A Game of Chess

In the years before he became a Rebbe, when he was a merchant, Rav Simcha Bunim often played chess with fellow Jewish merchants who had drifted from Yiddishkeit. He would use the games to slip in a remark that might help them mend their ways.

Once he made an illegal move, and his opponent objected. Rav Simcha Bunim apologized warmly, asked forgiveness, and begged to take the move back. Since it was the first time, the opponent agreed.

They played on until Rav Simcha Bunim again made an illegal move. Again he was caught, and again he asked to take it back. This time his opponent refused. He had overlooked the first mistake, but he would not give a second chance.

Then Rav Simcha Bunim spoke: "You see how a person can err so badly, and wander so far, that no one can bring him back. When matters go too far, there is no returning to set them right." The words penetrated the merchant's heart. He did teshuvah while he still had the chance to retake his moves, and became a complete baal teshuvah.