story of the week (By Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
His enemy meant to harm, but he instead saved him
In the 1930’s, Kollel Galizia in Isreal helped Yidden that immigrated to Yerushalayim from Galizia, Poland. They would give them money for food and clothes, and also had a Kollel for serious Talmidei Chachamim. There were two Yungerleit, R’ Asher and R’ Menachem, who learned in the Kollel. R’ Asher didn’t get along with R’ Menachem and constantly looked for ways to make his life miserable. Whether a harsh word or a mischievous act, he would always find a way to attack R’ Menachem.
However, Rav Menachem was a true gentleman, and a scholar, and never answered or retaliated. He simply accepted this decree from Hashem. However, R’ Asher didn’t let up until it started effecting R’ Menachem’s learning and davening.
R’ Menachem was a chosid of Reb Dovid Lelover l''wevf and he decided to seek advice and pour his heart out to the holy tzaddik. The Rebbe listened and thought, and then he said “By not answering back you will achieve great heights spiritually, and you will eventually benefit financially from it.” The Rebbe gave him a Bracha that he should have the strength to continue to cope. R’ Menachem had Emunah and was a strong believer in the Rebbe and was satisfied that everything will be ok. However, he couldn’t understand how will he gain materialistically from R’ Asher when he is his archenemy!
Soon after, R’ Menachem’s two sons became engaged and he needed money to get them married. The Kollel Galizia had an agreement with a rich donor in Vienna, Austria, who would sponsor a wedding if one had a letter of recommendation from the Kollel confirming that the person in need was a Talmid Chacham. R’ Menachem traveled to Vienna and anticipated he would be only a day or two in Vienna and then return to Eretz Yisrael.
R’ Menachem asked where the rich person lived and he set out to visit him. R’ Menachem took along his letter and was confident that he would help. R’ Menachem knocked on the door. When the door opened, the rich Yid was in middle of a business meeting, and his servant told R’ Menachem he can’t see him today. R’ Menachem began to tell him that he was going back to Eretz Yisrael soon. The servant said “Ok, if you want a small donation you can get one now. However, if you need help for a wedding you will have to come back in a week.”
R’ Menachem had no choice and made an appointment for the following week. R’ Menachem decided to find a hotel and in the meantime went collecting for his wedding. He was very successful. During the 1930's in Vienna is was illegal for someone to go around collecting for himself, as you could only collect for a reputable organization. R’ Menachem did not know the laws and had no idea it was illegal. As he was collecting, a police officer approached him and asked who he was collecting for? R’ Menachem answered on the spot I am from Kollel Galizia in Israel and showed him his papers. The policeman didn’t believe him, and said he must come to see the Police Chief. R’ Menachem was very calm and had faith in Hashem and went along. At the Police station, R’ Menachem was questioned by an officer who asked who he was collecting for? R’ Menachem answered for Kollel Galiza! The officer went to check if the Kollel was a reputable organization, and he found out that it was. He told R’ Menachem I still suspect you were really collecting for yourself! The officer said I will have to find out if you have a good job or if you are a needy person. R’ Menachem exclaimed: I work for Kollel Galizia and get paid very well and I am not a needy person.
The officer asked R’ Menachem for the telephone number from the Kollel. The officer placed a call to the Kollel in Yerushalayim. When the call came in, the operator said there is a call from Vienna. Someone wants to ask information on Menachem from the Kollel! To R’ Menachem’s Divine Provinence, R’ Asher answered the call. R' Asher figured who can be calling from Vienna? It must be that the rich Yid calling to ask information on R' Menachem, and when he was asked if Rav Menachem worked in the Kollel, he answered, “Yes.” And when asked if was a needy person or was well to do? He answered “He is well to do and is not at all a needy person.” The officer thanked him and hung up.
Back in Vienna the officer told R' Menachem that everything checked out to be fine and he let him go. R’ Menachem breathed a sigh of relief, and thanked Hashem for his help. R’ Menachem opted to stay in shul and learn and wait for his appointment. The day came to meet the wealthy Yid and R’ Menachem was received very warmly. After a nice and friendly discussion the Yid agreed to pay for the both weddings. R' Menachem thanked him, and headed back home a very happy person.
Back in Jerusalem, R' Menachem went to visit his Rebbe and told him the whole story about the police and the telephone to the Kollel! The Rebbe exclaimed: “I wonder who spoke to the officer in Vienna?” The Rebbe sent his Shamesh to find out. The Shamesh found out that it was R' Asher who answered the call. The Rebbe summoned R' Asher to come to him. The Rebbe told him that when he answered the call from Vienna, he had meant to harm R' Menachem. However, with his information, he saved R' Menachem from going to jail. The Rebbe told him the whole story! This is a sign from Heaven that you should make up with R' Menachem! R' Asher lowered his head in embarrassment and said, “I realize the Rebbe is right”!
The Rebbe said, R’ Menachem is in the next room. Are you ready to ask forgiveness? He answered “Of course”,and he gave his hand to R' Menachem and they forgave each other. Now R' Menachem understood what the Rebbe had said: By not answering back he will not only gain spiritually but also financially and physically.
