A chasid of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev was a dealer in oxen. One time, when this chasid had many cattle to sell, the price dropped very low.
Anticipating heavy losses, the dealer went to visit his Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, to ask his advice and blessing in this matter.
Is there any special mitzva (commandments) that you engage in from time to time?" asked the Rebbe.
"Yes," answered the chasid, "I am a mohel, I perform circumcisions."
"What do you do," asked the Rebbe, "if, G-d forbid, the infant does not stop bleeding after you have performed the brit?"
The chasid explained the methods and medications he used to remedy such a situation.
"I am giving you an herb," said the Rebbe. "If, G-d forbid, you run into such a situation again, apply this herb and, with G-d's help, it will heal right away."
The chasid listened intently as Rabbi Levi Yitzchak explained the procedure, then asked, "And what should I do about the cattle business?"
"I already told you," answered Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, "that you must apply this herb to any child you circumcise who bleeds profusely. With G-d's help the incision will heal immediately."
The cattle dealer said good-bye to his Rebbe and returned home.
On his way home, the chasid stopped at an inn for the night. In the course of a friendly conversation with the Jewish innkeeper, he found out that the innkeeper's son was not yet circumcised. He asked the innkeeper why this important mitzva had not yet been fulfilled.
"I had two other sons before I had this one. Each one died soon after his circumcision because the bleeding could not be stopped," explained the innkeeper.
The cattle dealer thought back to the words and advice of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak on the previous day. He asked the innkeeper, "What would you give if a solution were to be found to the problem?"
"If I could have my son circumcised without any possible danger," he answered, "I would pay four hundred silver rubles to the mohel."
"I will circumcise your son," said the chasid. "And I will give you four hundred silver rubles of my own, to be forfeited in case of misfortune, G-d forbid."
The innkeeper consulted with his wife and they excitedly agreed, as long as the mohel remained at the inn for four weeks, until they were sure that the child was out of danger. The infant, in fact, bled heavily, but the mohel applied the herb which he had been given by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, and the bleeding stopped immediately.
A few days later, the cattle dealer heard that the price of oxen had risen. He wanted to hurry home to sell his livestock. The innkeeper, however, reminded him of his agreement to stay in the village for four weeks and insisted that he keep his word. Several days later he heard that the price of cattle was going even higher, but still the innkeeper would not permit him to leave. Only after the full four weeks had passed did the innkeeper allow the dealer to go back to his business.
When the dealer arrived home, he was able to sell his oxen for a price that exceeded his wildest dreams.
The chasid went to thank his Rebbe and gave a very generous donation to the Rebbe's favorite charitable fund. "Rebbe, the fee of four hundred rubles belongs to you, plus a portion of the profit I made on the sale of my livestock, which rightly belongs to you."
