Story of the week (By Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
Reb Dov Berish of Oshpitzin Protected the Parnassa of a Yid
Harav Dov Berish of Oshpitzin was a talmid of the holy Reb Shlomo Bochner, the Av Beis Din of Kershanov. Reb Dov Berish was a gaon in close with Reb Akiva Eiger. His authored Sefer Divrei Tzaddikim. He brought salvation to Yidden far and wide. His Yahrtzeit is the 20th of Kislev, 5598.
In the town of Yendrichov, near Krakow, Poland, there lived a Yid named R' Eizik, who served as the rosh hakahal. R' Eizik would often come to ask the Oshpitzin Rebbe for advice. One year, Rav Berish saw with his holy eyes that harsh gezeiros had been decreed upon R' Eizik. Without delay, the Rebbe sent a messenger to R' Eizik to tell him what he had seen, along with careful instructions: "Every single day this year, right after washing negel vasser in the morning, set aside money for tzedakah, as much as you can. Put it away in a hidden place, and have in mind that it should be a pidyon nefesh for that day. When the year has passed, the gezeirah will be annulled, and then you shall distribute the money to tzedakah." Reb Eizik did as the Rebbe said. The year passed in peace, and he brought the money to Reb Berish.
Reb Berish blessed Reb Eizik with wealth. Not long afterward, an acquaintance from Lemberg came to Reb Eizik with a business proposal. The governor of Lemberg was looking to sell the exclusive right to sell iron throughout the whole region. He had acquired this right from the town of Sifshin in Hungary, where the iron was produced. Reb Eizik traveled to Lemberg, worked out the details of how much he would pay the governor, and bought the right. Now he would be the only merchant selling iron in the entire area, a business that could make him a very wealthy man.
But it was not long before the gentile merchants became consumed with jealousy. One of them, a goy named Wilczek, who was Reb Eizik's neighbor, wanted a piece of the business for himself. He traveled to Lemberg carrying a great deal of money to bribe the governor. "How can it be," he argued, "that you let only one man profit from this?" And he talked the governor into giving him half the rights. The governor gave in and sent a messenger to Reb Eizik: "I regret giving away the entire right. I wish to give half of it to your neighbor Wilczek, so that two people can earn a living from it."
Reb Eizik understood exactly what would happen. The goy would undercut his prices at every turn, and he would not be able to earn anything at all. Reb Eizik quickly sent a wagon to bring Reb Berish to Yendrichov. When the Rebbe heard what the goy had done, he said: "I blessed you with wealth. I promise you that this goy will not receive any share in the iron business!" "But Rebbe," said Reb Eizik, "the goy already paid, and he promised the governor a great deal more money. How could his right possibly be cancelled?" Reb Berish calmed him and said, "Wait three days. After the third day, you will see whether I am telling the truth."
R' Eizik begged the Rebbe's forgiveness for doubting and said, "I believe that whatever the Rebbe says is true." And Rav Berish returned home. R' Eizik waited patiently to see how things would play out with his neighbor. On the third night, after midnight, he heard a loud pounding on his door and someone crying out: "Eizik! Eizik! I beg you, open the door and let me in!" Reb Eizik looked out and saw that it was only his neighbor standing there, sobbing. He opened the door, and Wilczek fell at his feet, begging Reb Eizik to forgive him. "What happened to you?" asked Reb Eizik. "I promise you," said the goy, "I will never deal in iron for as long as I live! I beg you, forgive me for going to Lemberg and trying to take away your parnassa!"
Reb Eizik understood that the Rebbe had arranged something here. He brought out a very strong wine and gave Wilczek to drink. After a few glasses, Wilczek opened up and told him his story: "For the last three nights, whenever I fall asleep, a man comes to me and warns me that if I don't back out of the iron deal, he will never let me sleep again. He threatened me terribly. I told my wife what was happening, and she said she had read in books that whoever harms a Jew receives a severe punishment, and that this is my punishment for trying to take away your livelihood. So I beg your forgiveness, and I will write you a document giving you my half."
Reb Eizik forgave him, gave him more wine to drink, and escorted him home. Wilczek's wife also came and begged Reb Eizik's forgiveness. The goy fell asleep in his bed and slept for many hours. When he awoke and saw that he had finally slept in peace, he knew for certain that his punishment had truly been for trying to take a Yid's parnassa. He went to Reb Eizik, told him he would keep his word, and handed over the signed document. From then on, Reb Eizik was the only one selling iron in the region, and in time he became a very wealthy man, just as the Rebbe had promised.