Slice of LIFE
There was an innkeeper who lived on the outskirts of the town of Lubavitch in White Russia. During the lifetime of the third Chabad Rebbe, known as the Tzemach Tzedek, he managed to earn a living without a problem. Even on an ordinary Shabbos, numerous guests would come to Lubavitch, and the inns that were located in the centre of town couldn't host everyone, so this innkeeper who we will call Yisroel, benefitted from the overflow of customers who journeyed to Lubavitch.
However, after the passing of the the Tzemach Tzedek, and especially a few years later when some of his sons established their own courts in other towns, the number of visitors to Lubavitch fell drastically, so Yisroel was affected considerably more than those who were located closer to the Rebbe Maharash's residence and study hall who was the youngest son and successor to his father's court in Lubavitch.
It was Erev Shavuos and Yisroel was downcast as he didn't have a customer for weeks. He had no money to buy food for his family so he decided to look for some other work in the hope of earning something.
He passed by the Rebbe's house and saw the Rebbe standing on his porch/balcony. Seeing him, the Rebbe said, Reb Yisroel it is Erev Shavuos and one is supposed to receive the Torah with joy yet you appear so downcast. The innkeeper replied, Rebbe, how can I be upbeat and joyous when I haven't had a customer at my inn for weeks.
The Rebbe raised his eyes, looked at the horizon, and then said, Reb Yisroel I see a large group coming and they will be staying at your inn for Yom Tov, go home and prepare for them.
For how many should I prepare? asked the innkeeper in all earnesty. A large number, the Rebbe replied. Three or four? asked Yisroel More, replied the Rebbe. A minyan of ten, asked the innkeeper in excitement. Even more, replied the Rebbe. Twenty? No more, the Rebbe replied He kept on gradually increasing the number bit by bit with the Rebbe continuously telling him more than that. When he reached the point of asking the Rebbe if he should prepare for seventy guests, the Rebbe replied, No! More than double that figure!
Hearing this, Reb Yisroel was ecstatic, as having so many guests would tide his family income for months. He had one major problem however, as he had no money to even buy food for his own family, how would he be able to buy provisions for 150 people? Gaining some courage, he said, Rebbe, I don't have any money. How will I obtain provisions to feed so many people?
The Rebbe took out some money and gave it to him and told him, I am confident that the storekeepers will offer you additional credit as well.
Reb Yisroel ran home and urged his family to rush and prepare for all the many anticipated guests. He then ran off to the market and began ordering large amounts of food. When he told each vendor what the Rebbe told him and how he also loaned him some money, each storekeeper was more than willing to give him merchandise on credit, knowing that immediately after Yom Tov he will easily be able to repay it in full. This was going to be their lucky day as well.
The butcher went to the shoichet (ritual slaughterer) and ordered him to shecht extra chickens, the baker assured him he would deliver the freshly baked challah in a few hours, and the winemaker delivered a barrel of wine right away.
His neighbours and friends heard the wonderful news and they were all happy for him and came over to help him prepare all the required food in a short time. But the hours passed, it was becoming late afternoon, and as they didn't see any visitors show up, they began to question him. Are you sure you heard correctly? Did the Rebbe really tell you that you will have a large number of customers today?
Perhaps the Rebbe just blessed you with the hope that you will have customers in order to uplift your spirits, they said to him. But Reb Yisroel was adamant. I heard it directly from the Rebbe, and no, it wasn't said to me as mere encouragement, but was stated emphatically with the Rebbe even loaning me money and telling me how many guests to prepare for. If the Rebbe said I will have many guests, I am one hundred percent certain that I will have many guests.
A few more hours passed, and the neighbours and friends slowly went home, many of them thinking that Reb Yisroel was dreaming or worse than that. They all felt sorry for him lamenting how he is now going to be ruined and how all that food will be going to waste.
It came time for his wife to light the candles and not one guest had arrived. She also looked terribly worried and wondered what happened to her husband, but decided to keep silent about it all. Yisroel looked at her, and could see her worried expression, yet warmly encouraged her and thanked her for all her help and hard work she had put in that day.
Going outside he suddenly noticed a cloud of dust on the horizon and a few minutes later a wagon pulled up with the driver hurriedly asking, where is the closest inn? Right here, Yisroel replied with a big smile! How many individuals are you? In this wagon, we are ten, the driver said, but there are fourteen more wagons coming up right behind us! It is nearly sunset, so if possible, we will all stay at your inn, as yours is the first one on the way into town! My pleasure, replied Reb Yisroel excitedly. As a matter of fact, I even have enough food for all of you!
Looking up, Reb Yisroel saw the additional wagons coming and he ushered them all in. After they all quickly changed into their finest, he led them to the Rebbes' Shul and everyone was astonished to see how all the guests had managed to arrive in the nick of time, exactly as the Rebbe had predicted.
The chassidim were inspired by the simple faith of the innkeeper, whose faith in the Rebbes' words never wavered, not even when the time came for his wife to light candles and not one guest had shown up.
Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
