The Avnei Nezer was very busy. Questions from all sides of the world came to his desk, and he was also involved in many of the issues facing Yidden during his time. Because of this, he wasn’t able to attend many simchas; they were simply too much. Therefore, when he did attend one, you can be sure that he had a good reason for going.
Once, a simple tailor invited him to the bris of his firstborn child, born after fifteen years of waiting. The Avnei Nezer told the tailor that he would certainly attend, much to everyone’s surprise.
His gabbai asked him, “The Rebbe doesn’t usually go to any bris, especially if it’s far away. Here, you’re not only going, but to that of a simple tailor? What makes his simchah so unique?”
The Avnei Nezer replied, “This father made a kiddush Hashem, therefore I want to participate in this bris.”
“What kiddush Hashem did he make?” asked the gabbai.
“This father told me that after his wife had been barren for fifteen years, ‘Hashem, with His great mercy performed a miracle.’ This was the first time someone said that it was Hashem Who made the miracle. Generally, people say that it was the Kotzker Rebbe or the Radzaminer Rebbe who performed the miracle, not Hashem. This father testified to Hashem bringing about the miracle, a kiddush Hashem, and I want to participate in this bris.”
This story reminds us how we must view all the good we have as coming from Hashem. It wasn’t “the power of my hand,” my wisdom, or any of the other explanations; it’s all from Hashem. We must remember this even by the miracles tzaddikim perform; they are also from Hashem, the result of their tefillos to Him. (Reprinted with permission from Mechon Be’er Haparsha, Torah Wellsprings, Vayeitzei, p. 5).
