Never Give Up

Rav Biderman related the following story about one of the Slonimer chassidim of the Yesod HaAvodah.

This chossid traveled a long distance to be with the Rebbe for Shabbos. At the Friday night tisch, the Rebbe asked him how he had traveled from his home and how the journey had been. The chossid answered that he had come riding on his donkey. The Rebbe was not satisfied and pressed him for further details, asking, "What would happen if you fell off your donkey while on the way?"

"I would get up, climb back on the donkey's back and continue on my journey," replied the chossid.

The Rebbe pressed him further and asked what would happen if he fell a second time. The chossid answered, "I would pick myself up, climb back into the saddle and go on."

This exchange repeated itself a few times. Each time, the Rebbe asked what he would do if he fell again, and the chossid answered that he would get up and continue his journey, until the chossid burst out in frustration, "Well, what should I do if not get up and go on? Should I just lie down on the floor and cry?"

This was what the Yesod HaAvodah had been waiting for. He turned to the chassidim and said, "Do you hear what he is saying? What purpose does it serve to lie down defeated if we have fallen? Does it make sense to lie on the floor and weep? Rather, whenever we fall we must get ourselves up and keep going. Never give up, and keep fighting."