When a person performs a mitzvah properly, he receives Hashem's blessing. Sometimes the mitzvah is difficult to do; sometimes it costs money. But the rule is: You never lose from mitzvahs.

The following marvelous story, recorded by Rabbi Zilberstein shlita in Borechi Nafshi, is a great example.

August 9, 2001 was a nice summer day in Jerusalem. Two American tourists were strolling down Rechov Yafo and decided to grab a bite to eat at the Sbarro restaurant at the corner of King George Street. When the two girls wanted to enter, though, the saleslady who sat at the entrance advised them to come back a little later because it was packed inside and they wouldn't be comfortable. The girls thanked her and decided to walk around some more, and come back in about an hour. Before they returned, however, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the restaurant, killing 15 diners and wounding 132 others including the saleslady who had sent the girls away. She was rushed to the hospital where she had to undergo several operations.

Although she had only been doing her job, the girls felt indebted to the woman who had saved their lives. They visited her in the hospital and told her that they were returning to the USA, but if she would ever come to NY, for medical treatments or any other reason, and would need their help, they would be glad to do anything they would be able to in order to help her. They gave her their phone numbers and wished her a speedy recovery.

A few weeks later, the Israeli doctors advised the patient that if she wanted her many wounds to become invisible, she should go to the USA to be treated by the professional plastic surgeons there, who could do the job properly. She took her doctors' advice and informed the two girls that she was coming to NY the first week of September. The girls kept their word and picked her up at the airport and took her to their homes.

After doing some research, they found out that there were very good plastic surgeons in NY, but the best ones were in Baltimore. The girls decided that they would both take a day off from work and drive their savior to Baltimore. Early in the morning, September 11, they set out to Baltimore, with their car's radio blasting. Suddenly they were totally shocked to hear that the Twin Towers in NY, where they both worked in an office, had been attacked and destroyed by terrorists. Their office, too, had been completely demolished.

The girls had decided to perform their mitzvah perfectionately, and, despite the expense and inconvenience, not to rely on good doctors when they could get better ones. Hashem repaid them on the spot and saved their lives. And who knows what reward awaits them in the World-to-Come?

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