The Widow's Crates

A widow kept the neighborhood grocery near Rav Shlomo Zalman's home for many years, and the work drained all her strength. Each day at first light, the delivery trucks unloaded her milk and cheese cartons at the curb, and she hauled them in by herself when she opened up.

One morning she was delighted to find the cartons already set down at her door, and her work became far lighter. It happened again the next day and every day after. At last she resolved to come in very early and thank the drivers herself.

That morning the drivers left the crates at the edge of the sidewalk as they always had. She stood wondering how the heavy crates had been moving themselves, when she saw Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, carrying his tallis bag beneath one arm. He lifted the crates in turn, carried them to the door of her store and then hurried off to shul.