The Chozeh of Lublin, Poland 1745 – 1815 was a student of Reb Elimelech of Lizensk. He became known as the Seer or Visionary because of his ability to gaze across great distances and see from one end of the world to the other and thus helped many Jewish people. He passed away on Tisha b’Av. He is buried in Lublin’s Old Jewish Cemetery. From among his notable students many of the well-known Chassidic courts emerged, the Yehudi Hakadosh of Parshischa, Reb Dovid of Lelov and many more.
The Barniver Rov, Rav Avraham Simcha Horowitz, heard this story from Harav Hatzadik Reb Meir of Dzhikov author of Sefer Imeri Noam: The Chozeh of Lublin had a chosid by the name of Reb Avraham Ponzier, who was a Talmid Chacham and was very spiritual.
Reb Avraham had three daughters of marriageable age. The father was expected to offer a sizable dowry to marry off his daughter. When his daughters became engaged, and he had no money for wedding expenses his wife suggested that he should go to the Chozeh and ask what to do. Following her advice, he came to the Chozeh and told him about his dire situation. The Chozeh advised him, “Travel to the city of Kremenchuk (at the time part of Poland, today in Ukraine) from where Hashem would send him from there all his needs for the weddings. The chosid, a strong believer in his Rebbe, didn’t hesitate, and went to that city. He checked in at a local inn and had “bitachon” that Hashem would help him--- how and when, he didn’t know. He wasn’t a businessman, so he sat all day in the inn and served Hashem. The innkeeper was curious about the chosid, who had not come for business reasons and was learning all day. He approached the chosid and started a discussion with him, asking who he was and why he had come to his inn. The chosid told him that his Rebbe had sent him to the city, and that Hashem would send him his needs. The innkeeper told the chosid: "I am not in the position to help you; however, at one time, I was very rich. I once went on a business trip to Danzig and sold all my merchandise for a huge profit and came home with 20 thousand rubles. When I came home, I started counting the money, and made 20 bundles of one thousand rubles each; I sealed each bundle with my seal, and put them into a small safe. I left my house for a while. When I returned, I saw that the safe had been opened and the money was gone. No one was home at the time, except for my servant, who was a Yid. I approached him and asked him if anyone had entered the house since I had left? He answered; “No.” I accused the servant of stealing the money. I called the police, who tortured the servant until he confessed and they took him away. Until today, I have not made any more business deals, but what I earn from this inn covers my expenses.”
The innkeeper had hired a melamed for his children when they were young. When they grew up and he didn’t need the services of the melamed, the innkeeper still supported him and gave him a small home nearby, and the melamed would learn every day with the innkeeper. The melamed, who was very spiritual became a follower of the chosid, who was very spiritual and served Hashem all day. He became close to the chosid, and they engaged in discussing deep Torah subjects. The melamed admired the high level of the chosid, and once asked if they could go for a walk in the forest. The chosid agreed. They sat down on a stone and the melamed told the chosid: “I see that you are a trustworthy person. I have a plan that will help you with your wedding needs, but you must promise me that you will not tell a soul what I am about to tell you.” The chosid promised and gave him a handshake.
The melamed started telling the chosid: “A few years ago, I noticed the innkeeper counting his money and putting it into his safe. I couldn’t control myself and took the money to my house, and figuring that no one would accuse me of the theft, and I would be a rich man. However, soon after, I came to my senses. How could an Ehrlicher Yid do such a thing? I ran back to the inn to return the money. But when I returned, I saw the police torturing the servant of the innkeeper, and they were beating him until he confessed. I was shocked at the sight and had “rachmanus” on the servant, and was about to scream: “I stole the money!” But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I thought of the Chilul Hashem I would cause. I hastily left the inn, thinking that I would wait until things calm would down, and I would then return the money to the safe. However, any time I wanted to return the money, something would happen and I wasn’t able to return the money. My conscience is bothering me, and my life is in a shambles and I cannot rest until I return the money, but I simply cannot tell the innkeeper that I stole it. Now that you came here, I have a plan. I will give you the money to return to the innkeeper. He will never accuse you of being the thief. You will approach the innkeeper and tell him: You have a way of returning his fortune. He must promise not to ask any questions of from whom and how you got the money.” The chosid agreed to do as the melamed requested.
The chosid approached the innkeeper and asked him if he could tell him the story of how his money had been taken, and the innkeeper recounted the whole ordeal. The next day, the chosid again approached the innkeeper and told him: “I have a way to have your fortune returned to you, but only on the condition that you promise not to ask any questions, and that you will forgive the thief with all your heart.” The innkeeper, who had tremendous respect for the chosid, agreed and gave the chosid a hand-shake. The chosid excused himself, and went to his room. He then returned with the 20 bundles of money that were intact with the original seal, and handed them to the innkeeper. The innkeeper was in a state of elation, and fell onto the chosid and hugged him and said “I don’t how to thank you.” The innkeeper took one bundle of 1000 rubles and handed it over to the chosid. Take this money it should be enough for you to marry off all your children. The chosid thanked the innkeeper and went home a happy person.
When Reb Avraham returned to the Chozeh and told him all that had transpired, the Chozeh remarked: “I saw the intense repentance and regret of the melamed. Therefore, I needed to send you to this city so that you would be able to return the money to its rightful owner and in this merit Hashem gave you what you need. The Chosid felt humbled to have been chosen to be a messenger for good and merited to marry off his daughters to fine upright young men.
