In the days of the holy and awesome Rav Meir of Premishlan zy”a, there was once a year of great hardship. For various reasons, sustenance among the Jewish people had greatly diminished, and many came before the tzaddik in tears, begging him to intercede in prayer for the annulment of the harsh decree.
Rav Meir lifted his eyes heavenward and cried out, “Master of the world! Surely there is no lack of money by You, as the pasuk declares (Chaggai 2:8): לִי הַכֶּסֶף וְלִי הַזָּהָב נְאֻם ה ‘ צְבָקוֹת - Mine is the silver and Mine is the gold, says the Lord of Hosts. Certainly it is Your will to bestow abundance upon Yisrael, for it is the nature of the Good to do good! But perhaps, due to their deeds, they are not worthy of such great blessing.
“Yet Meir’le says, Most of the money You grant them is for Your sake — for Your service! For what does a Jew need money? To pay the wages of teachers who instruct his children in Torah, to marry off his sons and provide for them, to buy the needs of Shabbos and Yom Tov, to give charity as is fitting, to build batei k’nesses and batei midrash, and to fulfill many other commandments.
“Thus, they do not need wealth for themselves but for the sake of Heaven — for Torah and avodas Hashem! Therefore, surely it is necessary that You provide them abundant means — long life and ample sustenance!”
And he added, the pasuk in Tehillim (119:140) says, צְרוּפָה אִמְרָתְךָ מְאֹד וְעַבְדְּךָ אֲהֵבָהּ- Your word is very pure, and your servant loves it. — The word of Hashem, meaning Torah, requires much “pure silver” (צְרוּפָה — refined wealth), for its fulfillment. Therefore, said Rav Meir, “Your servant loves it — I love money only in order to fulfill the words of the Torah!”
Indeed, within a short time, great deliverance came to Klal Yisrael. The prayers of that exalted tzaddik bore fruit, and abundance flowed throughout the land as in the days of old.
