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The Way of Emunah

Appeasing Hashem

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Appeasing Hashem:

One erev Yom Kippur, the Bais Avrohom of Slonim zy "a related a story about a tailor who did work for the Poritz. Whenever he would sew a garment for him, he would steal a piece of the expensive silk and hide it under his mattress.

One day, the Poritz realized that the tailor had been stealing from him. He yelled at him and called him a thief, telling him that he knew that the stolen silk was under his mattress. He then fired him on the spot, causing him to lose his entire livelihood.

The tailor then said to Hashem, "How did he know that the stolen material was under my mattress? It was hidden from view, and no one knew about it. The only possible explanation is that You told him!"

He thus decided that since he was so mad at Hashem, he wanted to take revenge. From time to time, he would show his anger by not davening Maariv or not saying Birchas Hamazon after eating, or the like.

On erev Yom Kippur, he decided that this was the right time to make up with Hashem. Since He forgives everyone on this day, he decided that I could forgive Him too.

Since it is common for friends who make up with each other to drink a bit of whiskey together, he decided that this was how he would make up with Hashem. He poured two glasses of whiskey and offered one to Hashem. Of course, he knew that Hashem doesn't drink whiskey, so he drank both glasses. Before he drank, he said, "L'chaim Hashem! I forgive You, and I ask You to forgive me."

May Hashem grant us alla G'mar Chasima Tova.

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