By Yehuda Z. Klitnick
The heilige Rabbi Reb Moshe Leib of Sassov was born in the year 5505 to his heilige father Reb Yaakov, the Rav in Brody and his mother Rifka. He studied for 13 years at the Yeshiva of Reb Shmelka of Nikelsberg, and later by Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk.
He became the deputy of the Holy Maor Einayim of Chernobyl, who were active in the mitzvah of redeeming captives/Pidyon Shvuim. Reb Moshe Leib was fluent in many languages, and thus he always found a friendly discussion with all the Poritzim, rich landlords who would imprison unfortunate Jews who could not pay their rent.
Reb Moshe Leib would negotiate a price to redeem them, and set out to collect the funds for the redemption of captives. In the city of Sassov, there was a place where there were good baths and a beautiful garden where the Poritzim used to come. Reb Moshe Leib used to talk to the Poritzim in their own language and constantly asked if they had any Jews with them that were under arrest and thus able to work on it.
One Friday afternoon, Reb Moshe Leib wanted to go to the mikvah to prepare for Shabbos. When he saw a beautiful carriage with a Poritz who had just spent one day in Sassov and was already going home, Rabbi Moshe Leib sensed with Ruach Hakodesh that there was a Jew on the wagon, and Reb Moshe Leib asked the poritz what language he spoke. The Poritz answered: "Hungarian."
Reb Moshe Leib had a nice conversation with the Poritz in Hungarian, and he found grace in the eyes of the Poritz. Rabbi Moshe Leib asked the Poritz, who was sitting with him in the carriage? And he replied that only his wife and children were there. Reb Moshe Leib asked again, "Are you sure that there is no Yid sitting in the carriage?"
The Poritz answered: “Only his family sat in the carriage, however the wagon driver is a Yid”. The poritz continued that he is his servant for life, because his parents owed him a lot of money from the inn they rented, and since they weren't able to pay their debt, I made a deal to make life easier for them. I released them on the condition that they gave up their child to me forever as a slave. They had no choice, and we wrote up a contract! I've had him now for years since he was a child, and he doesn't even know that he's a Jew!
Reb Moshe Leib realized that there wasn’t ample time before Shabbos to raise money for redemption of captives, and there was certainly no point in persuading the Poritz to free the driver. He had to perform a miracle! He told the Poritz, "I promise you will have no use for your driver slave. He is unstable and lazy, and will put your lives in danger. Therefore, let him go to me!”
The Poritz mocked the Rebbe saying, "The driver has always been very loyal to me and is not at all lazy," and drove off. However, a few minutes later, the carriage turned over suddenly, and Reb Moshe Leib and his attendants ran over to help turn the wagon back to its place.
The Poritz lost his cool and shouted at the driver, "Why did you do this?’" Reb Moshe Leib said to the Poritz, "I told you he would become unstable." The Poritz thanked Reb Moshe Leib for helping with the wagon, and ordered the driver to continue on. “But," said Reb Moshe Leib, "the driver is unstable to drive the wagon, and you are putting you and your family in danger. Therefore, free him, now!”
The Poritz ignored the Rebbe, and as they drove on a little further, the carriage turned over again. The Rebbe and his attendants came to help them put the carriage back in place. This time the Poritz lost his temper and began to beat the driver, but Reb Moshe Leib rebuked the Poritz, and said that the driver is insane now and your beating will not help!”
But the Poritz ignored the Rebbe again and ordered the driver to continue. It didn’t take long, and the carriage crashed into a rock. The Poritz became so angry that he wanted to beat the driver again, but Reb Moshe Leib told the Poritz that the driver is not at fault. He has become deeply unstable and can no longer be your servant because he will not obey you, and rebel against you!”
Reb Moshe Leib kindly said to the Poritz, "I have a couple of golden Rendlach and I will give them to you, and release to me your servant!"
The Poritz fully understood that he was dealing with a holy man, who had supernatural spiritual powers, and he relentlessly agreed, and freed the driver to go with Rabbi Moshe Leib.
Rabbi Moshe Leib revealed to him that he was born a Jew and explained to him that Shabbos was approaching and taught him some basic laws. Reb Moshe Leib studied Torah with the young man, and in a short time he became an Observant Yid, learning Torah and performing the Mitzvohs. In a short while, Reb Moshe Leib found a shidduch for him and built a beautiful Jewish home. All with great wisdom and help from Hashem.
Reprinted from the Parshas Vayeitzei 5786 email of Pardes Yehuda.
