It happened over 200 years ago on a snowy, stormy night. On a desolate road in the middle of Poland, a Jewish businessman's wagon, laden with goods, was stuck in the mud. The wagon wasn't budging, and the two strong horses that had previously been faithfully doing their job were now helpless.
The driver tried all the tricks he knew; the horses strained until they were exhausted. Another few hours in the cold and they would freeze to death. The forest was filled with wolves and robbers who were just waiting for such an opportunity. The horses and the contents of the carriage would be easy pickings. The situation was desperate.
The businessman was at the end of his wits. He turned to the driver and begged him to run to the nearest town; perhaps there he could find someone with a horse or two, or a few strong men to come back and help.
The nearest town was the city of Apta. The driver took a small swig from the small vodka flask and began walking swiftly. By the time he entered the town it was well after midnight. Except for the screaming winds the streets were enveloped in black, frozen silence.
Where would he find anyone to help him now? But he couldn't go back. With no choice he began walking, hoping to find some sign of life. Eventually, he saw a dim light in the synagogue. He entered the silent building, tried to warm himself up and after a few seconds burst into tears.
Suddenly he heard from a corner of the room someone say something. He looked up to see a thin, young man who had been sitting and studying Torah by candlelight. "What's wrong?" the young man repeated. "Why are you crying? What happened?"
The driver walked over to him, dried his tears, and told him the whole story; where the carriage was stuck, how he had come looking for some help and added that possibly there was a tavern or some other place in the town where they could find strong fellows or maybe a horse or two to help push the carriage.
The young man told him not to worry, put on his coat, closed his book and told him to follow him. The driver couldn't believe his ears! It was a miracle!! He thanked the young man profusely and thanked G-d for sending him. Soon there would be help! Probably he knew where there were some big strong men! The driver followed him into the street but to his surprise the young man kept walking straight.... out of the town in the direction of the carriage.
The driver tried to protest, to explain that it was senseless to go alone, they had to go back and get help; bring a horse or even three. But the young man just kept walking swiftly through the swirling snow and freezing wind until they arrived at the site of the carriage.
Approaching the carriage, the young man looked at the businessman who had exited the carriage and then said quietly, "You have already been stuck here too long. I hate to see it when people are stuck. The time has come that you should continue on your journey."
There was something so simple in this young man's words that it caught the driver by surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, go back up to your seat, crack your whip over the horses and continue on your journey." He replied.
"And what will you do?" The driver asked.
"I'll get in the coach and return with you to Apta."
The confident tone of the young fellow's voice made the driver jump up onto the carriage, climb to his place, grab his whip and snap it over the horses and amazingly, the horses pulled the carriage smoothly out of the mud to freedom.
The astonished businessman and the driver entered the carriage and the young fellow entered after them. Minutes later they arrived in Apta and when the carriage stopped the young man alighted and walked quietly off without saying a word.
Before they could digest what just happened the irresistible smell of freshly baked bread wafted by them. They followed the aroma and in just moments found themselves entering the bakery of Apta and being greeted by its owner, a religious Jew. "Welcome honored guests! Come wash your hands, sit down, and have some fresh bread" he said.
They washed for bread while the baker prepared some hot tea and as they ate they told their host about the miracle that they had just experienced.
"Young man? Miracles? I know everyone in this city" the baker said "and I can tell you for sure there are no young, thin miracle workers here. Perhaps it was Elijah the prophet himself!"
Suddenly the door of the bakery opened and a thin figure wrapped in an old winter coat slipped into the room. The baker's smile turned to a look of disgust. "That's my son-in-law! The whole day I work to support him and his family. He does nothing. He drives me crazy!"
The driver's face registered shock. "He's the one who took us out of the mud!!"
The baker's eyes widened. "He is the miracle worker?" he asked, and then he fainted.
As soon as the baker's son-in-law heard the commotion he ran to his father-in-law's aid. When the baker came to his senses he began to beg forgiveness.
That night a hidden tzadik became revealed to the world, a great rebbe who would help thousands lift themselves "out of the mud" known as the Yid HaKodosh (Holy Jew) of Peshiska, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz.
