"Is this your first trip to Israel?" the dark, curly-haired
girl asked her seatmate.
"Uh, actually it is. I wasn't really planning on coming to
Israel, but this really cheap student trip came along and so
I thought, 'why not?'" Becky answered. "How about you?"
"Yes, it's my first trip also, but my best friend has been
learning in one of these religious girls' schools for the
past year. She's been e-mailing me all year long with
pictures and stories. I sort of feel like I've been
there."
The seatbelt light went on and the two girls snapped
themselves up. Becky and her seatmate, Susan, continued to
chat during the long, tiresome trip.
"I'm wiped out," Becky said. "I was up until very late,
getting everything ready. You know: passports, packing,
shopping. It was all so last minute."
"Well, even though I knew in advance that I'd be taking this
trip, I was still left with a lot to do right before leaving,
so I'm also very tired." Susan agreed. The girls thought it
would be a good idea to get some rest before the plane
landed.
Having enjoyed each other's company on the plane, they agreed
to be roomates throughout the trip. After ten days of racing
up and down the country, the girls got to know each other
quite well. They climbed up Masada at sunrise, watched the
sun set into the Mediteranean Sea, splashed in the Kinneret
and were awestruck at their first visit to the Kotel, side by
side throughout.
When they finally had some free time, Susan suggested they go
visit her best friend's school. Becky amiably agreed and off
they went. It was a joyous reunion between Susan and her
friend, Julie. After catching up on the major events of the
trip, Julie suggested that Susan and Becky sit in on a class.
Their interest piqued, the girls followed Julie to the
classroom. Both Susan and Becky greatly enjoyed the eye-
opening lecture. "I never knew how positively Orthodox
Judaism views life," Becky remarked afterward. Soon it was
time for the two girls to rejoin their tour.
During the remaining days of the tour, an idea entered
Becky's head. "Maybe I could extend my ticket by a week or
two and take in some more lectures?" When it turned out to be
feasible, Becky was thrilled. After a tearful goodbye to
Susan, with promises to keep in touch, Becky made her way to
the girls' school.
Julie was waiting at the gate, happy to assist Becky in any
way. Becky acclimated to the school immediately. She loved
the girls, the staff, and the classes. The more she learned,
the more she wanted to know. She was convinced of the
veracity of what she was learning.
There was just one area that Becky disagreed about vehemently
— this thing called Divine Providence. She certainly
believed that G-d created the world and that He influenced
the major events of the world even in individuals, but she
could not believe that G-d was involved in the minute-by-
minute events of each human being's life. How could it be? If
so, where was there room for free choice? There must be some
randomness in the world.
When Becky returned home, she remained committed and slowly
took on more and more mitzvos along the way; proper kashrus,
Shabbos and modest dress. By the time she had finished
university, she was a full-fledged observant Jewess. Along
the way, she met many warm caring people to guide her. There
was just one area where you'd say Becky was a non-believer.
She still couldn't believe that Hashem was involved with all
those small details of life.
Now that she was finished with her degree, Becky figured it
was time to return to Israel for some intensive learning. But
she needed to make some money before traveling. Becky sent
out her resume to countless firms, with no answer. Then an
excellent job for a web designer was posted on the university
bulletin board and Becky quickly phoned for an interview.
The next Tuesday, Becky found herself waiting for her
interview. After waiting a few moments, an acquaintance,
Jenny, came in also to be interviewed for the same job. Becky
went in, handed over her documents and waited for the
director of the office to look over her resume and some
designs she had done in the past. He seemed impressed and
even satisfied. "I'm obligated to interview the next
candidate, but if you want, you can wait outside to see if
the job is yours." Becky was thrilled. The boss was basically
telling her, that she had gotten the job.
Things didn't quite work out the way she expected. When Jenny
walked in, the boss asked her full name and hometown, as was
standard. When he heard she was Jenny Black from Harrisville,
New Jersey, he became all excited. "Your father must be
Daniel Black!" he exclaimed.
"That's right," Jenny answered surprised.
"We grew up together, until we went to college," the boss
explained. "Let me see your resume. Yes... excellent!
Everything is in order. It would be my pleasure to hire you."
He walked Jenny to the door. When he saw Becky waiting, he
said, "I'm sorry, Miss, but the position has already been
filled." Becky tried not to let her disappointment show as
she made her way out of the office. Later, Jenny apologized,
as she explained what had happened. Becky wasn't angry with
Jenny. It wasn't her fault.
A few friends from Becky's shul heard about her
dilemma and suggested that she look into the Jewish Education
Center. They were looking for a web artist. The pay wouldn't
be great, but it would be something. Becky called for an
interview.
When she arrived at the office, she noticed that it was a bit
run-down. A secretary with a very warm smile greeted her, as
she came in. "Rabbi Mandelbaum will be with you in a few
minutes," the secretary explained. A young man with
kippa and beard, working on a computer in the back
corner, caught Becky's eye. Finally, Becky was called in. She
immediately felt comfortable, sitting in Rabbi Mandelbaum's
office. She explained how she was hoping to make money before
going back to learn in Israel. Rabbi Mandelbaum was impressed
with Becky's sincerety.
The wheels in his mind began to work. He asked her a number
of questions, that seemed quite irrelevant to Becky. She was
rather surprised, as they didn't seem work-related. In fact,
Rabbi Mandelbaum barely took note of her resume at all. Even
so, he seemed satisfied with what he saw and said, "Yes, we
would be happy to have you work on our project. You can start
on Monday morning." Becky was relieved to have finally found
a job. When she came out of Rabbi Mandelbaum's office, the
bearded young man was gone.
Becky enjoyed working at the Jewish Education Center. The
people were upbeat, and the work was pleasant. Overall, there
was a heimishe atmosphere. A few weeks after having
started, Rabbi Mandelbaum called Becky into his office.
"You're doing a wonderful job," he said. "I was wondering,"he
continued, "would you be interested in a shidduch?"
"Why no, not at all... I really want to go back to Israel to
learn. It would not be a good time to start dating," she
said.
"Hmm...I see what you mean. We can discuss this again at some
later point."
Becky walked out of the office a bit shaken. She did wonder
if Rabbi Mandelbaum had someone specific in mind and if it
could be the young man with the beard she'd seen on the day
she'd come in for her interview. She had heard that he was a
yeshiva student who occasionally came in to give a hand.
Apparently, he'd been some kind of computer whiz, but now he
was devoting his time to learning.
After a couple of months, Becky had made enough money to
return to Israel. She had gained a lot, working at the Jewish
Education Center. She had met some wonderful people and had
even gone to their homes for Shabbos.
When it was time to take leave of Rabbi Mandelbaum, he
pointed out to her, that he still wanted her to consider a
certain shidduch. "The young man I am thinking of will
be leaving for yeshiva in Jerusalem in a few months. In about
six months, I will contact you." Becky didn't know what to
answer. Would she be ready to date in six months?
Time flew by. Becky easily adjusted to seminary life. She
lapped up what she learned and moved ahead rapidly. There was
only one area that she still couldn't accept; this thing
called Hashgocho Pratis. Could Hashem really be
involved with each human being in such minute detail, at all
times? How could it be?
After about six months at the seminary, some of the
rebbetzins approached Becky about the idea of starting
to date. She really wasn't sure what to say. What about the
young man that Rabbi Mandelbaum had in mind?
A week later, Becky received a phone call . It was from Rabbi
Mandelbaum. "Are you ready to date? I think it's time." By
now, Becky had to agree. They set up a time and place. One of
the rebbetzins would take care of all the details.
When the couple finally met, Becky's hunch was proven
correct. Abie was the young man she'd seen that day at the
Jewish Education Center. He seemed to know quite a lot about
Becky. They were both nervous at first, but they quickly got
over it. They had a pleasant evening together and agreed to
ask the rebbetzin to set up another date.
It didn't take long before it was agreed that it was a
perfect match, but one thing marred their happiness. Abie was
concerned with Becky's lack of belief in Hashgacha
Pratis. One evening, they had a rather heated argument
over the subject. When she came home, Becky ran into her
room, all teary-eyed. Lori, her roomate, gently asked what
was wrong. When Becky sobbed out what her argument with Abie
had been about, Lori listened quietly. After Becky had calmed
down, Lori started to talk.
"Becky, can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Didn't you tell me, that you hadn't really planned to go on
your first trip to Israel? It just sort of happened."
"That's true."
"And didn't you say that you found the seminary because you
just happened to meet a nice girl on the trip, whose best
friend was learning here?" Lori continued.
"Yes..."Becky answered.
"Didn't you tell me, that originally you wanted that other
well-paying job but that this other girl got it because it
just happened that her father had grown up with the boss of
the company?"
"You're right."
"And didn't you also say that you ended up getting your job
because an acquaintance happened to hear that they were
looking for a web artist at Jewish Education Center?"
"Uh, yes.."Becky was beginning to get uncomfortable.
"Didn't you also say, that you were struck by the young man
at the back of the room, on the day of your interview, and
that you were hoping that he was the one whom Rabbi
Mandelbaum had in mind?"
"I guess so."Becky paused.
"Becky, do you hear yourself ? How can you deny Hashgacha
Pratis when it defines your whole life?"
Becky smiled sardonically and said, "Lori, you forgot to add
the last piece... That I have you for a room-mate."
