Once, a poor and destitute Yid entered the room of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel of Kapitsnitz. It was visible on his face that he was in need of money. Seeing this man’s “top hat,” the Rebbe went to the next room, took out his newly purchased hat, and joyfully handed it over to the poor gentleman. The poor man was overjoyed over the newly issued hat, thanked the Rebbe, and left.
Noticing this, the students asked the Rebbe why had he given away his new hat. The Rebbe could’ve easily taken the hat he was currently wearing and given it to the man, and he would’ve certainly been overjoyed at receiving that one. Why then did the Rebbe take the new one and give it to him?
The Rebbe responded that, indeed, he did keep the newer hat for himself. “Although you saw me give it away, in essence, I kept it for myself. In the World to Come, a person will be dressed with the mitzvos that he performed. What he dressed others is what he is going to be dressed himself. That hat in the hands of that destitute man will be the one that I’ll be wearing in the Next World. That is the reason why I gave the new hat to that fellow. I took the nicer hat for myself!”
