The Day My Trustee Offered Me a “Contract with Hashem”

Sometimes we only recognize hashgacha pratit, personal Divine providence, in hindsight. Looking back, I can see that every stage of my life, from success to collapse to rebuilding, was guided from Above. I want to share a personal story of Divine providence from beginning to end.

A Dream That Turned Into Debt

I was 22 years old, freshly released from the army. Thank Hashem, I was finally free. I was excited, full of dreams, and ready to build my life. A post-service trip did not interest me. What did interest me was making money, enjoying life, and finding someone to build a future with.

Around that time, I reconnected with a close relative. We began meeting often. He was very dear to me and someone I admired. In our conversations, we dreamed about opening a joint business. We planned it together.

He had motivation, skills, and connections. I was blessed with technical instincts, creativity, and some knowledge of computers and sound. I also had my army release grant. Since he had significant debts in collections, I opened a business bank account and registered a sole proprietorship in my name. Everything was under my name.

Baruch Hashem, the business succeeded. We made money and enjoyed ourselves. But over time, things changed. Disagreements grew into arguments. Arguments grew into a rift. The partnership ended in both family tension and financial conflict.

Suddenly, I found myself with 13 collection cases. The debt grew from 90,000 shekels to 200,000.

Beginning the Road of Teshuvah

At some point, I began to do teshuvah. I strengthened my faith, my prayer, and my work on character. There were many tests along the way, in faith, in desires, and in personal traits. I fell and got back up. I held tightly to the rope of emunah and refused to let go. Most importantly, I prayed to the Creator of the world, the One who truly owns everything.

After much thought, I decided to consult a rabbi. I asked him what I should do. Should I leave my job? Enter yeshiva? How could I do that with such heavy debt?

He advised me to go to the gadol hador, Rav Chaim Kanievsky. I did.

Rav Kanievsky blessed me to succeed in yeshiva and to be freed from all my debt. I went to him several times, and each time he insisted that I continue learning in yeshiva.

After about nine months, and after consulting with the yeshiva’s mashgiach, it was decided that I should find work. Baruch Hashem, I found a job at the global chesed organization Hidabroot.

I felt fortunate to work in a place of Torah and yirat Shamayim, fear of Heaven. It was a holy environment, and I was truly happy there.

The Bankruptcy Process

From there, I moved forward with declaring bankruptcy on the business. Since I was now earning money, I decided to take responsibility and go through the process properly.

I found a lawyer who specializes in bankruptcy, and I followed all his instructions. Anyone familiar with the process knows that there is a trustee who oversees the case, submits his opinion, and recommends a repayment plan to the court. The court then decides whether to approve it.

One day, the trustee called me in for a meeting. I knew we would discuss the proposed repayment plan, but I had no idea how much that meeting would impact me.

A “Contract with the Creator of the World”

We met. He greeted me warmly, offered me coffee, and began explaining his proposal.

Then he handed me a printed page. The title read: “Contract with the Creator of the World.”

It included three simple clauses. First, that I say thank you every day to the Creator of the world for the debt discharge. Second, that I learn Torah one hour a week. Third, that half of the merit of that Torah study be dedicated to his parents for their health and long life.

I did not answer immediately. I said the idea sounded meaningful, but I first wanted to understand what he was offering in return.

When I heard the proposal, I was deeply moved. He had already agreed with my attorney that I would pay 86,000 shekels. But if I accepted this agreement, the amount would be reduced to 40,000 shekels.

Before the bankruptcy, the debt had stood at 200,000 shekels. Now it was being reduced dramatically.

I told him this was clear hashgacha pratit. I thanked Hashem even then for sending him as a messenger.

Miracle After Miracle

We signed the proposal. The court approved the repayment plan and the discharge of the remaining debt.

Today, I am three years after the discharge. Baruch Hashem.

There were many more moments of clear providence before and after. So many small and large miracles that I merited to witness. I see how Hashem guided me through success, failure, teshuvah, Torah, and rebuilding.

I thank the Creator of the world with all my heart for saving me again and again with precise, personal care. May we always merit to thank Him, not only for the good we understand, but even for the challenges that ultimately lead us home.