Several years ago, I was chatting with a dear friend and wondering out loud if there was something spiritual I could do to help me find my zivug.
I don’t remember my exact words, but I asked something along the lines of, “If I really want Hashem to make something happen for me, what can I do? Is there something practical I can do that will bring the brachos I’m asking for into reality?”
She shared something I had never heard before about the mitzvah of tzedakah. She told me that the one mitzvah a person can do on condition of receiving something in return is giving tzedakah. She also mentioned the idea of donating more than what you can comfortably afford.
I thought it was a wonderful idea and began thinking about where the most appropriate place would be to make a large donation.
I discussed it with several friends, and they all mentioned the importance of supporting a mikvah. It reminded me of how my mother, ע”ה, had always spoken about the mikvah as such a beautiful mitzvah. Given the bracha I was hoping for, supporting a mikvah seemed like the most fitting place to make the donation.
After speaking with Cherry New and hearing about her hope to install beautiful new mirrors in the women’s preparation rooms, I offered to sponsor them on one condition—that within approximately three months, I would be dating the person I was going to marry.
Moshe Pinson said he would install the mirrors right away, confident that I would be sponsoring them.
But as the three-month deadline approached, I started getting annoyed. I didn’t like waking up every morning expecting something to happen that day and feeling frustrated when it didn’t. Instead of waiting any longer, I decided to begin giving the tzedakah in monthly installments. My intention was that when I became engaged, בעזרת ה׳, I would donate the remaining several thousand dollars.
Roughly two months later, I started dating the person I would marry.
When I told Cherry the day we had started dating, she told me it was the exact day the mirrors had finally been installed. Apparently, there had been several lengthy delays in the installation process.
Needless to say, when my husband and I became engaged, I donated the remaining balance.
Giving tzedakah has always been a mitzvah I enjoyed doing, but it was incredible to experience such clear and revealed brachos in my own life through this mitzvah.
Some stories speak for themselves.
This story is a beautiful reminder that every act of giving carries blessings far beyond what we can see.
As the Mikvah Mei Chaya Mushka Launch Special comes to a close tonight, there’s still time to take part.
Today only: Buy one ticket, get one FREE and double your chances to win while supporting a mitzvah that strengthens Jewish homes every day. Offer expires at 11:59pm!
Support your mikvah. Support your community. Help build another Jewish home.
Story shared by Rochelle Jurkowicz
