Jerusalem Stories:

Before I came to Jerusalem, everyone told me that Hashkaka Pratis (the hand of G-d) was much clearer here. They shared stories that seemed so far-fetched to be true... but were in fact 100% true! They coined the phrase "Jerusalem Stories." And since I've been here a year, I've been blessed with so many different types of Jerusalem stories. There have been many times when I've felt this Hashkaka Pratis so clearly, that it's as if he's sent me a personal message saying how much he loves me. And I thought the best way to honor that is to share some of these stories. Let this be the first of many installations.

1. The Woods of Karmel:
On Shabbos I was supposed to spend the afternoon with my Rabbi, his family, and a bunch of our friends in the area. They were all in Nachlaot on Rechov Karmel. I was tired though, and went home. I kept trying to fall asleep, but couldn't. So I picked up the Tanach and asked Hashem to show me something I needed to know. I "randomly" opened the page, and pointed to a section. The paragraph said "Go to thy people, in the woods of Karmel." That was all I needed to read. I left to join my friends.

2. The Shofar in the Park:
On Rosh Hashana I was feeling a bit run down, because I've been healing a lot. And I wasn't sure that I'd be able to make it to services on the second day. But I knew I HAD to, because I wanted/needed to hear the shofar that day. So, that morning I had to walk my dog and decided to take her to the park instead of just walking in the neighborhood. As I was sitting on a park bench, struggling with this dilemma... a man walked by and asked me if I'd heard the shofar yet. And if not, would I like to. I said I would love to. So he had me say the bracha, and blew the shofar for me. It was the most perfect sounding shofar blasts I'd ever heard. And hearing that personal shofar blowing, gave me the strength to make it to services that day.

3. The Mezuzzah:
When I moved into my apartment, I was on crutches. I also found out that the tenant that lived here before me was on crutches when she moved in. And then, when my friend came to visit, she ended up on crutches too. So, I was speaking with my father on the phone, telling him that I thought we ought to check the mezuzzah's. Twenty minutes after this conversation, I walked downstairs to the front door. To my shock and surprise, I found the clay mezuzzah case smashed on the ground and in a hundred pieces. The scroll itself was charred and blackened. Apparently, the clay holder had literally cooked the scroll. And it undoubtedly was a bad scroll.

4. G-d Be With Me:
A few weeks ago, I had a pretty bad virus. I was laying on the couch, feeling quite sick. In these times, I always focus on praying to Hashem to get me through it. At that moment, I asked Hashem to be with me, so that I could feel his presence with me so that I knew I wasn't alone. That moment exactly... I heard the shofar blast just outside of my window. It was a beautiful feeling. I knew he was with me... then and always!

5. My Kingdom for a Horse:
A few months ago I was on a tour of Ir Dovid. It seems as if there are thousands and thousands of steps there. We had just finished walking down all of the steps and were lamenting about how we would get back up the steps. My girlfriend said, "I wish I had a donkey." I said, "I'll take a horse any day!" And two seconds later, we turned a corner to see two free-range horses just standing there. While I did not get on the horse and ride up the stairs... I did thank G-d for listening and answering so quickly. Never in my entire time in Jerusalem... had I ever before seen two free-range horses just hanging around. It was quite a little miracle! :)

May you all be blessed to feel, see, and recognize the hand of G-d in your daily lives... whether in Jerusalem... or anywhere else in the world!!!