Pnina Souid
Kindness Brings Miraculous New Life
The phone rang at the Mitzvah Man hotline. The voice on the other end was that of an elderly woman. Although she spoke softly, her voice had the tone of one with a quiet resilience.
“My name is Mrs. Levine,” the caller said, sounding rather tired. “I’m a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor. My old, worn-out easy chair finally collapsed. It was my only comfortable piece of furniture, which I’ve had for fifty years. It was nothing special, but I spent my days there. I have no family left and no friends nearby. Just that chair kept me comfortable. Is it possible for you to help me find a replacement please? Even a used one would be a tremendous help.”
The Mitzvah Man’s heart was touched by Mrs. Levine’s simple request. “We usually focus on basic necessities,” he responded. “And furniture is often not so easy to acquire., But I truly understand your need for comfort. I’m going to send a text to our network of volunteers right now to see if we can come up with something for you.”
He immediately sent a brief, urgent message detailing Mrs. Levine’s situation and her need for a comfortable chair. Moments later, a response pinged back from Susan, one of the Mitzvah Man Organization’s dedicated volunteers.
“Please, let me take this mitzvah,” Susan wrote. “I need to do this immediately. I need the zechut (merit).”
When the Mitzvah Man messaged her to ask about the urgency of her situation, she explained, “My daughter is in the hospital right now, in labor for over ten long hours. She suffered two tragic miscarriages before this pregnancy. I’m praying so hard for a healthy birth and a healthy child. I want to send this precious survivor an extra special gift as a zechut for my daughter and her baby. I don’t want to buy her a second hand chair. I want to order her a brand-new, specialized automatic recliner chair, one that helps her to stand up and sit down. This will give her the comfort and dignity she deserves. Please give me her details right away so I can place the order.”
The Mitzvah Man quickly texted back: “Her name is Mrs. Levine, and she lives at 1712 Avenue N.”
Susan called him back, her voice shaking with emotion and astonishment.
“Mrs. Levine? 1712 Avenue N?!” Susan exclaimed. “That’s impossible! That’s my childhood home! I sold that house thirty years ago, and I sold it to a Mrs. Levine who I remember was a Holocaust survivor. I can’t believe this connection!”
The knowledge of this remarkable coincidence only deepened Susan’s resolve, convincing her that this divine alignment was a sign. She went online instantly and placed the order for the expensive, specialized chair to be delivered the very next morning.
Susan called the Mitzvah Man back a short while later. Her voice was now filled with overwhelming, tearful joy. “As soon as I pressed ‘send’ on the delivery order, the doctor came out of the delivery room and told me, ‘Congratulations! Your daughter just gave birth to a healthy baby girl!’”
The next morning, Mrs. Levine received her beautiful new lift chair. The comfort and independence it provided brought light and relief back into her life. She told Susan, “I’m happier than I’ve been in years.”
The Mitzvah Man wants to remind everyone: We can never know which specific mitzvah will be the one that breaks a spiritual barrier, creates a divine connection, or tips the scale of a blessing we desperately need. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity or the biggest charity. Just go out there and do a mitzvah. Surely, Hashem is going to reward your efforts in the most profound and unexpected ways.