Rav Chaim Pinto of Mogador

The Wine Cup of Mogador

It is told that in the days before Pesach, a stranger was seen wandering through the streets of Mogador. Though he was dressed in rags, he did not look like a beggar, and the fringes on his garment showed that he was a Jew.

Some of Rav Chaim Pinto's talmidim noticed him in the city market, and when they returned to the yeshiva they told the Rav about him. Rav Pinto asked them to describe the man in great detail, and then asked whether he had looked happy or sad. They answered that he had looked terribly sad. Just seeing his face had made them sad as well.

Pesach is a time to remember the poor, and it was Rav Pinto's custom to invite the poor Jews of the city to his seder. On erev Pesach he sent his talmidim into the city to bring back all the poor Jews they could find, and above all the stranger they had described. The talmidim searched every corner of the city, and the poor were delighted to learn that they would have a place for the first night of Pesach. But when they finally found the stranger, he was sitting alone under a barren tree, and he refused to come. "For you it is the holiday of Pesach," he said, "but for me it is a time of mourning." The talmidim did their best to persuade him, but in the end they returned empty-handed.

Rav Pinto told them, "If you cannot convince him to come, whisper this word in his ear," and he whispered the word to each of them. The talmidim went back to the stranger, still sitting under the tree, and invited him again. Again he refused, but this time one of the talmidim whispered the Rav's word into his ear. As soon as he heard it, the man's eyes opened wide. He stood up and agreed to go with them at once.

When he arrived at the Rav's house, Rav Pinto greeted him warmly. The man returned the greeting and then asked, "How is it, Rav, that you knew the name of the ship that brought about my misfortune?" "Join our seder," Rav Pinto replied, "and you will understand how it became known to me. For now, make yourself at home. A bath will be prepared for you, and my talmidim will give you fresh clothing." The man thanked him, but he was still curious about how the Rav had known his secret.

That night, when everyone was seated at the seder, Rav Pinto introduced the guest and asked him to tell his story. "I was born in the city of Marrakesh," he said, "and I traveled to Spain and worked there until I had become quite wealthy. After several years I began to miss my native land of Morocco, and I thought of returning there to raise a family. With all that I had saved, I bought precious jewels. There was a widow whom I befriended. When she learned that I was planning to return to Morocco, where her daughter lives, she asked me to bring her daughter her rightful inheritance, jewels that had belonged to her father. I agreed, and I carried everything in a wooden case. But a storm sank the ship in which I was traveling, and the case was lost at sea. Somehow I grabbed a plank and reached the shores of this city a few weeks ago. I know that I am fortunate to be alive, but after all these years I have nothing. Even so, that is not what grieves me most. Above all, I am heartbroken that I cannot fulfill my mission for the widow."

All those at the seder felt for the poor man who had suffered such a misfortune. Among them was a beautiful young woman with tears flowing down her face, and when the man saw her grief, he too broke down and wept. Rav Pinto said, "Do not grieve as we celebrate the seder, but watch closely." He pointed to the kiddush cup, which was filled with wine, and pronounced a spell over it. That spell called forth Rahab, the Angel of the Sea.

Everyone at the table heard a deep voice say, "Yes, Rav Pinto, what is your command?" They trembled with fear, for they could not see where the voice came from. Then the Rav said, "I call upon you, Rahab, Prince of the Sea, for help in finding what has been lost." To everyone's amazement, the kiddush cup began to grow larger and larger, and the wine in it turned into the waves of the sea. The waves rose and fell, and eventually they cast up a small wooden case, which floated on the surface. The guest could hardly contain himself. "Master, that is my case," he cried. "Take it out," said Rav Pinto. The man reached into the enormous cup, took out the wooden case and set it on the table. At that instant the cup returned to its original size, and the waters in it became wine once more.

As everyone watched in awe, the man opened the case and saw that nothing was missing, and he shed tears of joy. Then Rav Pinto said to him, "Now let me introduce you to the widow's daughter, to whom you were bringing the jewels." The young woman who had wept at hearing the man's story stood up with a radiant smile, and the man almost fainted with surprise. When he had regained his composure, he placed the wooden case in her hands, to the delight of everyone present. Rav Pinto smiled and said, "Know that nothing happens by accident. All is foretold by the Holy One, blessed is He, as is your meeting here today. I can now tell you that I heard a heavenly voice announce that you two are destined to wed."

So everyone celebrated that seder with great happiness, and not long afterward the couple married. From then on, every Pesach when they filled the kiddush cup, they told the story of Rav Pinto and the magic wine cup that had changed their lives.