The following story took place just a few weeks ago, and it demonstrates the incredible hashgachah pratis that Hashem bestows upon His beloved.
A man from Eretz Yisroel arrived in the United States for the purpose of raising money to support his family and marry off his children. As many collectors and meshulachim do, he brought with him a list of names of potential donors whom he felt would contribute generously and allow him to reach his target amount in a shorter time.
This particular fellow had a few names on his list, but one name stood out because it was the only one in the specific city where he was headed. The name was a Dr. Fuchs, and the man, he was told, was not only a brilliant medical professional, but also a tremendous ba’al tzedakah who gave very generously to those who came to his door.
The day after he arrived, the Israeli hired a taxi driver and told the man, in Hebrew, that he was going to Dr. Fuchs. The driver spoke Hebrew, but he was unsure exactly whom the man was referring to, and he asked him to write it down on a piece of paper. The Israeli wrote down, “ ,” and handed the paper to his driver. The driver nodded, and they were off.
They drove for a while until they reached the town, and the driver pulled up alongside a nice home with the name “Fox” emblazoned on the mailbox. He had read the paper and understood that the man wished to go to Dr. Fox, a well-known dermatologist in the area. The Israeli was none the wiser and walked right up to ring the bell of the erstwhile Dr. Fox.
The good doctor opened the door and let the man in. He spoke to him for a few minutes and understood — although Dr. Fox didn’t speak Hebrew very well — that he was collecting money. Their conversation was pleasant and friendly, and as Jews usually do, they even played “Jewish Geography” and learned that they had a mutual acquaintance in Israel. At one point, the meshulach asked what kind of doctor he was, and Dr. Fox explained, to the best of his ability, that he was a dermatologist, a skin doctor who specialized in treating people with all sorts of conditions that affect a person’s skin.
The Israeli became excited and said, “I, too, went to see a skin doctor recently in Israel, and he told me that I have a few warts that need to be removed.” The Israeli even showed Dr. Fox what his “warts” looked like, and Dr. Fox, always polite and professional, told the man he should come to his office. “Why don’t you let me remove them for free, and you won’t have to take care of it in Israel?” The Israeli was happy with the arrangement.
The next morning, the man showed up at Dr. Fox’s office, and although he did not have an appointment, the doctor took him right in and removed a number of growths — even more than the man had previously shown him. Thrilled beyond belief, the Israeli showered the doctor with numerous blessings and said this chesed was even greater than the money he would have collected. He continued to thank the doctor, over and over again, until he left the office.
The meshulach traveled around a bit, and a few days later, he found himself in Toronto. He looked up an acquaintance he knew in Canada and asked where he could stay for a few days. He was directed to the Gestetner home, where the man from Israel was treated to a comfortable guest room and some warm Canadian hospitality.
On the second day after he arrived, the phone rang, and a man calling from Arizona was on the line. It was Dr. Fox, and he was urgently looking for the Israeli fellow who had been in his office earlier in the week. Dr. Fox was on vacation out west when his office called to tell him the incredible news that the “warts” he had removed from the Israeli meshulach were actually cancerous growths and potentially very dangerous. Thankfully, Dr. Fox had removed even more than what he originally saw, and apparently, the cancer was removed.
He needed to inform the patient right away but had no forwarding address or number to call. Then he remembered the mutual friend in Israel and called him to ask about the whereabouts of his Israeli patient. After some inquiries, Dr. Fox learned that he was staying at the Gestetner home in Toronto and tracked him down — all while on vacation! He was more than astounded when the man got on the phone and listened in shock as he was told about the danger to his life that had been removed just a few days earlier.
Dr. Fox was the right shaliach sent to save his life!
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
