Chassidic Story #270

YAAKOV THE INNOCENT

As a result of a devastating fire, new houses had to be built for the Tsemach Tzedek and his sons. The day the cornerstone was laid, a large number of chasidim attended the ceremony.

A table and chair were set up for the Rebbe at the construction site. He sat, and asked the chasidim which would they truly prefer for him to say for them: a chasidic discourse or a story? The surprised chasidim were quick to choose the story; they explained that lessons in chasidic themes we merit to hear from the Rebbe fairly often, but stories only rarely.

The Tsemech Tsedek acceded to their request, and told the following.

Yaakov Ish-Tam made his living by leasing the rights to all the business and agricultural properties belonging to a certain poritz (duke), and then sub-letting them to different individuals. One inn he rented to a certain Jew, who at the end of the year, was unable to come up with the rent money he owed. Yaakov Ish-Tam sent notice to the man that he had better pay the money or else he would be forced to evict him.

It so happened that Yaakov Ish-Tam and the innkeeper were both chasidim of the famous Rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel of Rhyzhin. The desperate tenant traveled to the Rebbe and asked him to intercede with Yaakov Ish-Tam to ask him to wait another year, whereupon with G d's help he would pay him for both years.

The tzadik was successful, and Yaakov Ish-Tam agreed to the delay. However, at the end of the second year, the poor man's situation had not improved at all and again he was unable to pay, not for either year.

Yaakov Ish-Tam told the man to go look for another place, because now he was two years in arrears. The poor lessee once again went to the Rhyzhiner Rebbe to ask him to intercede again, saying that surely G-d will help him, and at the end of the next year he will pay off the entire dept. Once again the Rebbe was able to influence Yaakov Ish-Tam to not pressure the innkeeper and wait an additional year.

After the third year was up, there was still no money forthcoming. This time, the Rhyzhiner was unable to convince Yaakov Ish-Tam to wait a fourth year. The latter insisted he could not afford to give in to his Rebbe's appeal and proceeded with the eviction of the unfortunate tenant from the inn.

It was not long afterwards that Yaakov Ish-Tam returned his soul to his Maker. When his case came before the Heavenly Court, they found his record in the 613 mitzvot to be excellent, but there was still one serious charge against him. He had failed to heed a direct request of his Rebbe, the tzadik of Rhyzhin.

The court ruled he would have to enter Gehinom [Purgatory]. Suddenly, a man appeared and challenged the court's ruling. He pointed out how the members of the court were all souls that had been away from physical life for many, many years, and had forgotten or never knew how difficult monetary affairs in the flesh-and-blood world really are. That Yaakov Ish-Tam obeyed the Rhyzhiner twice and went without being paid the rent on the inn for three years was nothing short of extraordinary. To do so yet another time was simply beyond his strength and too much to expect.

"My opinion," concluded the Tsemech Tsedek, "is that Yaakov Ish-Tam is innocent. What do you all think?"

Now the chasidim understood why the Rebbe had offered to tell a "story"; the Heavenly Court had agreed to use a judge and jury that was still in the world. The chasidim were quick to respond. "Innocent, Innocent," they declared in unison.

(Translated/adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles (and first published in Kfar Chabad Magazine - English) from "Rishimat Devorim" v.3, page 127-128, where it is recorded that this story was told by (the sixth Rabbi of Chabad,) Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, in 1922, in Rostov.)

Biographical note:
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn [1789-1866], the Third Rebbe of Chabad, was known as the Tsemech Tzedek, after his books of Halachic responsa and Talmudic commentary called by that name. He was renowned not only as a Rebbe, but also as a leading scholar in his generation in both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah. The Lubavitcher Rebbe of our generation was his son-after-son descendent, and was named for him (and his wife, Chaya Mushka, a distant cousin, was named for the wife of the Tsemech Tsedek!).
Rabbi Yisrael of Rhizhin [1797-1851] was a great grandson of the Magid of Mezritch and one of the most respected Chassidic Masters of his time and all times, referred to by chassidim and other Rebbes alike as "the holy Rhiziner).