בס׳ד

"Where does it say that you have a contract with G-d to have an easy life?"

the Lubavitcher Rebbe



"Failure is not the enemy of success; it is its prerequisite."

Rabbi Nosson Scherman



3 May 2009

Financial ups and downs and ups

Mishpacha magazine published an article by Yossi Eituv about Yosef Gutnick, one of the world's wealthiest gold merchants who lost his fortunes over ten years ago and is now seeing a turnaround.
When asked whether he was able to see the hand of G-d through his ups and downs, he related an anecdote about when he wanted to make a deal with a very rich individual a number of years ago, but it didn't work out. Today, the wealthy man is bankrupt while, he, on the other hand, is successful. "Had I hooked up with him, I'd have been dragged down too." He said that sometimes it takes time to see divine providence at work.

The following are a few salient quotes taken from the article.


There's no getting around the fact that the economic situation is frightening. No one knows what the next day will bring. The world is reeling. But there are years of famine and years of plenty. There's a saying of the Tzemach Tzedek:
"Think good and it will be good."
This isn't just a way to boost morale, it's a solution. When a Jew ignores the financial catastrophes around him and casts his problems on Hashem out of complete faith that He'll lavish goodness upon him, then, measure for measure, he breaks through all natural barriers and draws down from Above a special effulgence that bypasses the laws of nature.
To all those friends I reiterate: Don't despair. You have to be happy, 'ki v'simcha teitzeiu,' because that's how you'll get out of tzuris. Things come full circle in the world. Sometimes you have to go through years of famine and sometimes not. Everyone has to strenghthen his faith and trust and to know that He who gives bread to all flesh is the One Who gives and will give. He's the one responsible for our livelihood.

When you ask me what to say to someone who has lost all his money, I ask you what to say to a Jew who has lost all his children. Now there's a person who's really being tested.

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