In the same city as the famous holy tzadik, known as the "Shpoler Zeide" ["the Grandfather from Shpola," Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola, Russia, 1725-1812] there once lived a Jewish tradesman who plied his wares in the marketplace. On the table of his market stall, right next to where he displayed his merchandise, the man kept a small moneybox in which the day's profits were placed.
One time, a platoon of soldiers passed through the city. As they made their way through the marketplace, one of the soldiers diverted the businessman's attention by engaging him in conversation. Once the man was distracted, he grabbed the box of money and ran off. To the backdrop of the poor Jew's vociferous protests, the thief was immediately swallowed up by the large crowd of soldiers similarly clad in uniform. It was impossible to tell who had committed the crime. In the meantime, he hopped onto one of the transport wagons and escaped.
The Jew went directly to the platoon's commanding officer to register his complaint. The general agreed to order the thief to return the money, but only on condition that he positively identify the soldier who committed the theft. This, unfortunately, the Jew was unable to do. He hadn't gotten a good look at his face, and besides, they all looked the same in their uniforms. Not knowing how to proceed, he went to the Shpoler Zeide to ask his advice.
"Go back to the general and tell him you have an infallible way to find the thief," the Shpoler Zeide said. "Have the soldiers stand in a straight line with their backs toward you. Pass down the line and inspect the soldiers. Whichever one is grinding his teeth in anger is the one who stole your money," he counseled.
The Jew went back to the general and asked him to line up the soldiers. "You'd better make sure that the one you point to is the real thief," the general warned, "or else you will be the one to be punished." The Jew willingly and readily agreed, which surprised the general and aroused his curiosity.
The soldiers were ordered to stand at attention as the Jew wended his way up and down the rows. Suddenly, he came upon one soldier who was gnashing his teeth in barely suppressed fury. "This one is the thief!" the Jew announced. The general ordered the soldier to be flogged, whereupon he admitted his theft and the moneybox was returned to the grateful Jew.
The general was amazed. He demanded to know how the Jew had distinguished the guilty party from among all the other soldiers. The Jew, an honest and simple man, responded with the truth. He told the general that the Shpoler Zeide, a very great tzadik, had told him what to do. "Go tell your Rabbi to appear before me at once!" commanded the general. The Jew was horrified, for such was not his intention. Full of remorse for mentioning the tzadik's name and weeping bitter tears, he went back to the Shpoler Zeide and begged for forgiveness, recounting what had occurred.
"Do not be afraid, and do not cry," the Shpoler Zeide consoled him. "Inform the general that I refuse to come. Tell him, instead, to inspect the pocket of his trousers."
The Jew returned to the general and related the message. The general put his hand in his pocket and examined its contents. Then, without saying a word, he took out his gun and committed suicide on the spot.
It later became known that the general, involved in waging war with an enemy nation, had accepted a bribe to lead his platoon of soldiers into an ambush. The general had written two letters - one, to his king, assuring him that their military strategy was proceeding according to plan and was sure to bring them victory, and a second letter, addressed to the enemy, describing in full detail the plans of the ambush.
When the general checked his pocket he saw that he had made a fatal error: the two letters had been inadvertently switched. The letter in his possession was the one he had meant to send to the king; the enemy's letter had just been dispatched to the royal palace instead. Realizing the fate that awaited him, he took matters into his own hands and took his own life - before the monarch he had betrayed could mete out the punishment he so richly deserved.
