One summer, Poland experienced bitterly cold weather, resulting in a total absence of Esrogim in Warsaw as Succos approached. As community leaders searched desperately for a solution, a clever Gentile merchant realized he could make a massive profit. He rented a storefront in Warsaw and announced he had Esrogim for sale.
The community rejoiced, but when the first buyers arrived, the merchant demanded an exorbitant price. When the buyers tried to negotiate, he refused to budge. Realizing they had no choice, they agreed to his terms-whereupon the merchant, seeing their desperation, raised the price even higher. Recognizing his greed, the buyers walked out. Others tried negotiating with him, agreeing to high prices, only for the merchant to continually raise his demands.
Realizing the merchant was exploiting them, the community leaders turned to the Holy Chiddushei HaRim of Gur ztz"l for guidance just a few days before Succos. The Rebbe pondered the matter and said he had a plan. He instructed that all Jewish Esrog merchants in Warsaw be summoned to him in secrecy.
The merchants arrived, and the Rebbe presented his plan, stressing that no one outside the room must know of it. The merchants left satisfied and set to work immediately. The next morning, the display windows of the Jewish Esrog shops were filled with dozens of magnificent Esrogim. Following the Rebbe's instructions, the shops remained locked, set to open only at 11:00 AM, though the displays were visible early in the morning. As the Jews of Warsaw walked to morning prayers, they saw the beautiful display and rejoiced, assuming a fresh shipment had arrived at fair prices.
Word reached the Gentile merchant, who went to inspect the shop windows himself. Seeing the display of fine Esrogim, he panicked, realizing his greed had backfired: he had sold nothing, and now faced total financial ruin, as no one would buy from him while Jewish merchants had abundant stock.
The Gentile opened his shop, and a few Jewish merchants entered with cash, asking if he wished to sell his inventory. His pride broken, the merchant agreed to sell everything provided he recouped his initial investment. The Jewish merchants purchased his entire stock, and the Gentile fled Warsaw, relieved not to have lost his capital. Thus, Warsaw secured a sufficient supply of kosher Esrogim, and the Chiddushei HaRim acquired a beautiful Esrog as well.
After Succos, the merchants revealed the Rebbe's clever strategy: he had instructed them to hire craftsmen to carve Esrogim out of wood and paint them to look authentic. These wooden replicas were placed in the shop windows early in the morning, while keeping the doors locked so no one could inspect them closely or expose the ruse. Seeing the filled displays, the Gentile merchant assumed the market was flooded, broke his hold on the market, and sold his genuine inventory at cost. Through the wisdom of the Chiddushei HaRim, the community of Warsaw fulfilled the mitzvah of the Four Species in all its glory.