סיפור שסיפר כמה פעמים :
Amongst Lubavitcher chassidim, throughout the generation, every city and community had their mashpia. The mashpia was responsible to teach and inspire, to give shiurim in chassidus, and to provide guidance to the members of anash in the ways of chassidus and avodas Hashem. In the city Charkov, the mashpia was R’ Avrohom Boruch Pevsner. He was a prominent chosid, however, when the time came that he was arrested for his activities, there was a void that needed to be filled. One of the chassidim living in Charkov then was R’ Menachem Mendel Deitch. He was not on the same caliber of R’ Avrohom Boruch Pevsner, but it was still imperative that someone continue to carry out the duties of Mashpia, and R’ Mendel Deitch was the most fitting.
[This R’ Mendel Deitch was described as more of a baalebatishe Yid (compared to R’ Avrohom Boruch), with the qualifier that a baalebatishe Yid (at that time) referred to someone who was knowledgeable in the entire shas and fluent in chassidus etc., but baalebatish]. R’ Mendel Deitch did business with (what were referred to as) “chazerel”’s. These were the gold coins that were remaining from the Nikolaiev era. Although they had much value, they were illegal in Communist Russia, and someone caught with them in his possession would be shot on the spot. However, someone bold enough to deal with them clandestinely could make a large profit. Because of the great danger they posed for anyone caught red-handed with them in his possession, no one wanted to be stuck with them overnight, because of the risk of a nocturnal visit from the secret police. Thus the later it became in the day, the more they decreased in value. So, for example, if in the morning the “chazerel” would be worth 350 rubles, by midday it could jump down to 275, late afternoon it would drop to 150, and just before night it could be valued at just over 100.
One of the duties that were assumed by Mendel Deitch was to teach a Perek Tanya every day between mincha and maariv in the shul. One day, he was preparing to go to shul, mincha time, when an acquaintance came to his door, seeking to buy some “chazerel”s. This was a tremendous opportunity for R’ Mendel, from every angle. However, Mendel Deitch declined, saying “I’m sorry, but I am unable to help you. I already put on my coat to go to my shiur, I am no longer here”. His wife heard and was aghast. “Don’t be a fool”, she demanded, “this is a chance that you can’t pass up on. You will be getting rid of the incriminating material and make some money as well”. In the meantime, the buyer saw R’ Mendel Deitch’s reluctance, and offered to add an additional 25 rubles to his original offer, and then, when his offer was still declined, he added still another 25.
This buyer was talking convincingly about how much money he’s ready to offer, Rebbetzin Deitch was insistent that her husband take advantage of the opportunity. However, the chosid Mendel Deitch disregarded both of them, and left to shul, to deliver his shiur in Tanya to the congregants! The sale of the chazerels was very important for this chosid from a business perspective. He would be able to earn money for something that was rapidly losing its value. And, as a chosid, it is unquestionably that the money he wanted to earn was for the purpose of serving Hashem. He was, undoubtedly, not seeking money for its own sake, but in order to use it for good causes. Moreover, the sale of the chazerels was vital for his personal wellbeing. It would remove a significant danger that faced him. And, of course being safe and protecting one’s welfare is a mitzvah of the highest order, - it is part of serving Hashem. But, as soon as it came to delivering his shiur, to carrying out the duties of mashpia, all of the above calculations become inconsequential. Compared to actually teaching Torah, to being actually connected to Hashem, all of the above would be treated as his personal affairs. They are for the sake of Hashem, but they have to second place to the tefilah, - to the actual attachment.
