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The Book of Deuteronomy – ‫חומש דברים‬ 66

Torah portion Ha'azinu

In Torah portion Ha'azinu appears the verse:

"The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice, a
God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He." (32:4)

Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin used this verse in order to show to a rich merchant
how the poor of people of Israel sense the supervision of the Creator.

It is told about a rich merchant who sent a large shipment of wood from
Lithuania to Prussia.

But the shipment was delayed in customs for many days and in the end it was
sent back to Lithuania. The merchant was very worried because of the expected
loss of money and turned to Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin in order to receive
advice.

Rabbi Chaim said to him: "God has many ways to take a person out of darkness
to light and out of distress to relief.
And King David already said:

"Hope to God, be strong and strengthen your heart and hope to God."

(Psalms 27:14)

Not many days passed and the prices of wood rose a number of times what they
had been and the merchant profited much money from the wood.
The merchant returned to Rabbi Chaim and called in joy: "Well done to the
rabbi on the encouraging things that he said to me at the time of my distress.
Today I see clearly the supervision of the Creator, may He be blessed!"

Rabbi Chaim answered him with a smile: "See the difference between a poor
person and a rich person in the recognition of the supervision of the Creator.
The poor person works hard for his livelihood and he feels the supervision of the
Creator each and every day and he relies on God that "all of His ways are
justice."

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