TO FLY OR NOT TO FLY

 

                                         
         We mortals make our plans and set up our schedules to the best of our abilities, but we never know what is planned for us from Above. Not only are we unconscious of what Hakadosh Baruch Hu has in mind for us, but we don’t even see the hidden potential locked within our deeds and decisions.

 

Even with the benefit of hindsight, we often miss the opportunity to perceive the Divine guidance in our lives.  Occasionally, however, Hashem parts the curtain and we are permitted a glance at the “larger picture” from the Heavenly perspective. This past Sukkos we became more aware than ever of the Divinely synchronized timetable that underlies all of our worldly decisions even though at first they may appear to be merely the product of our reasonable responses to constraints of time and circumstance.

 

This story actually began thirty-six years ago, when I was a young yeshivah bachur learning in Eretz Yisrael. A wonderful tzaddik by the name of Rav E. invited me for the first of many ensuing Shabbos meals at his home in Bnei Brak. That meal led to a lifelong friendship/mentorship, and Rav E. and his Rebbetzin became my surrogate parents in the Holy Land. They provided me with a warm Yiddishe home and a strong guiding hand as I proceeded along through life’s various milestones.

 

Upon making Casana, Rav E. and his Rebbetzin graciously prepared one of our sheva brachos and in our many years living in Eretz Israel they partook of every one of our family simchas or occasions of importance. Both he and his Rebbetzin were always available to us as a source of practical as well as hashkafic guidance.

 

Now some thirty six years later while living in Chutz LaAretz we planned to spend Sukkos in Eretz Yisrael, mainly to be with some of our married children and grandchildren who have settled there, along with the pure spiritual uplift one derives from being in the Holy Land at this time of year.

 

As with just about any travel plans, this one was not without its unplanned extra cost in time and money. At first, due to the few flying days between Yom Kippur and Sukkos this year, we found that all the airlines that fly to Eretz Israel were booked solid. One morning shortly before Yom Kippur our travel agent called to say that he had a couple of cancellations in hand, and he could now offer us a booking. Wonderful, right? The catch was that even if the plane were to arrive on time, which is a dangerous assumption at the best of times and certainly could not be counted upon in the holiday rush, the flight was due in at nine in the morning on Erev Sukkos.

 

I felt that this was cutting it too close, but somehow I managed to push away my fears because this visit to the Holy Land was truly important to us. The next day, however, when I called one of our sons in Yerushalayim and told him of the cancellation and my decision to book the ticket, I found out that the summer clock had already changed to wintertime and candle-lighting would be well before five o’clock. My hesitation and apprehension about taking that flight intensified, and with a refortified conviction not to take any chances with possibly desecrating the Holidays, I cancelled the booking. I explained to the agent that I would only book an earlier flight if one became available.

 

The day after Yom Hadin the travel agent phoned me with the good news that a few seats were now available on an earlier flight with a different airline, but I would have to pay an additional four hundred dollars. This was a stiff penalty for me, but in order to travel with peace of mind I agreed. Now the only detail left to settle was the return flight. The new ticket had a return flight a day later than my original ticket. Well, we thought, if we are paying extra anyway, we will stay an extra day in Eretz Hakodesh by way of compensation.

 

Baruch Hashem, all went well. We arrived well before Yom Tov and enjoyed a particularly uplifting chag with family and friends. However, on the morning of isru chag (our original departure date) we received a heartbreaking telephone call to inform us that our beloved Rav E. had suddenly passed away that morning. The levaya would be held a few hours later.

 

Only now did we begin to sense and appreciate the hashgachah that caused us to stay an additional day in Eretz Yisrael. We were able to attend the hespedim, the kevura and even be menachem avel with this tzaddik’s bereaved family. My beloved mentor had years earlier walked me down to the chuppah, and now, thirty-six years later I was privileged to escort him to his resting place.

 

The four hundred-dollar fine I had to pay for changing our tickets may have seemed costly at first, but relative to protecting the sanctity of the Holidays and the zechus of doing chessed shel emes, it was worth every penny and was, in fact, a timeless investment. The Creator of the universe is not only there for us “steering the wheel” of our destiny the right direction but He also provides for all our needs, as you will see when I tell you what happened upon our return to the States.

 

Awaiting us was a letter from the tax department) with a check inside, explaining that a correction had been made in calculating our taxes and they were now sending an additional refund. Believe it or not, the check was almost to the penny four hundred dollars.

 

We know the Creator has many ways and multiple shelichim via which he can recompense us for our good deeds. The Sages have clearly informed us that from the fulfillment of mitzvos we never lose out; we only need Heavenly assistance to see the connections.

All articles appearing on this blog are copyrighted by Rabbi Yehoshua Binyamin Falk. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to share/download/copy this information as long as it is accompanied by the copyright. Separately authored/copyrighted materia

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