A Flat Tire Before Shabbat and a Promise Fulfilled

It was 3:30 in the afternoon on the Friday before Shabbat HaGadol, the “Great Shabbat” just before Passover. Benjamin and Keren Gomel were driving from Bnei Brak to Haifa, bringing along their rabbi and rebbetzin, Rabbi Pinchas Barzel and his wife.

Moments after setting out, Benjamin suddenly stopped the car. “Flat tire,” he announced.

Thankfully, the car was new and had all the equipment needed to replace the tire. To be sure, they drove to a nearby gas station in Petach Tikvah. It wasn’t just low air, it was definitely a flat. Without delay, Benjamin began changing the tire.

By now, it was 3:50 p.m. With less than three hours before Shabbat, they were still far from Haifa. Hoping for help, Benjamin walked over to the gas station to ask around.

Out of nowhere, an elderly man appeared. He looked like a classic kibbutznik, sun-weathered skin, rolled-up sleeves, and a leg wrapped in a bandage. “Need help?” he asked warmly. Before they could protest about his injury, he was already kneeling down to help.

They removed the damaged tire and took out the spare. But then a new worry arose: the spare looked far too narrow. It didn’t seem usable.

By 4:30, Shabbat was only two hours away, and the situation seemed hopeless. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Barzel quietly began reciting Tehillim (Psalms), praying with all their hearts. Meanwhile, the helpful stranger offered to take Benjamin with the flat tire to find a repair shop.

Keren hesitated. “At this hour? Which tire shop is even open?” But they had no better option. Benjamin and the kibbutznik headed off, while the others stayed behind, praying.

At 4:55, the two men returned with the tire repaired. Not only was it functional, it turned out to be the original tire, not the spare, and could handle the trip. Had they relied on the spare, it would have only allowed them to drive 90 km/h, far too slow to reach Haifa in time.

While reattaching the repaired tire, the elderly man began to share a piece of his heart.

“My son was critically injured during Operation Protective Edge,” he said. “He was unconscious for nearly two months. I’m not religious, but I made a deal with Hashem. I said, ‘If You let my son wake up, I promise to help every religious Jew I meet.’ My son recovered and so, when your husband asked for help, I didn’t think twice. Even though my son is waiting for me at home, I had to come. I promised Hashem.”

Just as they were taking in the emotional story, a young woman in a car pulled over. She seemed secular but called out with concern, “You look like you’re stuck, do you want a ride somewhere? Shabbat’s almost here…”

The Gomels were touched. “We were overwhelmed by the love and kindness in the air,” they later said. “So many Jews are messengers of goodness along the way.”

They thanked the young woman and let her know the issue had been resolved. Then they warmly said goodbye to the man who had kept his promise to Hashem and made their way to Haifa.

They arrived with time to spare and were able to prepare properly for Shabbat. And that particular Friday afternoon? It’s one they’ll never forget.