By Yehuda Z. Klitnick
Reb Mendel Saltz was well off financially in Poland where he resided. The majority of his business dealings with the numerous local poritz-noblemen revolved around managing fields and lumber forests and wholesale trading in agricultural products. He gave tzedaka generously to every needy guest.
A business deal that had the potential to be extremely profitable came up one day. Mendel was well-informed about a poritz who was offering for sale a forest that produced premium lumber. Mendel could have made a lot of money by owning the forest, but it had to be all cash.
He took out a loan to get the cash he needed to meet with the seller in person to close the deal. When he got to the poritz's house, he discovered that he was bedridden, and unable to conduct any business. The man whispered, "Come back in two days." Don't be concerned about our deal; Nobody else can take it away from you. Mendel was willing to wait because he knew the poritz to be a man of his word.
Despite this, he was reluctant to return home at night with a large sum of cash because it was common for travelers to be robbed. What can I do? He asked the man to keep the money safe until the sale could be completed because he trusted the poritz. Mendel left without requesting a receipt for the money, a decision he would soon regret. Both parties were in agreement.
He heard that the poritz had passed away when he returned in two days, and the family was in complete disarray. Two stressful days passed with Mendel, trusting that the poritz's agreement will straighten out. His worst fears were soon realized. The estate had been taken care of by the poritz's son, who was completely unlike his father. He gambled a lot, and hated Jews fervently.
Asking the Son for His Money Back
Mendel approached the son and said "Sir, not long before his demise, I left a huge amount of money here with your father for a timberland. If you would be so kind, I would like to get my money back.
The son scowled, "Show me a receipt with my father's signature on it." I didn't think I really wanted one, since I had confided in your dad in business over numerous years, and his statement was comparable to gold," said Mendel.
However, it fell on deaf ears, and the son ordered Mendel to leave! Mendel's fortunes began to decline after this unfortunate incident, and watched one of his endeavors after another flop completely.
Meanwhile, he acknowledged his destiny as Hashem's will. Mendel had a daughter who was old enough to be married. He was hoping to find a fine bochur who would be worthy of her. Presently, he was poor person, and no one came calling, since there was no endowment for the young girl.
Going to Ask Help from His Rebbe – Rav Tzvi of Neushtadt
His wife begged him to see their Rebbe, Rav Dovid Tzvi of Neushtadt (author of Sefer Chemdas Dovid), the son Rav Yechezkel of Kuzmir z"l, (5532-5616) - a talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin- who was a close companion of the Chofetz Chaim. Mendel didn't even have enough money to pay for a wagon ride to Neushtadt, so he went there on foot, carrying only his tallis, tefillin, and some old bread.
After a tiresome trip, he stumbled into the Rebbe's room. "Holy Rebbe, I have never doubted Hashem's justice, because He does not punish without justification. However, my pious daughter is sin-free. She will make a magnificent spouse, however there are no shidduch possibilities for her. My heart is falling apart. Holy Rebbe, kindly assist."
The Rebbe was anguished by Mendel's situation, and his face, ordinarily brilliant and sparkling, became dull, turned with agony and pity. The Rebbe's face lit up with a smile after he had deeply immersed in Mendel's situation. The Rebbe took out One zloty, or one hundred groschen, from his pocket and said, “take this zloty and go on your way, and you'll be successful in all that you do."
Mendel turned to go, but the Rebbe called him back when he got to the door. I want the entire zloty back. Truly, 40 groschen should be enough."
Confused, Mendel did as the Rebbe said, and made it into the yard, when the shamash let him know the Rebbe was calling him back again.
The Rebbe said, "Give me back the 40 groschen and take this 10 groschen coin instead." Mendel didn't understand what had quite recently happened in the Rebbe's room! He was walking on the road for a few days when he heard a Polish voice shout, "Hey Jew, come over here."
A Group of Illiterate Peasants Called to Him with a Deal
Around a fire, a group of illiterate peasant shepherds sat. Listen: A man was riding by some time prior and this book dropped out of his saddlebags. Need to get it?"
They showed an extravagant beautiful collection bound in gold end-boards - with banknotes between the pages.
"Give us a zloty and it's yours."
"I'm willing to give you 10 groschen in exchange. It's worth at least forty zloties with these gold-colored end plates!” Look, these bindings are the best part; you keep them. Allow me just to have the papers and take 10 groschen for your difficulty.
Separated the Paper Money from the Gold-Colored End Plates
"Ok," said the peasant. Mendel separated the paper money and went on his journey with the banknotes secure in his backpack. A man on horseback rode by shortly after, still in Mendel's full view but now hidden behind a tree, circling back to retrieve the book he had lost. The shepherds threw the fancy book into the fire out of fear of being discovered and of being accused of theft.
Mendel perceived the rider. It was the young poritz who had conned him of his cash years ago. The shepherds dispersed, and the man fished his book out of the fire. He saw that the cash it contained was gone. "Those peasants consumed my cash. He headed out hopelessly!
At home, Mendel counted the cash. It came to exactly what he had lost at the poritz's house. He clearly saw the Rebbe's Ruach Kodesh. Assuming he would have had a full zloty, and purchased the entire book, the shepherds would have fingered him to the young poritz. The wavered talk among 40 and the 10 groschen clarified sense to him. These shepherds had agreed to a deal that gave Mendel enough money to get back to himself and marry his deserving daughter to a fine boy.
Reprinted from the Parshas Shelach 5784 email of Pardes Yehuda.
