Reb Moshe Leib Sassover, zt”l, was known for raising funds for pidyon shivuyim. He would go all out to save the imprisoned. One time, Reb Moshe Leib and the Berdichever Rav’s son, Reb Yisrael of Pikov, zt”l, were collecting much needed funds for pidyon shevuyim. On their journey, they one night found accommodations in the house of a particularly poor fellow.
He brought them into his dilapidated home. The roof was broken in several places, icicles hanging down from the holes, and the furnishings were of the bare minimum. The host collected some firewood to warm the house a bit. The problem with that was that the fire caused the icicles to begin melting. Water dripped onto Reb Yisrael’s bed.
The whole situation disturbed Reb Yisrael immensely. “We just put in a full day of work, and when we finally time-out, this is what we get?” This bothered him.
Reb Moshe Leib, on the other hand, viewed their situation in a different light. Reb Moshe Leib explained that he had thirteen reasons to be happy: “1) My right side doesn’t hurt me, so I can lie on my right side. 2) My left side doesn’t hurt either, so I can sleep on my left side, too. 3) My back doesn’t hurt...”
After numerating all thirteen reasons why he was happy, Reb Yisrael’s mindset was changed as well. They were able to break into a dance, as their new perspective gave them the proper mindset and attitude to cause them great joy. (Maamar Mordechai, vol. 2, p. 117)
