Not far from the City of Shpole, where the famous Tzaddik, Harav Aryeh Leib-, the Shpoler Zeide resided, there was a Shtetl where the Yidden lived peacefuly with the Gentiles. One day an Anti-Semitic Poritz, purchased the entire Shtetl, and began to persecute the Yidden. Initially, the Poritz’s decrees were bearable. But, as time went on, the decrees became harsher and harsher, but the Yidden suffered quietly, and life went on.
The Poritz was a low life person, who loved to drink. He often threw parties for his friends, where alcohol was consumed by the barrel; at every party, the Poritz and his friends became drunk. At one party, when the Poritz was drunk, he told his friends that he wanted to cause some mischief for some Yidden and that would make him happy! He ordered his servants to bring the Yidden who had rented inns and taverns from the Poritz, and demanded that they pay an astronomical sum for the privilege to rent their holdings. When they responded that the price was too high for them, the Poritz had them beaten, and thrown into the dungeon. This made the gentiles very happy, and the Potitz was thrilled at what he had done!
(After the party everyone went home.) In the morning, when the Poritz woke up, he was reminded of what he had done the night before. This reignited his hatred of the Jews, and he was very happy about what he had done. He sent a messenger to the Leaders of the Kehilla, demanding an enormous sum to ransom the captive Jews from his dungeon. The Yidden sent a respected delegation, and begged the Poritz to have mercy on them. He softened, and agreed to settle on a smaller amount. The delegation was releived and promised to deliver the money that day. When the Poritz received the ransom, he released the imprisoned Yidden.
Life was back to normal until the Poritz became drunk again. At the next party he came up with an idea how to really make the Yidden suffer. The Poritz decreed that all the Yidden in the Shtetl must hang a portrait of Yoshka in their home within the next 30 days, and that all businesses must be open on Shabbos. Whoever would not follow the rules, would be expelled together with their families from the Shtetl. This decree hit the Yidden very hard. Again, a respectful delegation was sent, and they begged the Poritz to nullify the decree, but this time it was to no avail. The delegation left the Poritz with a heavy heart.
It was only a few weeks before Shavuos; and Leaders of the Kehilla, decided it was an urgent matter, they had to act fast. They traveled to the Shpoler Zeide to seeking a Yeshua and poured out their pain from the evil Poritz. The Rebbe went into a trance, when he awoke, he said: “there’s no need to worry, I have a plan to soften the heart of the Poritz! You invite the Poritz to listen on Shavuos when you read the Aseres Hadibros, the Ten Commandments, from the Torah.” The delegation was perplexed; they didn’t understand. The Rebbe continued: “I will come with my Chassidim, and daven in your Shtetl this Shavuos. You should set up a large tent to accommodate the crowd. Then invite the Poritz and his friends to come to our tent and listen to the davening, as it would be interesting for him to watch.”
The delegation understood, and promised to follow the Rebbe’s instructions. The Kehilla found a nice empty space to set up a huge tent, and let out the word that the Shpoler Zeide would daven in their Shtetl this Shavuos. Everyone was excited, and prayed that the Rebbe would be able to nullify the Poritz’s decree. The preparations were in place, and a delegation was sent to invite the Poritz to join them in their tent in Shavuos morning, They assured him that he and his friends would have a ball there.
The Poritz was always interested in new forms of entertainment, agreed to come with his friends. Shavuos morning, they Poritz and his friends arrived at the tent, they were greeted with great respect, and were given elegant chairs to sit on. They found the davening amusing. As they were about to read the Ten Commandments from the Torah, the Rebbe asked the Poritz to come closer and told him that he will have someone interpret what they were reading. The Rebbe told the Chazan to read aloud, and the interpreter began, “You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness; You shall neither prostrate yourself before them nor worship them, for I, the Lord...” Then he continued “Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it.” The Poritz paled and sent his friends home. Then he came over to the Shpoler Zeide, and said he wants to meet him after davening. The Rebbe reassured the Kehilla, that the decree will be nullified soon.
The Poritz met the Rebbe and apologized for his behavior towards the Jews. He said that he didn’t realize how important it was to keep Shabbos as how important it was not to worship idols. The Poritz promised to nullify the decree immediately! The Shpoler Zeide thanked the Poritz blessed him. Afterwards, the Shpoler Zeide revealed that to remove the decree, Moshe Rabbeinu had to come and read the Ten Commandments; that’s why the Poritz softened.
