This Shabbos is the 20th of Marcheshvan, the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab, fifth in the Chabad dynasty. The following incident took place shortly after he became Rebbe in 1883:
A Jew once came to the Rebbe and begged him for a blessing. Faced with a difficult problem, he was troubled and distraught. But the Rebbe refused to help. "There is nothing I can do," the Rebbe said. "I cannot help you."
The man left the Rebbe's chamber and burst into tears. At that moment the Rebbe's brother, Reb Zalman Aaron, passed by, and asked him what was the matter. The Jew poured out his heart and told him what the Rebbe had said.
Reb Zalman Aaron immediately went and confronted his brother. "Is that how you treat someone who comes to you for help?" he asked him. "A Jew asks for a blessing, and you tell him you can do nothing? Why, even now that man is sitting outside your door, weeping in agony and distress."
At that the Rebbe Rashab put on his gartel and asked for the man to be led into his room a second time. The Rebbe gave him his blessing, and he was delivered from his terrible predicament.
It sometimes happens that a person may not yet be worthy of receiving G-d's blessings. When the Rebbe Rashab told the man that he couldn't help him, his words were so painful that his spirit was shattered. With a broken heart he called out to G-d, and was thus transformed into a suitable vessel. The Rebbe could then bless him, and his blessing was fulfilled.
Every Jew is good in his innermost core, wishing sincerely to fulfill G-d's command. However, if he stumbles and transgresses, he is no longer worthy. Pride and ego can then cover up his true self, causing him to overlook his shortcomings.
When a Jew is in pain his pride disappears, and his inner, essential goodness is allowed to resurface. In this way he becomes an appropriate vessel to contain all of G-d's abundant blessings.
