Due to the extreme poverty in his family, Shmuel went to work at an age when all his peers were still in cheider just to help his family meet the bare minimum. He made numerous attempts to set himself up in business, in the end, he found his talents were in importing and exporting. This was of great benefit to him, for besides being able to support his immediate family and his parents, he was able to travel in luxury with his own horse and buggy as he made deliveries from city to city.
Munkatch was known for its great tzaddik, the Minchas Elazar, and young Shmuel sought ways to associate with him and get his guidance and chizuk. One of the best times to meet the Rebbe was when the Rebbe had to attend a gathering or a simchah thus needed to be taken to it. Shmuel would offer the Rebbe a ride, allowing him the chance to speak with the Rebbe uninterrupted. Although the Rebbe learned most of the time on the journey, Shmuel was still able to get in some time to discuss his pertinent matters.
Shmuel would pay off the boys in the Rebbe’s yeshiva to tell him when the Rebbe was traveling. Still, Shmuel didn’t always get the opportunity, as it was snatched up by someone else, or sometimes he was unavailable when the Rebbe needed a ride.
One day, Shmuel was informed that the Minchas Elazar would be going to a faraway bris and needed to be transported all the way there. Shmuel excitingly jumped at the opportunity, chartering a special chariot for the occasion.
When the Rebbe saw the luxurious chariot, he was taken back. “Is this for me?!” he exclaimed. “You’re going to sit on the bench by the rider while I sit in the comfortable leather? Not at all.” He headed to the other side of the chariot to the driver’s entrance. “I’ll be sitting with you on the bench,” and so he did.
Years passed, and Shmuel endured much suffering as WWII came and uprooted everything he’d built up and everything he knew. He was confronted with many challenges. During the war the Nazis took everything he had. There was one thing that he managed to hide, and that was a picture of the Rebbe.
He explained to his grandchildren that the support he got from the picture was the kind respect that the Rebbe administered to him on that ride, and that picture reminded him of that episode. If not for that encouragement the Rebbe showed him at that time, he wouldn’t have the courage to withstand the challenges. (Heard on Stories to Inspire, from Mr. Charly Harari, relaying this about his very own grandfather)
