The Jewish community of Frankfurt was in mourning for their beloved Chief Rabbi. The rabbi had no heir, but he hadn’t left his flock entirely without recourse. A few days before he died he had called the Jewish leaders together and instructed them on finding a replacement. The potential candidate would have to pass a test consisting of three complicated and difficult questions, involving very deep Torah concepts. “Whoever answers these questions,” the rabbi had stipulated, “should be appointed the Rabbi of Frankfurt.”
The search began after the funeral. A delegation was chosen of three of the most distinguished leaders of the community, and they set out to find their candidate. As a major Jewish center, Frankfurt required a very special personage; only a scholar with the highest level of piety and erudition would do.
The first city the delegation arrived at was Cracow, which boasted many Torah scholars. Surely it wouldn’t be too difficult to find someone there who could answer the three questions.
On the day they arrived they learned that a great celebration would be taking place later that evening. The son of one of the wealthiest Jews in Cracow was becoming Bar Mitzva, and the entire community was invited. The members of the delegation from Frankfurt were also invited to attend.
In the middle of the festivities the Bar Mitzva boy stood up to deliver a speech, as is customary. The hall fell silent as everyone listened attentively.
The boy’s sermon was very deep, revealing an unusual mastership of Torah knowledge and proficiency. It was, in short, the most impressive Bar Mitzva speech that anyone had ever heard. The boy began by postulating three difficult problems; when the members of the delegation realized that they were the same three questions the rabbi had raised, they looked at one another in amazement. They could hardly believe it when the boy proceeded to answer them skillfully one by one.
All of the guests were impressed, but the members of the delegation could barely contain their excitement. Clearly, the hand of G-d had steered them in the right direction. All they had to do was find the tutor who had prepared the boy for his Bar Mitzva; whoever he was, it was obvious that he must serve as the next Rabbi of Frankfurt. They thanked G-d for having led them to a suitable candidate so quickly.
Indeed, it wasn’t difficult to locate the boy’s teacher. As they learned from the boy’s father, his name was Reb Yosef Shmuel the Teacher.
They found Reb Yosef Shmuel in a corner of the study hall surrounded by little boys. The teacher was dressed simply and rather poorly, but they didn’t hesitate to approach him.
“We’d like to speak to you about an urgent matter,” they said, but Reb Yosef Shmuel was busy. “Not now,” he replied. “I am an employee, and it wouldn’t be right to shirk my duties.” Reb Yosef Shmuel resumed his teaching.
If anything, the teacher’s answer made the members of the delegation even more hopeful. This was obviously a man of ethics, G-d-fearing and devoted to his job. They agreed to speak with him later that day.
When they came back they got quickly to the point. They told him about the passing of their rabbi, and the three questions he had established as a test for his successor. “So now you’re going to be our rabbi!” they concluded.
They were shocked, however, when Reb Yosef Shmuel declined their offer most adamantly. He wasn’t looking for honor or glory, he explained, and he already had a job as a teacher from which he derived great satisfaction. Politely but firmly he turned them down. All their pleas fell on deaf ears. They begged and implored the teacher, and even promised him an impressive salary, but to no avail. Reb Yosef Shmuel could not be budged.
The members of the delegation prepared to leave Cracow, dejected and forlorn. Who knew if they would be able to find another qualified candidate? They had just left the outskirts of the city when their carriage broke down, and for several hours they had no choice but to sit by the side of the road until it was repaired. All of a sudden a messenger caught up with them; he had come directly from Reb Yosef Shmuel on a special mission.
The messenger revealed that the teacher had suddenly taken ill, and seemingly overnight had arrived at death’s door. Indeed, the doctor who was summoned asserted that he had no more than a few days left to live. When Reb Yosef Shmuel heard this pronouncement he cried out, “Master of the Universe! If You really want me to serve as Rabbi of Frankfurt, I’ll do it!”
No sooner had he uttered these words than the mysterious illness began to dissipate. A messenger was immediately dispatched to intercept the delegation from Frankfurt and inform them of his decision.
The joy of the Jewish community of Frankfurt knew no bounds. Divine Providence had clearly demonstrated that Reb Yosef Shmuel was meant to be their leader, and he was formally appointed Chief Rabbi of the city a short time later. And everyone marveled at the prophetic vision of their previous Chief Rabbi, who had provided his flock with such a worthy successor.
