A Guest for Tea

A story is told in the name of the Shinover Rav. The Maor VaShemesh, a talmid of Rav Elimelech, once asked to serve his Rebbe so that he could learn from him directly, and Rav Elimelech agreed and asked for a cup of tea. The talmid prepared it and carried it into the room.

There he saw the awesome figure of an old man sitting beside Rav Elimelech. He was overcome with fear and trembling, dropped the cup, spilled the tea and ran out. Later Rav Elimelech met his talmid and asked why he had not brought the tea. He explained that he had brought it, but the sight of the old man had frightened him so much that he spilled it.

“Woe to the child,” said Rav Elimelech, “who cannot look his own father in the face. That old man was none other than Avrohom Avinu.”