The Punching Bag

The following is a true story of providence; just the names were changed.

Rachel and Avi were planning on moving back from Israel to Canada in a few weeks. They had spent the beginning of their marriage in Israel but decided that they needed to build their careers on familiar turf in Toronto. They were our Shabbat guests for one of their last weeks in Israel. The conversation included the fact that they were looking for someone to purchase their punching bag, since she was a personal trainer and had some equipment left. She knew that I worked in a Yeshiva for young men ages 18-21 and possibly there was a need. My wife and I both laughed. Honestly, it's the first and only time anyone has ever asked us about finding a home for a punching bag. I told her I didn't think so but would check anyway. After researching the situation, it seemed there was no need. Even so, I was tickled by the offer of purchasing something as random as a punching bag.

The following Shabbat, my wife and I attended a Shabbaton (a special Shabbat program for a Yeshiva). I was asked to organize and run the event since I had run similar programs and was familiar with all the necessary details. I barely knew the boys, but they were friendly and accepting of my leadership. After lunch, two of the students, Yaakov and Tzvi, were having an emotional discussion about something personal. I knew Yaakov, who was enrolled in our second-year program, and Tzvi, in our first-year program, I had never met. Yaakov was getting frustrated attempting, without much success, to convince Tzvi not to leave the program early. He was getting nowhere and somehow decided that I was a better shot at encouraging Tzvi to stay for the year.

Tzvi, a warm and gentle young man, was the gentle giant of the Yeshiva. Muscular and good-looking, his smile showed that he didn't mind speaking with me. Even so, I had never met him and seriously doubted that I could be of much help. I asked him what his frustrations were in the Yeshiva and what might help him continue in Yeshiva. He told me that he's not a big learner and has difficulty concentrating through a full day of classes. I asked what one thing might make a difference for him to make his day easier and more fulfilling. He responded that he likes working out and desperately needs a punching bag. The Yeshiva's bag had recently torn, and he was very frustrated. It seemed that it would make an enormous difference to him if he had a bag. I took a double take and stared at him, wondering if he had somehow overheard my conversation just a few days before.

I told him that I actually might have a lead and would get back to him. I couldn't believe the providence of being asked for a punching bag. Immediately after Shabbat, I called Rachel and asked if the bag was still available. She said that someone had already asked for it and she was waiting for the final decision if he wanted it. I couldn't imagine that this bag didn't have Tzvi's name on it but there were no guarantees.

The next morning, she called me to say the bag was, in fact, available. Did I want to pick it up? I had already gotten the okay from the Yeshiva for the expenditure, so I sped over to buy it. The bag was very heavy, and I barely managed getting it into the car. I drove it directly to the Yeshiva, where Tzvi was eating breakfast. I walked over to him and told him he's got his punching bag. His mouth dropped, and he looked at me in disbelief. He followed me to the car and got his present sooner than he ever imagined.

I saw Tzvi soon afterwards and it was clear that the punching bag ended up making a huge difference and, in fact, Tzvi stayed on for many months afterwards and had a very successful year.

So, the next time someone offers you something random, remember – there's nothing random in Hashem's world. And the thing you receive might really pack a punch!   

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Rabbi Dovid Charlop is on the teaching staff of the Neve Tzion Yeshiva in Telzstone, Israel.