Rabbi Mordechai Yoffe of Lechovitz was born in 5502 (1742) to Rabbi Noach Haparnas of Nesvizh (in Belarus). He was orphaned as a child. In his early years, Rebbe Mordechai was a disciple of Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, who once remarked that a third of the world stood upon his shoulders. Later, Rabbi Mordechai became the preeminent disciple of Rebbe Shlomo of Karlin. He would also travel together with his friend, Rebbe Asher of Stolin (the first) to Rebbe Baruch of Mezhibuzh. Rebbe Mordechai lived in Nesvizh until the passing of his Rebbe, Rebbe Shlomo of Karlin (on 22 Tamuz 5552-1792), when he began to lead his own congregation in Lechovitz, Lithuania. His chasidim numbered in the thousands. In 5559 (1799) Rebbe Mordechai was imprisoned by the Russian government, along with Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi (the Alter Rebbe of Chabad) and Rebbe Asher of Stolin following accusations by those opposing Chasidut. He was released in Kislev of that year. Rebbe Mordechai was a close friend of Rebbe Avraham of Kalisk despite the fact that they never met in person. He was appointed by Rebbe Avraham to head the tzedakah fund for the poor of the Land of Israel run by Kollel Reissin. In this role, Rebbe Mordechai was very active in supporting the chasidic community in the Land of Israel. Rebbe Mordechai passed away on the 13th of Shevat 5570 (1810) while he was in Stolin for the wedding of his grandson, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim. Rebbe Mordechai’s son, Rabbi Noach, succeeded him in leading his chasidic court.
One of the disciples of Rebbe Mordechai of Lechovitch complained to him about his great poverty and impoverished livelihood. Rebbe Mordechai asked him what he had made his living from until now. The disciple replied that he had been selling honey to a priest. The Rebbe instructed him to go to this priest again to sell him honey, and not to settle for any price the priest might offer for the honey. The disciple did as he was told.
He went to the priest and brought him honey. The priest was very happy and gave him fifteen rubles, asking if this was enough. The disciple answered that it was not. The priest added more and asked if it was now enough, and the disciple answered that it was still not enough. This continued until the priest gave him eight hundred rubles, and then the disciple said that this was sufficient.
The disciple came to Rebbe Mordechai with joy, excited to relate the miracle. But the Rebbe did not greet him for three days. Afterwards, he said to him, "If you had not settled with him, he would have given you all his possessions, and would have even sold himself as a slave to you. But you did not allow us to rule over the 'impure chariot'."
Rebbe Mordechai’s chasid thought he had made the deal of a lifetime selling honey worth fifteen rubles for eight hundred. But it turns out that his horizons were too limited. He was preoccupied with his own personal salvation and so settled for that amount. But the Rebbe saw a golden opportunity to acquire all the priest's possessions, and even the priest himself! Why would the Rebbe want to buy a priest? Rebbe Mordechai added that if the Jew had done this, "we would have ruled over the impure chariot." What does this mean?
In Rebbe Mordechai's eyes, the priest is not just a priest, and a Jew is certainly not just anyone. If the Jew had bought the priest, the entire realm of impurity would have submitted to Judaism and the spirit of impurity would have passed from the earth in pleasant and peaceful ways. From this we can learn that one should not agree to any compromise in matters of Judaism, even if the profits seem enormous. For this, we must think big and not be satisfied with a relatively small salvation. We must feel that the weight of the redemption rests entirely on our shoulders.
