Weekly Chasidic Story #883 (s5775-06 / 4 Cheshvan 5775)

A Mutually Beneficial Encounter

Rebbe Meir of Premishlan once wrote to the renowned scholar, Rabbi Shlomo Kluger of Brody, asking that they should meet.

A Mutually Beneficial Encounter

Rebbe Meir of Premishlan once wrote to the renowned scholar, Rabbi Shlomo Kluger of Brody, asking that they should meet, which they arranged to do in a certain village near Zlotchov. Arriving there separately at the appointed time, they found lodgings in different houses. The Chassidic rebbe then sent his beadle to ask the learned rabbi who of them, according to the Torah, should go to greet the other - since both were guests in this village. The famous rabbi returned his learned opinion that according to the Torah it was his prerogative to wait at his lodgings and be greeted there by Rebbe Meir.

After fulfilling his duty, R. Meir asked for the source of this ruling, and R. Shlomo answered: "Its source is to be found in the passage in Exodus [18:7]: 'And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law…and they asked each other [literally: a man asked his fellow] of their welfare.' Rashi, following the interpretation of the Mechilta, explains that 'a man' refers to Moses. Now since he and Yisro were both journeying in the wilderness, why did Moshe go ahead and greet Yisro? In my opinion, the reason is that he had traveled only a short distance, while Yisro had come all the way from Midian. I, likewise, have come all the way from Brody, while you had only a few miles to travel. The prerogative of being greeted is therefore mine."

When they had spent some hours in scholarly discourse, and were about to part, R. Meir - whose days and earnings were wholly devoted to charity - shared the following thought with the rabbi from Brody:

"Regarding the meeting of Avraham and Malki-Tzedek, we read in the Torah [14:18] - 'And Malki-Tzedek king of Shalem brought out bread and wine, and he was a priest of G-d, the Most High.' When two such tzaddikim meet, they each cleave to the sanctity of the other, and partake of each other's divine service. Avraham was chiefly occupied with the mitzvah of hospitality, with this house wide open to every wayfarer; Malki-Tzedek, who is traditionally identified with Shem, son of Noah,* was cloistered in his House of Study, pondering the depths of the divine Law. When they met, each learned a lesson from the ways of the other, and this is hinted at by a homiletical reading of the very same text: 'And Malki-Tzedek brought out - from Avraham - bread and wine'; that is, he learned from him the attribute of giving succor to the needy. And he - that is to say, Avraham - learned from Shem how to be a priest of G-d, the Most High, how to serve Him through the study of the divine Law day and night."

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Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition in A Treasury of Chassidic Tales (Artscroll), as translated by the esteemed Uri Kaploun from Sipurei Chasidim by Rabbi S. Y. Zevin.

Biographical notes:
Rabbi Meir of Primishlan [of blessed memory: ? - 29 Iyar 5610 (? - May 1850 C.E.)], lived in abject but uncomplaining poverty, yet exerted himself tirelessly for the needy and the suffering. His ruach hakodesh (prophetic spirit) and his ready wit have become legendary. He wrote no works, but some of his teachings were collected and published by his chasidim after his death.

Rabbi Shlomo Kluger (1786-1869) was born in Komarow, Russian Poland. From the earliest age he learned Torah with extreme diligence, and rose to become one of the leading halachic authorities of his time. He served as rabbi and rabbinical judge in several communities, but for more than 50 years he was the Rabbi of Brody. He was a prolific writer, writing more than 160 books, not all of which were printed. (From //shlomokluger.com, which translates many selections of his writings into English.)

Connection: Weekly Torah Reading-a quoted verse.

Editor's note: Tradition maintains that the "Academy of Shem v'Eber" was located in our holy city of Tsfat. It's exact location is known to locals.

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Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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