I remember the exhilaration of being engaged. I had waited for this moment for so long. I was twenty-three years old, and had been set up with a slew of guys who did not seem appropriate at all. I finally found the man of my dreams: A combination of a hippy and a businessman, and totally dedicated to Torah and mitzvos. A good listener, a deep thinker, and passionate about living life to the fullest. We were extremely compatible with similar goals. I was so grateful to Hashem for leading me to my true bashert.
Like every kallah, I was on cloud nine. But life is never perfect even when things are great, and there was one minor problem that was weighing me down and threatening to become a major problem: I had a money-flow issue, making it very difficult to pay for pre-wedding expenses with my parents thousands of miles away in sunny California.
I had just completed two years of seminary in Israel and I was still finishing my college degree in Jerusalem. I had been looking to live with a family so I could complete my degree, and date in privacy without having to share every in and out of the dating process with twenty of my dorm-mates. I found the perfect job living with a lovely family in my own room separate from their house. I had to do light housework and babysitting three hours a day in exchange for full room and board. I did not get spending money at this job, so my parents agreed to provide spending money for me during this time. I loved living with this family. I learned so much about raising children in a happy environment in the holy land of Israel.
The problem was that I really wanted to have professional pictures taken of our engagement party, but couldn’t afford to hire someone. After I ran out of all other options, I asked a friend of mine who was a professional photographer if she could take pictures of our party as a gift. She happily agreed. I would just have to pay for the film and development.
Due to a technical glitch, right before I got engaged the debit card that I was supposed to use to withdraw money stopped working, so I ended up getting engaged without any money at all, not even to pay my photographer friend. Even though my parents had mailed me money, it was taking far too long to arrive. We were not familiar with the process of wiring money to Israel when I got engaged, so I was just waiting for the money to come by mail. I had no idea how I was going to pay the photographer.
Our vort went by so quickly. Hundreds of people came to show their love and support as they wouldn’t be able to come to the wedding, which was to take place in New York. Our rabbis gave heartfelt speeches speaking the praises of my chassan and their best wishes for us building a home together. It was one of the highpoints in my life.
Right before I left the hall, my photographer friend told me she would need three hundred and fifty shekels to pay for the film and development. I said, “No problem,” even though it truly was a problem. I had never been in such a predicament before so I really had no idea what to do.
As my chassan accompanied me home, we reveled in the joy of the moment.
“So, did you enjoy yourself?” he asked.
“It was spectacular, mainly because I’m engaged to you! My only problem is that my debit card stopped working and I have no cash. I am supposed to pay the photographer 350 shekels tomorrow and I have no way of paying her.”
By this point I had gone from elation to utter misery in about five seconds flat, bawling like a baby in the back seat of the cab to my fiancé’s and my own horror.
“I wish I could help you but I am also strapped right now. I’m sure your friend would understand if it takes a few days to get her the cash. Your parents’ check will probably come any day now. I’m sure everything will work out great, with Hashem’s help. We’ll both daven and brainstorm more tomorrow. I’m totally exhausted now.”
My chassan accompanied me to my apartment and the minute he left I took his advice to heart. I davened to Hashem like I had never before davened. I asked Him to help me pay the photographer and all of the upcoming wedding expenses.
Soon after I finished davening, my chassan called me with the most amazing story. As he was about to get out of the cab at his yeshiva, the driver said, “I see the fire of Torah burning in your eyes. I heard the story that your bride was telling you and I want to help. How much money does she need?” My chassan told him the amount, and to his surprise the secular cab driver pulled out his checkbook and wrote out a check for three hundred and fifty shekels. He insisted on giving this check as a gift for our wedding even though my chassan was hesitant to take it.
“Who is like your nation Israel?”
Whenever life is challenging, I try to remember how I needed help and how Hashemhelped me.
The gates of prayer are never closed. Hashem answers all those who call to him sincerely.