The Wedding at the Inn

When Rav Elimelech and Reb Zusha were wandering in self-imposed exile, disguised as beggars, they spent a night at a kretchma (inn) where a wedding was being celebrated. Poor people had gathered, as was the custom then, to share some of the food. The wedding guests were a rough and crude crowd, merry with drink, and they began to make fun of the poor people. After each round of dancing they grabbed one of the poor men, threw him to the ground, and treated him to abuse, slaps and punches.

Reb Zusha was sitting nearest to the crowd, so he received the abuse, while Rav Elimelech sat in the corner and was left alone. In truth, Rav Elimelech envied his brother, for Reb Zusha was being given a chance to atone for his sins. He decided it was his turn. When the crowd was dancing again and Reb Zusha had sat down after another beating, he whispered, "My beloved brother, let us switch places. Sit in my seat, and I will sit in yours, and you can rest from the beatings."

They quickly switched places, and the rowdy group came back to take their victim. They were about to drag Rav Elimelech away when one of them called out, "It is not fair to keep beating only this guest. Let us take the one sitting in the corner and give him a few blows too, so he will remember this wedding." And so they seized Reb Zusha again from the corner, as if he had not yet been beaten.

When they had finished, Reb Zusha said to his brother, "You see, my beloved brother, whoever is destined to be struck will be struck wherever he sits. They seek him out and give him his due portion."