“And is the well in the courtyard still plentiful, and the water still good?”
“Yes, Rebbe,” the innkeeper answered with even greater amazement. “I’m glad, I’m glad,” the rebbe said, stroking his silver beard. “You have nothing to worry about.”
The innkeeper’s face lit up with relief and he turned to go. But then he stopped and hesitated. He was baffled. How did the rebbe know about the inn and the well, and what had the well to do with it all?
“Forgive me, Rebbe, for my insolence, but how is it that the Rebbe is so familiar with my inn?” he finally mustered the courage to ask. The rebbe smiled and said, “Very simple. I was there. It was a long time ago. Let me tell you the whole story.
“Many years ago, a young man was on his way to the holy rebbe, the ‘Seer’ of Lublin. He had been traveling for three days without food and shelter. He came to your village and stopped at the inn for a rest. He was so tired and hungry that he could barely climb the three front steps leading to the door.
“Your father was busy at that moment with peasants and wayfarers who crowded the inn, and he did not notice the stranger. After the young man rested a while, and seeing that no one took any notice of him, he decided to move on. As he passed by one of the narrow windows, he saw a small boy peeking out.
“The boy saw the haggard face of the stranger and ran after him. He begged the stranger to return with him to the inn. ‘My father always welcomes poor wayfarers, and he would not forgive himself if he knew that one had passed by his inn without a good meal and a good night’s rest. Please, come with me,’ the boy urged.
“The young man returned to the inn and was immediately greeted by your father, then led to the dining room where a sumptuous meal was set before him. After the meal he was quite thirsty. The innkeeper sent the maid to fetch a pail of water. In her absence the innkeeper explained that she had to go to the village to fetch water.
“’Have you no well in your courtyard?’ the young man asked.
“’Yes, but the water is not good. We only use it for the horses and the garden.’
“’If you don’t mind, I’d like to taste your well-water. I’m very thirsty,’ the young man said.
“The innkeeper brought a pitcher of water from the well and poured some for the thirsty guest. He drank it and said, ‘Fancy giving such good water a bad name! Taste it, and see for yourself.’
Everyone who tasted it was astonished. ‘It’s wonderful! It’s even better than the water from the village well!’ they said.”
“Now I remember,” the innkeeper said. “I was that little boy, and the young man - he must have been you!”
“Yes,” said the saintly Rebbe, “and thanks to you I had a good meal and a good rest.”
“That was nothing in comparison to the blessing which you brought into our home. Word got around how the water in our well suddenly turned pure and fresh. Former customers testify that it proved to be good for their health. People still come and rent rooms only because they want to drink our well water!”
“If the water in the well is still good, then you can be sure that G-d is with you. Go home, and don’t worry. Carry on with the mitzvah of welcoming guests and G-d will continue to bless you,” said the Rebbe.
Source: Modified by Yerachmiel Tilles from L’Chaim Weekly, issue #1495 (a publication of the Lubavitch Youth Organization in Brooklyn.) Based on “Talks and Tales.”
Connection: Wells play an important role in this week’s Torah reading (Parashat Toldot - Gen. 26:17-32).
