A Stone for Yerushalayim
Too poor to bring an offering to Yerushalayim, Rebbi Chanina carved a stone as his gift, and Heaven sent help to carry it there.
It is told that Rebbi Chanina ben Dosa once watched the people of his town setting out for Yerushalayim, each one bringing a korban or a gift for the Beis HaMikdash. His heart ached. Everyone is bringing something to Yerushalayim, he said, and I am bringing nothing.
He walked out to the desolate land at the edge of his town and found a large stone. He cut it, smoothed it and polished it until it was beautiful, and then he took a vow: I will bring this stone up to Yerushalayim.
He went looking for workers to carry it. They asked for one hundred gold coins. Rebbi Chanina did not have a hundred, nor even fifty, and the workers went on their way.
Then Hashem sent him five angels who looked like ordinary men. Rabbi, they said, give us five sela'im and we will carry your stone to Yerushalayim, on one condition: that you put your own hand to it together with us. He placed his hand on the stone, and in an instant they were all standing in Yerushalayim.
Rebbi Chanina turned to pay them, but they were gone. He went to the Lishkas HaGazis, the chamber of the Sanhedrin, to ask what he should do with the money. The sages told him that it seemed ministering angels had carried his stone. So he gave the wages to the sages.
Source: Midrash Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:1 (§4), on Mishlei 22:29 ("Have you seen a man diligent in his work"); parallel in Midrash Koheles Rabbah 1:1.
Rebbi Chanina had no money, so he gave his effort, and Heaven met him halfway on one condition: that his own hand stay on the stone. Think of one cause, shul or family you would love to support but feel you cannot afford to. This week, give what you do have: an hour of help, a meal you cook, a skill you can share. Put your own hand to it, even in a small way, and trust Hashem to carry it the rest of the distance.