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“Yes, a large sum of money was stolen from me. But this happened so many years ago.”
The chasid did not give him time to continue. Immediately he took out the package with the money and handed it to the owner, announcing, “here is your lost money!”
The innkeeper, who had despaired of ever finding his hard-earned money, became very emotional and asked the chasid how the money came to him. The chasid answered that he was unable to reveal to him any of the details connected to the money and its return.
The innkeeper then asked the chasid what brought him to the city Kremenchuk?
The chasid answered, “I am a very poor man and I have three daughters to marry off. My holy Rebbe, the Chozeh of Lublin, sent me to this city and told me my salvation will come from here.”
The innkeeper asked how much money he needs. The chasid thought for a few moments and answered an amount he would need. Immediately, the innkeeper took the full amount from his pocket and gave it to the chasid.
When Reb Avraham returned to the Chozeh and told him what had transpired, the Chozeh remarked: “I saw the intense repentance and regret of the teacher. Therefore, I needed to send you to this city so you would be able to return the money to its rightful owner and in this merit G-d gave you what you need.” The chasid felt humbled to have been chosen to be a messenger for good and merited to marry off his daughters to fine upright young men.
Translated from Sippurei Tzadikim #583, reprinted from Melavamalkastories.com
*The Chozeh of Lublin 1745 – 1815 was a leading figure in the early years of the Chassidic movement. He resided in Lublin, Poland and passed away on Tisha b’Av. From among his illustrious students many of the well-known Chassidic courts emerged.
