In this week's parsha we read that Hashem heard the pleas of Bnei Yisroel from their bondage in Egypt and He began the process of redemption. How can we merit that Hashem will hear our pleas from our own personal difficulties?

R'Elimelech Biderman tells over two similar stories.

There were two brothers Reuven and Shimon who grew up together and Reuven became a very successful businessman while Shimon remained poor. When the Shimon needed to marry off one of his children he didn't have the necessary funds and he decided that he must turn to his wealthy brother for help. He mustered up the strength to go Reuven and he rang the intercom to his fancy house. One of the servants answered the door and asked the Shimon (the poor brother) to identify himself. He told the servant that he is the brother of his Reuven. The servant turned to his boss and told him that a man is at the door who says that he is your brother. Reuven answered (realizing why his brother was coming to him) by saying "I don't have a brother". The Shimon nevertheless made his way into the house and embraced his wealthy brother who totally ignored him, claiming he had no idea who he was. Shimon was left without any choice and turn around and left.

The following week the Reuven went to visit his old and ailing father. The father looked at his wealthy son and asked "who are you?" The son answered his father, I am your first born son, Reuven, I am your son. The father responded again I don't have a son Reuven. Reuven was sure that his father wasn't well and his memory was slipping. He began telling over stories in hopes of refreshing his father's memory. The father responded that his memory is fine, but that he has a son who is named Shimon, if you are Shimon's brother then you are my son, but if you aren't his brother then you are not my son.....

A similar story is told of a man in Israel who worked in the Chevra Kadisha, his financial state was obviously not great (Chevra Kadisha's pay less than most law firms : ).

He too was in need of funds to marry of a child and without any place to turn he decided he would visit his very wealthy cousin who lived in Toronto and to ask him for assistance. He had no choice but he would need to leave his family and fly to Toronto to meet his cousin. He bought a ticket which he didn't have money for hoping to pay for it with whatever assistance his cousin would give him. He flew to his cousin and arrived at his house in Toronto. He entered the house and greeted his cousin warmly. The wealthy cousin understood very well why his Israeli cousin came to see him, and he pretended that he had no idea who he was. The Israeli was persistent claiming I am your cousin, but this fell on deaf ears. Finally the Israeli cousin said to his wealthy relative, my mother and your father are brother and sister, and we are cousins whether you want to admit it or not. But let me tell you one thing, I work in the Chevra Kadisha and we are called in many times right before people die, we are able to see when a person is going to die and I can tell you be prepared because I see the signs on you. The wealthy cousin was shocked and petrified by the statement and he immediately sat down to write his cousin a check for $100,000. He then turned to his cousin and asked him, is it really true can you see on me the signs of someone who is going to die? He answered yes, 100%. The wealthy man then pressed him what do you see? The Israeli answered, very simple, before people pass they stop recognizing all of the relatives and people around them. This happens a short time before they die. When you said that you didn't recognize I realized you were close to death. Baruch Hashem your ability to recognize me came back, may you have a long life.

Our fellow Jews are our brother's and we are all children of G-d. If we act towards our brother's as brother's then He will act towards us as a Father. When someone reaches out to us for help, physical, financial, emotional or any kind of help, we must remember that this is our brother and do what we can to help.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath