The Soup Kitchen and the Milk

Reb Itzikel established a bais tavshil (soup kitchen), hired a master cook who prepared food in great abundance, and made sure the kitchen was open almost around the clock. In the early hours the smell of fresh baked goods filled the air when the chassidim arrived at shul, and it lingered through the day and into the late night. So that everyone would feel comfortable, Reb Itzikel ate from that kitchen himself. He was often seen there with his sleeves rolled up, helping to cook. Once a visiting Rav was looked for by the gabbaim, who finally found him in the kitchen wearing an apron and helping with the day's preparations.

One morning, before Shacharis, Reb Itzikel saw that there was no milk left in the coffee room. He gave money to a nearby bochur and told him to go to the market at once and buy milk. The bochur answered that he had not yet davened Shacharis.

Reb Itzikel replied, "As for your davening Shacharis, I am not sure what will come of it. But the milk you bring back will certainly satisfy many Yidden. Go now, quickly, and buy the milk."