The Merchant and the Fair

One day a stranger came before Rav Eliyahu and pleaded, "Save me, Rebbe." He explained that he lived in a village in the western part of the country, where a large fair was held every year. Thousands of farmers came from the whole region to buy what they needed for the coming year: cloth, small wares, utensils, spices, everything. This Jew was a well-known merchant, honest and trusted, and everyone bought from his shop, which was his livelihood.

That year he had again filled his shop with plenty of merchandise, bought on credit. But no one came into his store. Crowds poured into the village, yet nobody bought anything from him. Toward evening he looked into the matter and found that his Arab neighbor had stirred the farmers to boycott the Jew's goods. They knew he sold the finest goods at the best prices, but they all feared the neighbor's strong hand.

"What can I do?" the Rav sighed in anguish. "What is done is done. The fair is over, is it not?" "No, Rebbe, it goes on for two days. That is why I took the trouble to come to you."

"If so," replied the holy Rav, "sleep here tonight. Write the Arab's name on a slip of paper and leave it in the beis haknesses in the morning." The merchant did as he was told and waited for the Rav to finish davening. Then he approached respectfully, and the Rav turned to him kindly and said, "The Gemara teaches that a person who has enemies should come early to the beis medrash and stay late, and they will fall. You have already done this, so now you may return to your village."

The merchant hurried back to his town and saw the funeral procession of his neighbor. That day he sold all of his merchandise.