Helping Other Jews

Rav Chaim Meir of Vizhnitz once related that his ancestor, Rav Menachem Mendel of Kossov, author of Ahavas Sholom, was a talmid of Rav Meshulem Feivish of Zaberazh, author of Yosher Divrei Emes. Once he was traveling to visit his Rebbe. Because of his poverty he went on foot, and he stopped at an inn along the way and asked the innkeeper for a place to rest his weary Jewish soul.

"Please," the Kossover asked, "perhaps you have some small morsel for me before I lie down for the night? I have not tasted any food all day." The innkeeper shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately, I have not eaten today either, nor have my little ones, and I have no food for them tomorrow." That night Rav Menachem Mendel slept fitfully. It was not hunger that kept him awake but his sorrow for the innkeeper's hungry children.

The next day he said a sad farewell and set out on the next stretch of his journey. A large coach came by. The wealthy Jew inside had noticed the traveler and told his driver to stop the fine horses so that he could ask where the traveler was headed. "You there, Reb Yid, where are you going?" "I am traveling to my Rebbe, Rav Meshulem Feivish, in Zaberazh," answered Rav Menachem Mendel.

"What a stroke of Divine Providence." exclaimed the wealthy man. "I too am going that way, to visit the Rebbe. Allow me the honor of doing a mitzvah and take a ride with me instead of walking." The Kossover thought for a moment, and quickly came up with a plan to help the poor innkeeper and his starving family. "Reb Yid, I would be honored to travel with you, if you will also give me one hundred gulden."

The wealthy man was beside himself. "What does this beggar think? What chutzpah. I offer him a ride, and he asks for such a large sum as a donation." Still, he did not want to offend the poor man and did not want to give up the mitzvah, so he said, "Listen, I will gladly give you five gulden as well. Now climb on."

But Rav Menachem Mendel stubbornly refused. "Sorry, then I will continue on foot," he said, and began to walk. The wealthy man was stunned. He ordered the driver to pull level with the pauper and made a second offer. "Listen, why should you walk such a long way? I will be reasonable. Twenty gulden, all right?" He finished with a smile, expecting Rav Menachem Mendel to climb aboard. But the Kossover's answer wiped the smile from his face. "I am sorry, but if you cannot give me a hundred gulden, and no less, we will part ways." And he continued on foot.

The wealthy man was furious at such chutzpah. At the same time he was impressed. Somehow this poor man's boldness seemed to come from something deeper than stubbornness. His holy face shone with an otherworldly light, and it moved something in the wealthy man. He realized that they were both traveling to the Rebbe, and he wanted the mitzvah of taking this obviously poor man with him. So he gave in. "All right, have it your way. One hundred gulden. Now please climb on, and let us be on our way."

If he had been angry and surprised before, it was nothing compared with his shock at Rav Menachem Mendel's reply. "Thank you for your generosity, Reb Yid, but I cannot accept unless you turn your coach around and go back with me and the money to the inn in the village behind us." And he explained what the money was for.

The coachman was dumbfounded. He was impressed that the money was for charity, for feeding starving children, and that this obviously poor man wanted none of it for himself. But the whole affair was delaying him, and now the stranger wanted him to turn around. Still, he gave in and turned back.

Rav Menachem Mendel entered the inn with the wealthy man and handed the delighted innkeeper a gift of one hundred gulden. "Go and buy brandy and spirits so that you can do business, make a living and feed your family," he said. Then he whispered, "But keep track of your earnings, for one day you will need to share your wealth with this man who is here with me today."

And so the wealthy man and Rav Menachem Mendel arrived in Zaberazh, where Rav Meshulem Feivish received them warmly. His gabbai came out to greet them with the words, "Beruchim haba'im, osei mitzvah. Welcome, doers of good deeds."

Many years later, Rav Menachem Mendel was Rav of Kossov, a leader and a Rebbe in his own right. One day he noticed the once-wealthy merchant begging for alms in Kossov. The wheel of fortune had turned. The merchant had become poor, and the once-destitute innkeeper had become rich.

The Kossover called his gabbai and had him bring the former merchant into the Rebbe's room. There the Rebbe wrote him a letter of introduction, reminding the innkeeper of his promise and of the Kossover's instructions years before. "Go to this inn and claim your share," said the Kossover. The former merchant did so, his mazal turned, and he prospered as well.

"And that," concluded the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz, "is how my ancestor helped other Jews."