Weekly Chasidic Story #1262 (s5782-24)
13 Adar I 5782/Feb. 14, 2022) "Fondling Gold Coins" He
was surprised to see his father, Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua-Heschel of Apta, fondling
with affection the gold coins that had been sent to him on Purim. Connection
- "Purim Katan" falls on Tuesday of this week (Feb. 15) Story
in PDF
form for more convenient printing Fondling Gold Coins
On the first Purim after Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua-Heschel
of Apta came to serve as Chief Rabbi of Yaasi, his first rabbinical post,
the townspeople sent him a mishloach manot[1] package
that included a large number of gold coins. The Rav took these coins and played
with them awhile, handling the money affectionately.
His son, R' Yitzchak-Meir,
was surprised. He knew his Father as a man who despised money. "Haven't you
taught us, Father, to hate money?" he asked. The tzadik smiled.
"All year long," he explained, "money is worth nothing in my eyes.
But today, when the mitzvah of the day is to give alms to the poor, I realize
that I should be giving away something that has value to me. Therefore, today
I have made it my business to inculcate in myself a love of money! When that love
grows strong, I will distribute all the money to the poor. In that way, I shall
be able to fulfill the mitzvah in a much better way." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Source:
Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from "Stories my Grandfather told me" (Mesorah,
p. 191) by Zev Greenwald] Biographic note: Rabbi
Avraham-Yehoshua Herschel (1755- 5 Nissan 1825) the Apter Rebbe, was a main disciple
of the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhinsk. He is also often referred to as "the
Ohev Yisrael," both after the title of the famous book of his teachings,
and also because its meaning ("Lover of Jews") fits him so aptly. Connection:
"Purim Katan"[2] falls on
Tuesday of this week (Feb. 15) Footnotes:
1.A gift of food and drink, primarily for the Purim feast. 1.This is a "pregnant"
year on the Jewish calendar (seven times in every 19 year cycle), in which the
month of Adar is doubled. The main celebration of Purim is set to be on the 14th
of the second month of Adar (Adar Sheini), so in such a year Purim is reffered
to as Purim Gadol ("Major Purim") and the 14th of the first month of
Adar (Adar Sheini) is called Purim Katan ("Minor Purim").
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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