A Practical Zechus

Rav Uri of Strelisk was the Ahavas Sholom's brother-in-law. One day he came to Kossov for a visit. A poor chassid who had no means to marry off his daughter approached the Ahavas Sholom and asked for a yeshuah, a salvation, to help him marry her off. "My brother-in-law, the great tzaddik Rav Uri, is visiting," the Ahavas Sholom told him. "Go to him, and he will help you."

The chassid went to Rav Uri and explained that the Ahavas Sholom had sent him for a berachah and a yeshuah to marry off his daughter. "Take the zechus (merit) that I earned today from my davening," said Rav Uri. "That zechus will help you marry off your daughter."

The chassid thanked him and went back to the Ahavas Sholom. When he reported what had happened, the Ahavas Sholom said, "No, no, that will not do at all. Go back and tell my brother-in-law that it is not enough."

The chassid returned to Rav Uri and repeated what his Rebbe had said. "In that case," said Rav Uri, "take the zechus of the mitzvah of tefillin that I put on today as well." But that did not work either. "Oh no," said the Ahavas Sholom, shaking his head sadly. "That surely is not enough to marry off your daughter. Go back and tell my brother-in-law that it is not good enough." Again the chassid dutifully went back to the Strelisker, and again Rav Uri gave him the zechus of another mitzvah as a gift.

When the chassid came back a third time with his Rebbe's complaint, Rav Uri hurried to his brother-in-law to ask him face to face what was wrong. "Please tell me what zechus I should give to help this chassid marry off his daughter."

"Come," said the Ahavas Sholom. "Come with me, and we will go from house to house among the Yidden until we have collected the sum this poor chassid needs. In that zechus he will be able to marry off his daughter." And so they did.