The Wellspring of Divine Sustenance
The heilige Tzaddik, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch of Ziditchov author of the Sefer Ateres Tzvi and more, taught that true faith, Emunah requires us to pursue our livelihood with complete integrity and kindness—never stepping on another person's toes to gain an extra dollar. The following miracle story illustrates how Hashem protects those who place their trust in Him, while reminding us that a livelihood taken unfairly will never hold water.
The Miraculous Well of the Ziditchover Rebbe
A humble Chosid once came to his Rebbe, the heilige Ateres Tzvi of Ziditchov, seeking advice. "The local nobleman, poritz, is offering to lease me an inn at a very cheap price. The problem is that there is no water source anywhere near the property, so travelers never stop there, and it brings in no business." The Rebbe advised him: "Go and lease the inn from the nobleman. Dig a deep hole in the courtyard, and then come spend the heilige Shabbos here with me in Ziditchov."
The Chosid followed the Rebbe's instructions to the letter. He leased the property, dug the hole, and traveled to Ziditchov for Shabbos. When he went in to the Rebbe to receive a bracha, the Rebbe took a small note and wrote upon it the Posuk: וַיַּחְפְּרוּ עַבְדֵי יִצְחָק בַּנַּחַל וַיִּמְצְאוּ שָׁם בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים "And Yitzchok's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of living water." (Bereishis 26:19)* "Take this note," instructed the Rebbe, "and toss it into the hole you dug." The Chosid traveled home and threw the holy note into the dry pit. Instantly, fresh, living spring water began to gush from the earth! Travelers began stopping by the inn to drink and rest, and the Chosid's business flourished.
Not far away, a rival Jewish innkeeper saw his own business slowing down as travelers flocked to the new inn. Driven by jealousy, he devised a scheme. He went to the nobleman and offered to pay a significantly higher price for the lease if the nobleman would evict the first Chosid and hand both inns over to him.
Greedy for profit, the nobleman called the Chosid and ordered him to vacate the premises immediately. The Chosid begged for mercy, explaining that this was his sole source of livelihood, but the heartless nobleman refused to listen. Forced out, the Chosid left, while the envious innkeeper celebrated his victory, eager to double his profits. Dismayed, the Chosid rushed back to Ziditchov and recounted the entire painful story to his Rebbe.
The Rebbe calmed him: "Do not worry; the Almighty will help you." The Ateres Tzvi took another piece of paper and wrote a second Posuk upon it: וְכָל הַבְּאֵרֹת אֲשֶׁר חָפְרוּ עַבְדֵי אָבִיו בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו סִתְּמוּם פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיְמַלְאוּם עָפָר "And all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped them up and filled them with earth." (ibid 26:15) "Take this note," said the Rebbe, "and toss it into the water pit." The Chosid thanked the Rebbe, returned to the inn, and threw the note into the well. Almost overnight, the spring vanished, and the well completely dried up!
The Restoration of Justice
Seeing that the well had run dry and travelers were no longer stopping, the envious innkeeper realized the second inn was worthless. He returned to the nobleman and canceled the lease. Panicked that he was losing money, the nobleman sent for the first Chosid and begged him to take the inn back. The Chosid replied: "I must first consult my Rebbe."
When he asked the Ateres Tzvi, the Rebbe said: "You may accept it—but only on two conditions. First, the nobleman must give it back to you at your original low price. Second, he must sign an agreement that if the water returns, he can never evict you again."
The nobleman eagerly agreed to the terms. The Chosid returned to his Rebbe, who now wrote a third and final note containing the Posuk: וַיַּעְתֵּק מִשָּׁם וַיַּחְפֹּר בְּאֵר אַחֶרֶת וְלֹא רָבוּ עָלֶיהָ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמָהּ רְחֹבוֹת וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי עַתָּה הִרְחִיב ה' לָנוּ וּפָרִינוּ בָאָרֶץ "And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rechovos, saying, 'For now Hashem has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.'" (ibid 26:22) The Rebbe told him: "Now, dig a new hole in the courtyard, drop this note inside, and Hashem will send His salvation." The Chosid dug a new pit and threw the note inside. Once again, pure water burst forth in abundance, bringing a divine blessing to his business.
When the rival Jewish innkeeper offered to pay a significantly higher price for the lease if the nobleman would evict the first Chosid, the poritz showed him the door! The Chosid lived there in peace and prosperity for many years, sustained by Hashem's righteous hand.
