Rabbi Explains How Faith Can Overcome Life's 'Floods'

Rabbi Shmuel Raskin, of the Chabad House Keren Or in Budapest, shared a story illustrating the power of faith and prayer in overcoming daily challenges. He recounted officiating a wedding in Crete, after which he met with the bride's father, Assaf, who heads a major US finance company. Assaf told Raskin about his elder son's significant financial struggles after investing heavily in a renovated house in Florida that failed to sell for months.

During this difficult period, Assaf's younger son, recently discharged from the IDF, visited from Israel. The two traveled to pray at the Rebbe of Lubavitch's resting place. After their prayers, Assaf wrote a pidyon nefesh, a note requesting the Rebbe's intercession for the family's health and success, particularly for his elder son to sell the house and escape his financial distress.

The very next morning, the elder son received a call: a client who had previously shown interest was now ready to buy the house for cash. Assaf saw this as a clear demonstration of how trusting in God can resolve financial worries.

Rabbi Raskin connected this to the weekly Torah portion of Noah and the great flood. He explained that just as Noah was instructed to enter the ark to be saved from the flood, Jews are called to enter the 'arks' of prayer and Torah study to be saved from the 'floods' of daily worries and financial troubles. By immersing oneself in Torah and prayer and trusting God as the sole manager of all affairs, one can find liberation from life's storms.