After the passing of his mother Devorah Leah, Menachem Mendel, who was to become the third known as the Tzemach Tzedek, was raised by his grandfather, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chasidism, known as the Alter Rebbe. They formed a special bond, a relationship so strong that it was able to extend even beyond the bounds of space and time. For even after his passing, the Alter Rebbe revealed himself to his grandson in order to help him resolve certain difficult problems in halacha (Jewish law) or other aspects of Torah study.
This phenomenon occurred so regularly that Reb Menachem Mendel came to expect his grandfather to appear to him whenever he had the need of his guidance. Once, he was dealing with a difficult and perplexing problem and he had a strong desire for the help of his grandfather. Whereas usually the Alter Rebbe would be revealed to him, this time, try as he may, his grandfather failed to come. Several days passed and Reb Menachem Mendel again tried to reach the Alter Rebbe. He davened and meditated in the prescribed manner, but he was not rewarded with success. When, after waiting for a few days he failed to perceive the spirit of his grandfather, Reb Menachem Mendel attempted to bring down the holy soul by means of various Kabbalistic methods. When even these strenuous efforts failed and he was deeply disappointed, he couldn't understand why the Alter Rebbe would not appear to him anymore.
One day, soon after these events, Reb Menachem Mendel went to the synagogue in Lubavitch to pray the early morning service. He took his talit and placed it over his head in preparation for the morning prayer. Suddenly, in rushed the butcher of the town. He ran over to Reb Menachem Mendel and said: "Please forgive me, Rabbi, for interrupting you, but you know, this is market day and all the local farmers have brought their livestock into town to sell. Since many of my customers have not yet paid me, I don't have any money to buy animals, and unless I can buy them now, I won't have any livelihood this week, and the townspeople won't have any meat. Please, Rabbi, lend me the money just for one week, and I'll be able to repay you on the next market day."
The Rabbi looked up at the butcher, "My friend, please don't worry. Of course, you know I trust you completely, and I would be very happy to lend you whatever you need. But, you see, I have already put on my talit and begun my preparations for the morning prayer. I would like to finish my prayers, and then when I am done in two or three hours, I will go right home and get the money for you."
The butcher was relieved, but at the same time he was also disappointed, for the market was in full swing now, and who knew what kind of animals would be left when Reb Menachem Mendel finished his prayers in a couple of hours. Still, the butcher had no choice, so he thanked Reb Menachem Mendel, and made his way home, intending to return to the shul after the morning service.
Reb Menachem Mendel was about to wrap himself in the voluminous folds of his talit, when he suddenly realized what a mistake he had made. Why, how could the butcher wait several hours to purchase his animals! In that space of time it was possible that all the choice cows and sheep would be bought already and he would have lost his livelihood for an entire week. He quickly took off his talit and lay it on the table. Then he rushed out of the shul and headed for his house. His amazed household looked on as he wordlessly ran through the door, took his purse and losing no time, left again. He quickly made his way to the home of the butcher. The butcher was surprised to see the rabbi standing at his door, money in hand. The man happily rushed out to the market and was able to complete all of his business successfully, purchasing good quality animals to supply the town of Lubavitch with meat. Reb Menachem Mendel returned to shul ready to pray with an easy heart, happy in the knowledge that he had helped the butcher in that crucial hour.
Reb Menachem Mendel picked up his talit, intending to resume where he had left off, when he suddenly perceived quite near him, the spirit of his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe. The Alter Rebbe spoke to him, saying, "My son, know that the mitzva (commandment) which you just performed by helping a fellow Jew is even greater than your most elevated prayers. In the Upper Worlds as well as in the Lower Worlds the mitzva of ahavat Yisrael (love of a fellow Jew) is precious." In the merit of this great mitzva Reb Menachem Mendel was again graced by his grandfather's spiritual presence.
