The Rebbe Who Closed Shop

A chassid once came to Rav Fishel of Strikov and said that he needed to marry off a daughter but had no money. "Rebbe, what shall I do? I can think of no way to marry off my daughter by natural means." Rav Fishel, who was known to bring about miracles, answered at once: "Go and buy a lottery ticket, and with hatzlachah and siyata Dishmaya, success and Heavenly help, it should work out."

The chassid bought a ticket. As the day of the lottery approached, his situation took a sharp turn for the worse, until he could not provide for his family or even buy provisions for Shabbos. He had no candles, no challos and no wine for kiddush, no one would lend him more, and his creditors were pressing him. He found someone willing to buy the ticket for enough money to make Shabbos, and he sold it.

A few days later the lottery numbers were announced, and the chassid's ticket was the winning one. But it was the man who had bought it from him who received the prize of seventy thousand rubles.

The anguished chassid returned to Rav Fishel and poured out his heart: "Rebbe, why did this happen to me? What was I to do? Should my family and I have fasted and sat in the dark all Shabbos?" Rav Fishel was heartbroken. He announced to the astonished chassidim, and then to his gabbai and family: "That is it. I am closing shop. Lock the doors, turn away all petitioners and send the chassidim home. I am no longer a rebbe." He closed the door of his room and let no one enter.

When they asked him why, he explained: "Why did Hashem not fulfill my berachah for this chassid, and instead test him this way? I must not be a tzaddik, and so I am no rebbe."

Everyone was distressed. Rav Fishel was loved and respected, and his berachos had brought wondrous salvations. When Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa heard the news, he traveled to Strikov to see what could be done. He was let in and found Rav Fishel distraught. "What is this rumor that you will no longer be a rebbe?" "It is true," cried the tzaddik. "If I cannot help, Hashem must not heed me, and so I am no tzaddik and no rebbe."

"You are a rebbe, and I will prove it," said Rav Simcha Bunim. He cited Chazal, who teach that a tzaddik can decree, and even cancel the decrees of Hashem (Moed Katan 16). Yet every day before Pesukei D'Zimra in Shacharis we say another statement of Chazal, from Tana Dvei Eliyahu: "Who among Your handiwork, whether among those in the heavens above or those below, can tell You what to do or how to do it?" These two statements seem to contradict each other, and Rav Simcha Bunim resolved them.

"It is true that a tzaddik decrees, and Hashem fulfills it. But no one, above or below, can dictate to Hashem what to do or how. The rebbe can decree and overturn decrees, give berachos and bring yeshuos, but carrying them out is left solely to Hashem. Tzaddik gozer, v'Hashem mekayem: the tzaddik decrees, and Hashem sees that it is carried out according to His own terms. You cannot dictate that this chassid's yeshuah must come through this very lottery ticket. You blessed him, and surely your berachah will be fulfilled, but it is not for you to control how it comes to pass."

These words found favor in Rav Fishel's eyes, and soon after, he announced that he was coming out of retirement. The residents of Strikov and the surrounding towns rejoiced to have their rebbe back.