|
Weekly Chasidic Story #1353 (5784-10) 29 Cheshvan 5784 (Nov.13, 2023) "The Helpful Hitchicker" The Toldos (Rebbe Yaakov-Yosef HaKohain of Polnoye) asked his younger contemporary, the Vitebsker (Rebbe Menachem-Mendel of Horodok), what he could do to overcome his quick temper. Connection: A stretch. Looking for a story about this week's Torah reading,
called Toldos, I searched on that name in my [very large] future folder, and
this story about "The Toldos" was the first item to show up. Story in PDF format for more convenient printing
THE HELPFUL HITCHHIKER
"The Toldos"[1] by nature had a quick temper. He sought counsel from Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk-Horodok (even though the latter was younger than he by 20 years, he admired his humility --YT). He asked him what he could do to overcome his anger. Rebbe Mendel didn't respond. It didn't take long, though, before the Toldos learned the answer. The Toldos, together with a group of chasidim, was traveling on a wagon. A poor person stood by the road, and asked for a lift. The Toldos helped him aboard, but he explained to him that there wasn't much room. "If you want to ride with us, you will need to sit among the packages." The man agreed. It was still better than walking. The Toldos was concerned that the guest wasn't comfortable. As they were traveling, the Toldos turned to him and asked, "Are you alright? Are you comfortable?" "Everything is fine," the man assured. The Toldos was still concerned about the guest, so soon afterwards, he turned to the guest and asked, "Are you sure that you are comfortable?" Once again, the guest told him that he felt fine. When the Toldos inquired about his welfare a third time, the man replied, "We say, 'Ashrei ha'am shekachah lo' [2]. This can be translated, 'Fortunate is the nation that whatever happens to it,' they say, 'Let it be that way.´ No matter what happens, they say, ´let it be so. It is good the way it is.'" The chassidim on board laughed when they heard the pauper's witty response, but the Toldos turned white. He realized that he had just received the answer to his dilemma. How can one overcome anger? By saying that the way things are, it is good that way. Perhaps someone said something that insults you, perhaps someone did something that upsets you, but you accept life as it comes. Fortunate is the nation that can do so. With this perspective, the Toldos realized that he could overcome his negative trait of anger. When the Toldos came to the Vitebsker another time, Rebbe Mendel remarked,
"I sent you Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) to answer your question."
* * * Rebbe "Yankeleh" (Yaakov) of Pshevorsk was once walking with his gabbai (administrator) through a scenic park, and throughout their walk, the Rebbe was saying "Ashrei ha'am shekachah" - "fortunate is the nation who [knows that] whatever happens to him, lo - it is for his benefit." The rebbe repeated this thought many many times during their walk, as he sought to engrave on his heart and mind this fundamental lesson. To know, and to believe, and to trust, that whatever happens to a person, it was destined that way because this is best for him. When they were ready to get back into the car to return home, the Rebbe asked the gabbai, "So now do you know the meaning of 'ashrei haam shekachah lo'?" The gabbai replied, "Of course I know." ('How wouldn't I know,' the gabbai thought, 'after hearing it so many times.') "It means to know that G-d leads us in the very best way…" and then quickly repeated the Rebbe's lesson. The Rebbe said, "No. You didn't understand. Ashrei ha'am shekachah lo means…" and the Rebbe repeated the idea once again. He could hear that the gabbai was just repeating his words, that he hadn't yet internalized the message. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Footnotes: Source: Freely adapted by Yerachmel Tilles from Torah Wellsprings (Noach 5777 - 'the teachings of HaRav Elimelech Bidelman of Lelov). Biographical notes: Rabbi Menachem-Mendel of Vitebsk/Horodok [5490 - 1 Iyar 5548 (1730 - May 1788)] was an elder disciple of the Maggid of Mizritch and one of the earliest chasidic rebbes. He led the first modern aliyah to Israel, in 5537 (1777), where he and three hundred chasidim and others settled in Tsfat (Safed). After a few years most of the group moved to Tiberias, where he is buried in the "Students of the Baal Shem Tov" section of the Old Cemetery. His works include Pri HaAretz and Likutei Amarim. Rabbi Yaakov ("Yankeleh") Leiser [Kislev 5667 - 27 Cheshvan 5759 (Dec. 1906 - November 1998) became the second Pishevorsker Rebbe after Yom Kippur 1976, upon the passing of his father-in-law, Rabbi Moshe-Yitzchak ("Itzikel") Gewirtzman, who settled in Antwerp in 1956. [His son, Rabbi Leibish Leiser, is the current Rebbe of Pshevorsk]. Connection: A stretch. Looking for a story about this week's Torah reading,
called Toldos, I searched on that name in my [very large] future folder,
and this story about "The Toldos" was the first item to show up. "TILLESTELLS STORIES FOR SATURDAY NIGHT" WhatsApp
group
To receive the Story by e-mail every Wednesday--sign up here! "Festivals of the
Full Moon"
|
|
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.