The holy Seer of Lublin lived approximately 180 years ago. In those days, the Jewish people lived in ghettos and everyone was religious. But there was one person, Peter, who never went to Synagogue and he was completely irreligious.
One Friday afternoon, the holy wife of the Seer of Lublin didn’t have enough money to buy two candles for the Holy Shabbos. All Friday she was waiting for a miracle, but you know, miracles don’t always happen. It was already five minutes before the beginning of Shabbos, and she still didn’t have the two candles. So she went out on to the street, and she was crying. She pleaded, “Please G-d, don’t let me have the Shabbos without candles.”
At that moment Peter, who was wealthy passed by in his carriage, pulled by eight horses. He was already late for an important appointment, but he still had a very good heart. He saw her standing on the street crying, stopped the horses, and asked, “Why are you crying?” She said, “It is obvious that you are a rich man, but all I need is two pennies.”
“Two pennies? Here they are.” He put them into her holy hand.
She said to him, “You’ll never know how much you did for me. I bless you; may the light of Shabbos, the light of Heaven, shine into you forever.” He jumped back into his carriage and drove off. She quickly bought the candles, and kindled the Great Shabbos Light, and that light is still shining.
Her holy husband, the Seer of Lublin, began to pray. You know, when we pray we think about our business, but when the Rebbe of Lublin was praying, his soul really went to Heaven. He saw a big commotion in Heaven and the Heavenly court said to him, “You always make trouble for us. You always bless the most unworthy people. And now your wife is following in your footsteps. Look who she blessed! Look where the irreligious man is going now!”
The Seer of Lublin said, “You are one hundred percent right. But I would like to ask you one favor. Shine the light of Shabbos, the light of Heaven into his heart for just one hour. And let’s see what happens.”
Peter was driving along when he suddenly felt a very holy and exalted feeling. He thought, “What am I wasting my life with? Why don’t I become a mentch [decent person]?” He turned his horses around and decided to go back to the house where the two candles were burning. According to our tradition, he became one of the greatest Rabbis of that generation.
- RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
