The ten portions

Rabbi Lazer Brody recently posted a fabulous quote.

When things turn out OK, that's no sign of emuna.

When we're OK with whatever way things turn out, that's emuna.

Kikat Hashabat reports on a bar mitzvah celebration that took place in Bnei Brak. The father of the bar mitzvah boy was busy with the celebrations and conversing with his guests and did not notice a young child who was standing at the entrance of the hall where the bar mitzvah was taking place.. A waiter saw the child and pointed him out to the owner of the hall. It turned out that the child had come into the hall to ask for some food for his parents and his siblings as they had noting to eat at home.

The owner of the hall did not hesitate to dart into the kitchen and to generously pack ten portions of food for the hungry child and his family.

When the bar mitzvah ended, the bar mitzvah boy's father and hall owner met to discuss payment. The owner notified the father that he only had to pay for 290 portions instead of the 300 he had ordered and he told him about the incident that had transpired.

The father disagreed as he wanted to pay for the 300 portions.

"I ordered all the dishes in the kitchen, they're mine and therefore I will pay the full payment and earn the merit of the favor you extended to the needy family," he asserted joyfully.

An argument ensued with both sides wanting to have the mitzvah of tzedakah to their credit. Finally, both sides agreed to present their case to Rabbi Yitzhak Zilberstein, who told them that he would consult with his father-in-law, Maran Hgri"s Elyashiv. It was decided that the food had been ordered by the bar mitzvah boy's father and, at the time, belonged to him. Therefore, he would pay for all the portions plus earn the merit of giving charity to a needy family.