The Sanzer Rav received his Esrog on time as well as fish for Yomtov
The heilge Tzaddik Harav Chaim Halberstam, known as the Divrei Chaim after his Sefer, was the founding Rebbe of the Sanzer dynasty. The Sanzer Rav when it came to performing a Mitzvah, would spend a fortune to accomplish this, as the concept of hiddur mitzvah is derived from the verse, “This is my God and I will glorify Him” (Demos 15:2): The Sages Shabbos 133b interpreted to noi, beauty, and interpreted the verse: Beautify yourself before Him in mitzvahs. Even if one fulfills the mitzvah by performing it simply, it is nonetheless proper to perform the mitzvah as beautifully as possible. Make before Him a beautiful sukka, a beautiful lulav, a beautiful shofar etc.
The Rebbe saw to it that he should have a beautiful Esrog even if he would have to pay an astronomical sum. The Rebbe also made sure to get the best fish on the market for Yomtov. One year, it so happened that in the vicinity of Sanz there were no nice esrogim available, as well as fish. All the Esrogim brought to the Rebbe were not to his liking. It became closer to Yomtov and the Rebbe told his Gabbayim to send two Chassidim to a distant city with a nice sum of money to try to find a nice Esrog to his liking. The Gabbayim chose two loyal Chassidim and sent them off on the mission. They traveled far until they came to the largest dealer of Esrogim in Poland. As soon as they asked the dealer for the nicest Esrog, he went to his office and brought them a beautiful Esrog. The Chassidim didn’t haggle on the price and paid a handsome sum and they went on their way.
Meanwhile, they were hungry and tired from the long trip and searched for a Jewish-owned inn where they could eat something, and rest up. They found one and they ordered some food. The owner of the inn began a discussion with the Chassidim which led to the Esrog they had bought for the Sanzer Rav. The innkeeper asked if he could see the Esrog, and they gladly showed it to him. The innkeeper’s eyes lit up and said he would love to have such an esrog and was willing to pay any amount for it. The Chassidim simply said it was not for sale.
Meanwhile, they went into the courtyard and they saw a large pond with fish, and in the middle was a very large fish. The Chassidim said, now we can accomplish the other problem, and we will buy this fish for the Rebbe! However, when they asked the innkeeper if he would sell the large fish, he answered: “That fish is not for sale as I feed it and take good care of it, and want it for myself for Yomtov." The Chassidim began to offer a high price for the fish but the answer was no sale!
Then! the innkeeper said: I have a proposal for you. I will trade that fish for the Esrog. The Chassidim began to reason with themselves: This year the first day of Succos falls on Shabbos therefore the obligation of Esrog is nullified, since the Torah commands taking an Esrog the first day of Succos. Therefore, a plain Esrog should be enough, however eating fish on Shabbos and Yomtov is required from the Torah, and such a large fish would be enough for all 8 days of Pesach. Besides all they had in Sanz were salted herring, and it would be Oneg Yomtov to have fish. They answered the innkeeper that they were willing to exchange the Esrog for the fish! They put the live fish in a large barrel of water on the wagon.
Meanwhile, as they were traveling home they began to regret what they had done and were embarrassed to show face in Sanz. They slipped into the kitchen and gave the cook the large fish to cook for the Rebbe for Yomtov, and told him that this fish was an exchange for a beautiful Esrog that they had found for the Rebbe and they quickly fled and went into hiding. The cook summoned the Gabbayim to tell them the good news that the Chassidim brought a large fish for the Rebbe. When they asked the cook if they had also brought an Esrog? He told them that the Chassidim exchanged the beautiful Esrog for this fish!
The Gabbayim became furious at the nonsense of exchanging an Esrog for fish, and besides paying so much money for an Esrog and not to have it! but it was too late now. They told the cook to prepare the fish for the Rebbe and decided not to tell the Rebbe about the Esrog, so as not to cause him pain.
The Sanzer Rav saw everything that had happened, and to the wonder of the Gabbayim, when they presented the fish to the Rebbe at the Seuda of Shabbos, the Rebbe asked “Where are the faithful messengers who had the understanding that since this year the first day is Shabbos, they understood the great importance of having fresh fish for Seudas Yomtov, as in any case, an Esrog this year is only a command of the sages, but fish has two mitzvos: to rejoice in the feast and also Oneg Shabbos!"
Then Rebbe took a piece of fish and told the Gabbayim to go search for the two Chassidim and give them the fish and tell them that they did the right thing and they should come back home. The Gabbayim went to search for them and found them hiding. When they heard what happened, they began to dance from Simcha. On the second day of Succos, the Sanzer Rav walked into Shul with a beautiful Esrog and called over the Two Chassidim to show them the Esrog, and they almost fainted as they saw it was that Esrog that they exchanged for the fish! The Sanzer Rav was very happy to have such an Esrog. Nobody knew how this Esrog came to the Rav until Motzei Yomtov the innkeeper arrived in Sanz and told the story of how he sent a messenger to bring the Esrog to the Rebbe. He said that his whole intention was to give the Rebbe an Esrog and his big fish, and he was glad that both ended up at the Rebbe.
When something is destined to come to person, Hashem works wonders, and it’s so beautiful to see how it unfolds.
