The Day the Rebbe Quit His Job

A chassid once came before Rav Fishel of Strikov and complained that he needed to marry off one of his daughters but had no money to do so. "Rebbe, what shall I do? I need advice, because I can think of no way to marry off my daughter by natural means."

Rav Fishel, who was known to bring about miracles, did not hesitate to suggest a solution. "Listen to me. Go and purchase a lottery ticket, and with Hashem's help you should have hatzlachah and siyata Dishmaya (success and Heavenly help)." With this blessing from the Strikover Rebbe, the chassid dutifully went to buy a lottery ticket.

Some weeks passed, and as the date of the lottery approached, the chassid's financial situation took a sharp downturn. He could not provide for his family's needs, nor buy provisions for Shabbos. Feeling out of options, he found someone to buy his lottery ticket for the amount he needed to buy something for the coming Shabbos. He reasoned, "I have no Shabbos candles, no challos and no wine for kiddush. No one will lend me any more money, and my creditors are hounding me. At least let me have basic Shabbos provisions." He sold the ticket, and with the proceeds he made Shabbos.

A few days later the lottery numbers were announced, and the chassid's ticket was in fact the winning ticket. But it was the Yid who had bought the ticket from the chassid who received the seventy thousand rubles in prize money.

The terribly anguished chassid returned to Rav Fishel and poured out his heart. "Rebbe, Rebbe, why did this happen to me? What was I to do? Should my family and I have fasted and sat in the dark all Shabbos?" he cried.

Rav Fishel was heartbroken over the chassid's misery. He stood up and announced to the astonished chassidim gathered around, and then to his gabbai and family, "That's it. I am closing shop. Lock the doors, turn away all petitioners and send the chassidim home. I am no longer a rebbe." He closed the doors to his room and barred anyone's entry.

"But why? What has happened?" they all wanted to know.

Rav Fishel explained, "Why is it that Hashem did not grant my berachah to this chassid and instead challenged him so? It must be that I am no tzaddik, and so I am no rebbe."

Everyone was distressed over this announcement. Rav Fishel was loved and respected, and his berachos brought wondrous salvations.

When Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa heard the disappointing news, he made his way to Strikov to see what could be done to convince his rebbe to change his mind. When he arrived, he was allowed in and found his rebbe distraught. "What is the meaning of this rumor I heard, that you shall no longer be a rebbe?"

"It's true," cried the tzaddik. "If I cannot help, Hashem must not heed me. I must not be a tzaddik, and I am no rebbe."

"You are a rebbe, and let me prove it," answered Rav Simcha Bunim. He cited Chazal, who say on the one hand that a tzaddik can decree and even cancel Hashem's decrees (Moed Katan 16). On the other hand, every day before Pesukei D'Zimra in Shacharis we recite another statement of Chazal, from Tana Dvei Eliyahu: "Who among Your handiwork, whether among those up in the heavens above or those below, can say to You what to do or how to do it?"

"You might suppose these two statements contradict each other, but I shall resolve them. It is true that tzaddik gozer, the righteous make decrees that Hashem fulfills, and they cancel Heavenly decrees. But the other statement says plainly that no one, above or below, can dictate what to do and how to do it. The rebbe can decree and overturn decrees, give berachos and bring about yeshuos, but the outcome is left solely to Hashem. Tzaddik gozer, v'Hashem mekayem, and Hashem sees to it that these are carried out according to His terms and stipulations. You cannot dictate that the yeshuah for the chassid will come through this very lottery ticket. That is left up to Hashem. You blessed him, and surely your berachah will be fulfilled, but it is not for you to control the detailed terms of how it will come to pass."

These words found favor in Rav Fishel's eyes, and soon after he announced that he was coming out of retirement. The residents of Strikov and the surrounding towns rejoiced. They had their rebbe back.