The tremendous greatness of the trait of faith and trust embodied by the holy Rebbe, Reb Zusha of Anipoli zt”l, is famous and widely publicized. Many wondrous accounts are told concerning his absolute clarity in this mitzvah—the mitzvah of emunah—and he merited to witness through it abundant kindnesses from Heaven.
One particularly extraordinary account we shall reproduce here, copied verbatim from the holy work Heichal Haberachah, by the holy Rebbe, Reb Yitzchak Eizik of Komarna zy”a, who writes (Parashas Va’eschanan, Devarim 5:25), and here are is holy words:
“My revered father-in-law, the renowned tzaddik, Reb Avraham Mordechai of Pintchov, heard from the holy tzaddik Reb Zusia of Anipoli, that in his poverty, he served as a beadle in the town of Ostroh. It was his practice to fast for two or three days, and afterward to go and ask some householder to give him bread to restore his soul.
“Once he said in his heart that it was a deficiency in faith to go and ask for bread; rather, he should trust in his Hashem with complete faith that He would not withhold his sustenance.
“On one occasion he fasted for three days as was his custom, and after the fast no one would give him even a little food. He continued fasting and walking until he was close to death, and there was no one who would give him anything there. A great tumult arose Above, and there was no one in that entire place who was fit to perform this great mitzvah—to sustain the soul of such a holy person—because although there were many respectable individuals there, not even one of them was worthy of this mitzvah, that Hashem should send him such a gift, as explained in the Zohar.
“Hashem Yisbarach, created for him two breasts in his mouth—one producing honey and one producing milk—and for three months he was sustained by that honey and milk, nursing from the breasts in his mouth.
“After three months, someone came to him and said: ‘Zusha, take six groschen and buy yourself bread.’ At that very moment, the honey and milk ceased. Thus did the tzaddik relate to my revered father-in-law.
“Behold, my brother, see how it is more pleasing before Hashem Yisbarach, to change the order of Creation than to grant a gift and the merit of a mitzvah to one who has not merited it.”
Thus far the holy words of Heichal Haberachah. From this we learn—each according to his level—how far the lofty degree of the mitzvah of emunah of the holy and exalted tzaddikim reaches. Concerning this the pasuk testifies, וְלֹא רָאִיתִי צַדִּיק נֶעֱזָב וְזַרְ עוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ לָחֶם - I have not seen a righteous person forsaken, nor his offspring seeking bread (Tehillim 37:25).
