Pnina Souid
Mitzvah Man recently shared the following story of clear Divine intervention. It began with a simple, desperate request.
“I received a call from a mother of eight who was facing an impossible logistics challenge,” the Mitzvah Man recounted. “She did not own a car, meaning every shopping trip required navigating the bus with all the kids and the packages. It had become simply too difficult.”
She asked if the Mitzvah Man Organization could provide her with a car.
“I had to be honest,” he explained. “We don’t typically give out cars. I told her that if I heard about a used car or a donation, I would certainly let her know.”
The First Miracle
A week later, the Mitzvah Man was at the Chinese Auction for Aishel Shabbat, a wonderful organization that provides food for those in need. He noticed the car raffle and decided to buy a ticket.
“I told my daughter, who was with me, that if I won, the car would go straight to this struggling family,” he said. “She laughed and answered, ‘Dad, don’t worry, you’re not winning. Look! There are thousands of tickets in that barrel!’”
Mitzvah Man also publicly shared his intention: if he won the Aishel Shabbat raffle, the car would go to the family that had reached out to his organization.
Two days later, the phone rang. “Mr. Cohen, you won the car raffle!”
He was stunned. He immediately called and the family was overjoyed and extremely grateful. He offered the family a reminder: “Please thank Hashem. I am just the middleman.”
The Unbelievable Repeat
A couple of years passed, and the Mitzvah Man received a similar call from a family he knew well. Again, it was the same situation: the family had a great need for a car for basic errands and shopping. And again, his answer was the same: he would keep an eye out for a used car or a donation.
A few weeks later, a text message arrived from Aishel Shabbat: “Last chance to enter this year’s Chinese Auction car raffle!”
The Mitzvah Man bought a ticket, realizing that the odds of winning twice was statistically extremely unlikely. He once again publicized his intent: if he won the car, he would happily give it to the family who had requested help.
“As far as I was concerned,” he reflected, “it was impossible for me to win a car twice!”
However, as he knew, Hashem is the One who picks the winners.
A couple of days later, the call came from Aishel Shabbat. “Mr. Cohen, you won the car raffle!”
“Are you sure they picked right?” he asked, incredulous.
“Absolutely,” the representative confirmed. “A young girl picks the ticket. She puts her hands in the barrel and closes her eyes. Yes, you won the car!”
The Mitzvah Man called the second family, who were overwhelmed with thanks.
“I told them the same thing,” he concluded. “Thank Hashem. He provides for all our needs – our clothing, our homes, and yes, even our cars!”