Rav Chaim Meir of Vizhnitz once related how his ancestor Rav Menachem Mendel of Kossov, author of Ahavas Shalom was a disciple of Rav Meshulem Feivish of Zaberazh author of Yosher Divrei Emes and was once travelling to visit his Rebbe.
Due to his poverty he travelled on foot and he stopped at a local inn and asked the innkeeper for some lodging for a weary Jewish soul. “Please,” inquired the Kossover, “perhaps you have some small morsel for me before I lie down for the night, as I have not tasted any food all day,” explained the impoverish Rav Menachem Mendel to the kind innkeeper. The innkeeper, however shook his head sadly, “unfortunately, I myself have not eaten today at all, neither have my little ones and I do not even have any food for them for tomorrow either,” he explained sadly. That night, Rav Menachem Mendel slept fitfully, it was not hunger however that bothered his sleep, it was his feelings of sadness for the innkeeper’s poor starving children.
Then next day after bidding a sad farewell, he embarked on the next leg of his journey when a large coach happened by. The wealthy Jew in the coach had spotted the traveler and hastened his driver to halt the fine horses so that he might ask the traveler where he was headed. “You there, Reb Yid, where are you headed?” “I am travelling to vidit my rebbe, Rav Meshulem Feivish in Zaberazh,” explained Rav Menachem Mendel to the wealthy man.
“Why, what a stroke of Divine Providence!” exclaimed the wealthy man, “I too am headed in that direction to visit the Rebbe myself. Allow me the honor of doing a mitzvah and of inviting you to travel with me rather than on foot.” The Kossover began to think, and he quickly came up with a plan to help the poor innkeeper and his starving family. “Reb Yid, I would be honored to travel with you if you will also give me one hundred gulden,” remarked Rav Mencahem Mendel to the surpised wealthy man.
The wealthy man was beside himself, “what does he think this beggar? What chutzpa?! I offer him a ride and he ask for such a large sum as a donation!” he said to himself.
Nonetheless not wanting to offen the poor man and not wishing to give up on the mitzvah he replied, “Listen I will be happy to give you five gulden as well, now come and climb on,” he invited.
But Rav Menachem Mendel stubbornly refused, “Sorry but in that case I will continue on foot,” and so saying he began walking. The wealthy Jew was stunned, he ordered his driver to draw level with the pauper and he made a second offer, “Listen, I wish to take you with me, why should you travel on foot for such a long journey, here, I am reasonable I will offer you twenty gulden, OK?” He finished with a smile expecting Rav Menachem Mendel to join him and climb on. However the Kossover’s reply quickly wiped the smile off his face, “I am sorry but if you cannot give me a hundred gulden, and no less, we will part ways, thanks but no thanks,” and so saying he continued on foot. The wealthy man was incensed, what chutzpah! At the same time he was impressed, somehow this poor man’s impudence seemed to stem from something other than sheer stubbornness, his holy visage shined with an otherworldly light, and his shining countenance moved something in the wealthy man.
He realized that they were both travelling to the rebbe, he wanted the mitzvah of taking this obviously poor man with him and so he relented and agreed, “Alright have it your way, one hundred gulden, now please climb on and lets us be on our way.” If he was incensed and surprised before, it was nothing to the shock he received when Rav Menachem Mendel replied, “Thank you for your generosity, Reb Yid, but I cannot accept unless you turn your coach around and accompany with the money back to the village behind us to the local inn,” and he explained what the money was intended for.
The coach man was dumbfounded, on the one hand he was impressed that the sum was for charity and to feed starving children, and that this obviously poor man was not interested in any himself, on the other hand this entire episode was delaying him and now the stranger wished him to turn around!
However he relented and did so. Rav Menachem Mendel entered the inn together with the wealthy Jew and he handed the delighted innkeeper, the gift of one hundred gulden, “Go and purchase some brandy and spirits so that you can do business, make a living and feed your family, but please keep tabs on your earnings,” whispered the Kossover to the innkeeper, “for one day you will need to share your wealth with this man here with me today.”
And so it was that the wealthy man and Rav Menachem Mendel arrived in Zaberazh and were enthusiastically received warmly by Rav Meshulem Feivish whose gabbai came out to greet them with calls of “Beruchim haBaim, Osay Mitzvah – Welcome o’ doers of good deeds!”
Many years later, Rav Menachem Mendel now Rav of Kossover and a leader and rebbe in his own right spotted the formerly wealthy merchant as a beggar begging for alms and charity in Kossov. The wheel of fortune had turned and he had become poverty stricken, while the formerly destitute innkeeper had become wealthy.
Now the Kossover called his gabbai over and had him escort the formerly wealthy Jew into the Rebbe’s chamber. There the Rebbe wrote him a letter of introduction reminding the innkeeper of his promise and of the Kossover’s instructions years before. “Go to this inn and claim your share,” instructed the Kossover. The formerly wealthy beggar did so and his Mazal was overturned and he too prospered.
“And that,” concluded the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz, is how my ancestor helped other Jews!”
