Rabbi Zelig Pliskin and the One in a Million

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin was leading a discussion on this very idea of embracing happiness even in the most challenging situations. Suddenly, a gentleman in the crowd raised his hand, his brow furrowed with confusion. “Rabbi,” he exclaimed, “are you suggesting that when I find myself stranded on a rainy night with a flat tire, I’m expected to feel joyful and proclaim, ‘Yay! Hashem has blessed me with the opportunity to change a flat tire!’? That seems impossible! Surely, only one in a million people could ever attain such a mindset at that moment!”

In that instance, Rabbi Pliskin experienced a remarkable display of Divine providence unfolding right before him. The very person seated next to the initial questioner, eager to respond, stood up and spoke with sincerity. “Actually,” he began, his voice steady, “I had a strikingly similar experience just the other day.” The audience leaned in, curiosity piqued. “I was returning from my doctor’s appointment after my hernia surgery. After a long struggle with recovery, my doctor finally cleared me to lift heavy objects once more.”