Sixteenth century Tzfas.
The Alshich, surrounded by his many students, is expounding upon the limitless powers of Bitachon. “One who has true bitachon needs nothing else, not even a job or any other means of sustenance. Even if he stays home all day, if his Bitachon is complete, Hashem will bring all of his needs directly to his door.”
In the corner of the Beis Medrash sits Shlomo, a poor and simple wagon driver. Upon hearing the holy Alshich’s words, he rushes home and with a big smile on his face informs his wife, Rachel, the great news. “I don’t have to work, anymore, I need merely to truly trust in Hashem, and without having to even leave the house Hashem will bring all we need straight to us. The Rebbe himself said so, I heard it with my own two ears!” Shlomo then went and sat by the oven and began reciting Tehilim. Shocked and frightened, Shlomo’s wife responds, “My dear husband, have you lost your mind?! How will the children have food to eat? They’ll starve G-d forbid!” “Oh, don’t be silly Rachel, everything will work out, just as the Rebbe said.”
A few days later, with almost no food left in the house, Shlomo’s wife cries out to him, “You must go look for some work so we can put some food on the table!” “What are you saying, Rachel?! Didn’t I tell you what the Rebbe said?! Why in the world would I bother looking for work when everything will come directly to our door?!” And he continued to sit by the oven and earnestly recited Tehilim.
Another few days passed and, with no food left in the house, the wife saw that she had no choice, she took the only possession they had, the donkey that had pulled her husband’s wagon for so many years and went to the market. She found a local gentile who was willing to purchase it. With this money she knew she’d at least have some food on the table for the next few weeks.
The next day, as the buyer rode his new donkey to work, he suddenly saw something shiny lying in a ditch. When he got down to inspect it, he realized he had found a treasure trove of golden coins. Excitedly, he dug it all up, placing one bag after another upon the donkey’s back. Just as he finished securing the last bag of coins, he tripped and fell into the ditch hitting his head directly onto a sharp stone, killing himself instantly. The donkey waited for its new master but as night fell, it realized it was all alone. Only knowing one address as home, it made its way back to the home of its former owner, Shlomo.
Back at home, Shlomo and Rachel suddenly heard the familiar braying of their old donkey. Rushing out to investigate, they soon realized what a miracle had occurred. Indeed, their beloved Father in Heaven had not let them down and had brought all their needs directly to their door!