Reb Levi Yitzchak of Barditchev was the address of salvations. The house of Reb Levi Yitzchak was built over a mysterious basement, "Holy Cellar" with a door leading from the house and another exiting to the street. The Rav trusted no one with the key to the two doors. However something amazing was transpiring in Barditchev as someone mysterious was performing acts of kindness. Eliyahu HaNavi was suspected of being involved.
Yossel was a field worker who had a sick wife that spent nights suffering from a hacking cough which gave her no rest. She would drag herself into the kitchen for a sweet tea, which did calm her down. One night, the cough was so bad, she made her way to the kitchen only to discover that both the tea and the sugar had been used up. She said a prayer to Hashem for help when suddenly, a hard knock on the door was heard. She was petrified and wanted to wake her sleeping husband, but her cough was so severe that she was unable to speak, so she turned instead and opened the door. She saw a Jewish farmer, wearing a weird hat and huge boots, complaining how cold and thirsty he was, and begging to be admitted. She noticed that he was carrying packets of tea and sugar and allowed him in. He walked over to the stove, boiled some water and made two glasses of tea -- one for himself, and one for the sick woman. She drank the tea, and miraculously stopped coughing, and felt altogether much better. The farmer thanked her for her hospitality and left. She returned to bed to enjoy a deep sleep. Upon awakening, she told her husband that she felt much better, relating to the Jewish farmer who had visited during the night and had made her a glass of sweet tea, which brought her back to good health! They went into the kitchen and saw two used glasses on the table, next to many packets of tea and sugar. They opened one of the packets and discovered ten rubles! This was enough to quell their hunger for a long time. Word of this marvelous episode spread quickly throughout their village.
After this episode, a strangely dressed Yid appeared to Naftuli, a wagon driver, who was very poor, but always in a happy and cheerful mood, but he could barely put bread and water on his table. His wife moaned that the time had come to accept charity, but he steadfastly held that one should not accept support from others. He was determined to rely solely upon Hashem. With great effort, and Hashem sending him some work, he was able to save up some coins for Pesach with which to buy wine and matzos. He assured his wife that Hashem would provide them with a nice Simchas YomTov. But catastrophe struck. In the middle of their discussion, they heard their loyal horse, begin to utter agonizing noises and it died. The poor wife wept hysterically, "How can we survive without a horse? You don't know any other trade!" Naftuli calmly replied that if they were in need of a horse, Hashem would provide one. The whole town felt pity on them and urged the charity administrators to study their plight, and be justified in using Kimcha d'Pischa funds to buy him a new horse. But Naftuli would not listen to such talk. "Fine," they said. "We will lend you the money for a new horse, and you'll pay us back when you can." "Nothing doing," was his only reply. His faith in Hashem was strong, and he would not budge.
Naftuli and his wife, took to the work of digging and bagging sand, and carrying the bags on their shoulders in the hopes of selling them to cement-makers. The tzaddik Rav Levi Yitzchak soon became aware of their plight and lost no time in summoning Naftuli. The poor Yid hastened to appear, trembling with fear. “What could the holy tzaddik want from me?” "Listen to me, my dear Naftuli. When a person is in dire need, he must accept help from another Yid, so as to give the donor the merit of tzedaka! Here, take this money and buy a new horse. I want to help you get back on your feet!" Naftuli challenged the tzaddik. "Where in the Torah does it say that a pauper is obliged to accept tzedoka?" Rav Levi Yitzchak was astonished at Naftuli's deep, unshakable faith, and bestowed upon him a bracha that Hashem should provide him with a "legitimate find".
Naftuli and his wife continued their sand-packing, and brought the sacks home with them, expecting to sell them the next day. That night, a knock on the door revealed a strange Yid standing there, carrying a bundle of firewood. "Here, I want to sell this wood for a very low price." "I don't have any money.” "You can pay me tomorrow with a bag of sand. Meanwhile, use some of the wood to fire up your fireplace and warm up your house." The prospect of warmth for their chilled bones, they unwrapped the bundle of wood, only to find a concealed pouch with 150 rubles-- enough to buy the best horse in the province, and enough for hay to feed it too! The next day he waited for the Yid to pick up his sand and to return his money. The Yid didn’t show up and he asked Rav Levi Yitzchak about the legal status of the money. The Rav assured him that the money was the "legitimate find" he had promised; and that the stranger was a messenger of Hashem in the merit of his Emunah, and that he would from now on be successful in his business with his new horse.
When Rav Levi Yitzchak passed away, the "Holy Cellar" was opened and they found, hanging on the wall, the strange hats and huge boots that the Rebbe had pursued his acts of chesed in a totally disguised way, known only to him and Hashem.
twwghz
