Long ago in the small village of Sassov there lived a Jewish wood-chopper, a man of deep and pure faith. No one knew his name, and so, he was known simply as “the villager.”
All week he made his way into the forest and chopped wood which he sold in the town. During the week, he and his family lived frugally, eating just enough to sustain themselves. But for the Holy Shabbat, he joyfully bought challahs, candles, and other delicacies. Not only did the family enjoy the Shabbat treats, but despite their poverty, they always invited others to join them. At times they even went without food themselves so that their guests had enough to eat.
Approached by the Tzaddik Reb Moshe Leib of Sassov
One Friday morning the villager stood with his bundles in the village square waiting for customers to buy his wood when a woman came and bought the whole lot for six silver coins. He was about to begin his customary Shabbat purchases when the tzadik Reb Moshe Leib of Sassov approached him with a request.
There was a woman in the town who had recently been widowed. She was so overcome with grief that she lay in bed all day weeping, and so was completely unable to take care of her two young children. Her health was failing and the poor orphans were going hungry. Could he help?
Not Content with the First Offer of Two Silver Coins
Now the villager was a good-hearted man. He immediately took two silver coins and handed them over to the tzadik. “Thank you so much, but could you perhaps give a bit more?” The wood-cutter reached into his pocket and handed over another two coins. Again, the tzadik thanked him and asked for maybe a bit more for the family.
“I’m sorry Rebbe, but I can’t give any more. I have only two coins left. As it is I won’t have enough money to buy wine and challa, but I must leave enough to buy candles to brighten our Shabbat.”
Reb Moshe Leib was moved by the man’s kindness, generosity and his love for the mitzva of Shabbat candles. He turned to the man and asked, “Do you have any valuable object in your house?”
“No, Rebbe, I have nothing except an old cow.”
“When you return home,” said the Rebbe, “sell the cow, and with the money you make, buy the first thing that comes your way. I give you my blessing that G-d will grant you success.”
The Wife Refuses to Sell their Only Cow
The wood-cutter ran home happily, brimming with anticipation. But when he told his wife of the plan to sell the cow, she absolutely refused. “How can we sell the cow? Its milk is our main source of food. How do you imagine we’ll live?” And with that the discussion ended.
When Shabbat was over the couple went to the barn to feed their cow. No sooner had they entered the barn when a carriage with two men pulled up. “Do you have a cow for sale?” they asked. The astonished Jew saw the words of the tzadik materializing before his eyes. His wife blurted out: “We’ll sell only for a hundred rubles!” The men agreed to pay the absurd price. Now, it was clear that the blessing was having its effect.
The next morning the wood-cutter went to town with the hundred rubles intending to carry out the Rebbe’s instructions. He noticed a group of landowners gathered for the auction of a choice estate. The Jew’s simple faith was so great that he pushed himself into the crowd intent upon buying the estate regardless of the fact that he couldn’t afford it.
Upsetting the Wealthy Non-Jewish Landowners
The wealthy landowners looked at the poor Jew. What a nerve he had to try to bid against them! They would punish him for his chutzpa and at the same time help themselves. They agreed not to bid on the property at all. When the Jew’s offer would be accepted, he would lose everything because there was no way that he could afford the complete payment. Their plan succeeded. The wood-cutter bought the estate, giving the one hundred rubles as a deposit, and returned home feeling very satisfied.
That night as the Jewish family slept, there was a loud knock at the door. They were shocked to see the village priest standing in the doorway. “I understand that you bought an estate today, and I would like to be your partner,” the priest said. Having heard about the low price, he figured he could take advantage of the simple wood-cutter.
The Priest Gives the Wood-chopper the Balance of the Money
“I agree to the partnership if you will pay the total outstanding amount,” answered the Jew. The priest eagerly accepted, handed him the money, and agreed to formalize the deal in a few days. When the day came to complete payment on the estate, the furious landowners couldn’t believe their eyes as the Jew paid up the entire balance.
The earnest Jew set out to visit his newly acquired estate. Travelling down the road he saw a group of people crowded around an accident. “What happened?” he inquired.
“The priest was just killed in an accident when his horses overturned the wagon,” was the reply.
The Jew approached the accident site. It was his “partner” in the estate! Now, the property belonged to him alone. The blessing of Reb Moshe Leib had been fulfilled, and in gratitude the villager distributed large amounts of charity to the poor throughout his long and prosperous life.
Reprinted from the Parashat Va’eira 5784 edition of L’Chaim, a weekly publication of the Lubavitch Youth Organization.
