There was once a Chasid who travelled to his Rebbe every month to take in the atmosphere of holiness which filled the very air of Kozhnitz. He was happy with his lot in life; if only he had a child, he would be completely content.
Several times his wife had insisted that he ask the Rebbe for a blessing to cure their childlessness, but to no avail. His wife wouldn’t desist from her pleas. “This time,” she insisted, “you must not leave the holy Rebbe until he answers our request, for my life is worthless to me without children.”
The man was forced to agree, and when he came to Kozhnitz and was admitted into the Rebbe’s chambers, he told the Rebbe of their longing for a child. The Rebbe listened and offered him the solution his spiritual vision afforded him: “If you are willing to become a pauper you will be granted the blessing you seek.” The man agreed to discuss the condition with his wife and return with her answer.
The woman didn’t think for a moment. “Of course it’s worth everything to me. What good is wealth without children?” The man returned to Kozhnitz and accepted the harsh prescription. But poverty was not the end of the Rebbe’s advice; the man was sent on a long arduous journey to visit the famous tzadik, the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin.
The Chozeh was known for his power to discern the state and provenance of a person’s soul, and when he met the Chasid he studied his visitor long and hard before he spoke. “I will tell you the source of your childlessness and then what you must do to correct the problem. Once, when you were very young, you promised to wed a certain maiden. When you matured, she didn’t interest you any longer and you broke your promise and left the place. Since she was your true intended, you have not been able to have children since. You must find her and beg her forgiveness. Go to the city of Balta which is very distant from here -- there you’ll find the woman.”
The Chasid wasted no time in embarking on the journey. But when he arrived there no one knew anything about the woman. He rented a room and waited to see the words of the tzadik materialize.
One day, he was walking down the street when he was caught in a sudden downpour. He ran to a nearby shop to escape from the rain and found himself standing near two women who were also seeking shelter. Suddenly, he was shocked to hear one say to the other, “Do you see that man? He was once betrothed to me in my youth and deserted me!” He turned to see a woman dressed in the richest fabrics and wearing beautiful and valuable jewels.
He approached her and she said, “Don’t you remember me? I am the one you were engaged to so many years ago. Have you any children?”
He immediately poured out the entire story, telling her that he had come only to find her and beseech her to forgive him. He begged her to ask of him anything to atone for the terrible pain he had caused her.
“I lack nothing, for G-d has provided me with all I need, but I have a brother who is in desperate need. Go to him and give him 200 gold coins with which he can marry off his daughter, and I will forgive you. In the merit of marrying off a poor bride you will be blessed with children, as the tzadik told you.”
“Please, you give your brother this money. I have travelled many months and I’m very anxious to return home.”
“No,” the woman adamantly refused. “I am not able to travel now, and it is not feasible to send such a sum of money. No, you must go yourself.” With that, she turned and proceeded down the street, but as he was following her with his eyes, she seemed to disappear.
The Chasid ventured on yet another journey to a distant city where he was able to locate the woman’s brother.
The man was in a terrible state of agitation which he readily explained: “My daughter is betrothed to a wealthy young man, but I have suddenly become penniless and unless I can find the dowry money, the marriage is off.”
The Chasid listened to the heartrending tale and then said: “I will give you two hundred gold coins which will be more than enough for all your expenses.” The man couldn’t believe his ears. “What, you don’t even know me -- why would you do such a thing for a total stranger?”
“I have been sent by your sister whom I met a few weeks ago in Balta. Many years ago I was once betrothed to her and I abandoned her, and the help I’m offering to you is my promise to her.”
“What are you saying?” the man turned pale. “What kind of crazy tale are you spinning and why? My sister has been dead for fifteen years. I should know -- I buried her myself!”
Now it was time for the Chasid to be shocked. It was beginning to dawn on him that the Maggid of Kozhnitz and the Chozeh of Lublin had orchestrated this entire wondrous episode for his good and the good of this man. He handed him the golden coins and the man blessed him to be granted the blessing of many sons and daughters and a long and happy life of joy from them.
