homeowner kept having trouble reaching a decision.
One day, Rabbi Wolf happened to meet a local rabbi and asked him if he is acquainted with the homeowner. “Sure!” replied the rabbi. “As it happens, he and I are scheduled to meet later today.” That evening, the homeowner called Rabbi Wolf to convey that he had reached the decision that very day to donate the furniture. “But tell me Rabbi,” the homeowner exclaimed. “How did you know that the Rabbi with whom I met today is the one guy in town whom I simply cannot refuse?”
To top off the story, it turned out that the homeowner’s donation consisted of precisely the number of tables and chairs needed in the new CMC garden!
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