“When you depend totally on Hashem, it’s as if He says, ‘Oh, you know that only I can help you? I’ll show you that you’re right!’ ”

ITwas a beautiful summer day when Racheli and Tamar — relatively young, but old enough to be long married — made their way to Amukah. For years these friends had been praying for the zechus to build a Jewish home, but so far were still alone. As they drove through the beautiful countryside, they passed a senior citizens home.

“Let’s do a mitzvah before we get to Amukah,” Tamar said. “Let’s go back and visit someone in the home, so we can come to Amukah with additional zechuyos. Maybe that will help our prayers be accepted.”

“Great idea!” Racheli responded. “I’ll turn around.”

When they got there, they spotted an elderly woman sitting alone, and went over to her. “Shalom. Can we sit with you?”

The lady’s tanned, wrinkled face lit up. “I’d be very happy for you to sit with me. The truth is, I was feeling a bit lonely.”

The three became fast friends. “I’m 80 years old,” the older woman, Sara, told Racheli and Tamar. “I’ve been living here ever since my husband passed away two years ago. It’s not so easy to live here alone. There are very nice people here, but it’s not the same as being in one’s own home with one’s own family.”

Sara asked the girls what they were doing in this area, and they told her they were on their way to Amukah to daven for a zivug. After a moment or two of silence, Sara said, “Do you mind if I join you? I’ve never been there, but I heard it’s a wonderful place to go to daven for one’s bashert.”

The girls exchanged small smiles, then turned to Sara, and said, “Sure, we’d be glad for you to join us.”