It's Natural, But.... | Rabbi Yaakov Robinson

In December 2021, I received a phone call from someone who introduced himself as the Gabai of R’ Meilech Biderman. He explained that R’ Meilech on his journeys throughout Eretz Yisroel, speaking in different communities, he created a network of Almanas and Yesomim who he helped support. And he said: I know you're involved in things in Chicago. Would you like to be משתתף? I explained to him that I was in the middle of two major projects. I didn’t really have the bandwidth at the time. Would it be possible to call back in a month or two? I'd be very glad to discuss. He said: Sure, no problem. I honestly did not expect him to call back, but sure enough, two months later, I get a phone call. It's the Gabai again and he says that R’ Meilech wants to speak to you, personally. He hands the phone to R’ Meilech. We have a very nice conversation, shares with me a geshmake vort, tells me more details about his organization, and then he asked me: Do I want to be involved? I explained to R’ Meilech that I just don't think it's responsible for me to fundraise off my Balebatim for a cause I never saw with my own eyes, but בהשגחה, I’m coming to Eretz Yisroel in three weeks. I have a nephew's Bar Mitzvah, I have a personal matter in the family I need to daven for, and therefore I was planning on going to the Mekomos HaKedoshim, to Gedolim and Tzaddikim for Brachos. And if I have time in my schedule, Bli Neder, I'd be very happy to see the project. I fly to Eretz Yisroel, I land on a Thursday at 11 p.m.. It's still COVID and it took me two hours to get my car. At 1:00 in the morning, I'm driving down the highway to Yerushalayim. My sister calls me. She tells me: I bought you a sandwich. It's been a long trip. Come straight to the apartment, eat something, rest up and start fresh in the morning. And I told her: Sure, I'll be there very soon. But as I approach Yerushalayim, I had this guilty and nagging feeling. I haven't been to Eretz Yisroel in two years. I'm going to start my trip with a sandwich? I have to go to the Kosel. So I drive directly to the Kosel. I parked the car. It was pouring rain. I went to the indoor section of the Kosel. I look at the clock. It’s 3:15 in the morning. That night, they changed the clocks from 2 to 3 a.m.. I davened Ma’ariv, said some Tehillim, I'm leaving the Kosel Plaza at 3:45 a.m., and who's approaching the Kosel? R’ Meilech Biderman. I walk over to him: R’ Meilech, it's Yaakov Robinson from Chicago. He turns to me and says: R’ Yaakov, nice to finally meet you. Can we meet? I said: Of course. He said: Great. Speak to my Gabai. I speak to the Gabai and we set a time for Sunday and then the Gabai says to me: Why don't you join us? R’ Meilech is going to say Tehillim right now with some of his Talmidim and Chasidim. We’ll dedicate the Tefillos to you and your Mishpacha. I know you're here for a special reason. I joined them, and for an hour, we said Tehillim together by the Kosel. Erev Shabbos, I get a call from the Gabai. R’ Meilech wanted to inform me that he's davening for me in Meiron, myself and my entire Mishpacha. On Sunday we met for 45 minutes, and on Tuesday, on the way back to the airport, the Gabai called me and said: R’ Meilech has a gift for you. A leather-bound Tehillim that's inscribed. And Baruch Hashem, we have a very warm and positive relationship, to this very day. But this is the question. What would have been if I would have gone for the sandwich? Not only would I not have had all of this, I wouldn't have even known that I missed out on all of this. And this got me thinking. How often in life, do we turn to HaKadosh Baruch Hu and say, Ribono shel Olam, where is the Yeshuah? Where's the Bracha that I'm davening for? And it could be that sometimes HaKadosh Baruch Hu is כביכול saying back to us, My dear child, it's sitting there waiting for you. You just need to make the decision to go and get it. R’ Yeruchom Levovitz, the Mir Mashgiach, teaches us that the Schar for Kedushah is Nissim, miracles. Because he explains, The definition of Kedushah is rising above your Teva, rising above your nature. When you rise above your nature, then HaKadosh Baruch Hu כביכול rises above His nature and He provides you with a Nes. It's natural to eat, it's natural to speak, it's natural to listen and it's natural to look, but if you shouldn't and you don't, you have no clue what kind of Nissim, both open and hidden, that could be in store for you.