Weekly Chasidic Story #1420 (5785-22) 26 Shevat 5785 (Feb. 24, 2025) (Next Week)

"The Spiritual Power of Twelve Gold Coins"

Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch of Rimanov had a unique approach for collecting tzedakah. When a person stood before him, he would determine the amount they should give. Sometimes, he would assign a wealthy man a small sum, while asking a poor man to contribute a significant amount. This was a wonder to many.

Why This Week: The Torah section Trumah opens with a listing of the thirteen types of offerings that G- d declared to be required for building the desert Sanctuary. Gold is the first.

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The Spiritual Power of Twelve Gold Coins

In the home of the generous chasid Ze'ev-Wolf from the city of Sanok in Galicia, there was great concern. A serious illness had befallen him, and his condition deteriorated day by day. Famous doctors from Krakow and Warsaw were summoned to his bedside. They gave him the best medicines, but nothing helped. His condition worsened.

In this difficult time, the public increased their prayers for him, especially those who had benefited from his generous giving. Ze'ev-Wolf himself prayed as much as he could. He asked that the many acts of charity he had performed would stand as merit for him.

At that time, the light of Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch of Rimanov shone in the world of Chasidut. In Ze'ev-Wolf's youth, when he had been among the followers of Rabbi Menachem-Mendel of Rimanov, Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch had served as the Rebbe's attendant. All of his actions were always done discreetly, and few were aware of his greatness.

After his Rebbe's passing, Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch went to Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz and became one of his followers. Twelve years passed, and then Rabbi Naftali also passed away. At that point, Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch could no longer hide behind the guise of a simple chasid. When the chasidim insisted, he relented and began leading a community of his own.

Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch would travel from town to town, receiving Jews and offering them advice and blessings. He had a unique approach for collecting tzedakah ("charity"): when a Jew came before him, he would determine the amount that the person should give. Sometimes, he would assign a small amount to a wealthy man and a large amount to a poor one. This was a wonder to many.

When it became known that Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch was passing through the city of Sanok, Ze'ev-Wolf's family rushed to his lodging to ask for his blessing.
The tzaddik listened to their words and said, "You must give twelve gold coins to charity."

Ze'ev-Wolf's family was stunned. It was an enormous sum. Why did the Rebbe demand such a large amount? They dared to ask him their question, and he responded:
"It says in the Torah, 'Do not wrong one another.' Yet, it had already been said earlier, 'Do not wrong one another.' Why the repetition?

It can be explained as follows: The Torah is hinting that 'amitoh' (his fellow) with a vav, can also be read with an alef, meaning his 'truth'. This teaches that a person's truth - his good deeds -- must be free from deception. Sometimes, a person performs good deeds, but they are full of personal motives that are not purely for the sake of Heaven. Therefore, one must ensure that his 'truth' is free of deception."

"I did not specify this amount arbitrarily," the Rebbe continued. "If you are willing to donate the amount I asked for, I will be able to help your father."

Ze'ev-Wolf's family found it hard to understand the connection between the chasidic interpretation and the donation, but they had faith in the tzaddik's words. They immediately gave him a third of the sum, and promised to provide the rest soon.
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"Do you recognize me?" Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch asked Ze'ev-Wolf as he stood by his bedside. Ze'ev-Wolf was too weak to respond. The tzaddik asked those present to leave the room and leave him alone with the sick man. After they left, he lit his pipe and sat in silence with his eyes closed, his face burning with intensity, until the room filled with smoke from the pipe.

The Rebbe then stood up and opened the window. After the smoke slowly dissipated, and fresh air entered the room, the rebbe returned to the sick man's bedside and asked again, "Ze'ev-Wolf, do you recognize me?"

The sick man's lips began to move. He whispered, "Yes, of course, peace upon you, Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch, the attendant of our Master."

This was a significant sign of life.

When Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch opened the door, the doctors were astonished to see the patient's improvement. Ze'ev-Wolf's family shed tears of joy. The Rebbe blessed the sick man with a complete recovery, bid him farewell, and continued on his way to the city of Linsk, where he spent Shabbat.

Immediately after Shabbat he hurried towards home. As he passed near the city of Sanok, he detoured and went to Ze'ev-Wolf's house. He was pleased to see him recovering and already walking with a cane.

Ze'ev-Wolf was deeply moved by the sight of the tzaddik. He instructed his family to prepare a table in his honor and to give him the remainder of the amount they had committed to donate. As they sat at the table, Ze'ev-Wolf decided to take advantage of the opportunity and asked:
"I have two questions. First: when I fell ill, I prayed and asked the Holy One, Blessed be He, to heal me in merit of my many acts of charity and kindness. Why didn't my merits help me? Also, why did the Rebbe specifically ask for twelve gold coins?"

Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch answered: "One answer addresses both questions. I explained to your family the verse 'Do not wrong one another,' and now I will elaborate on my words. It is possible that you did a great deal of charity and kindness both physically and financially, but sometimes these deeds were done for personal reasons, such as to enhance your reputation.

"Therefore, your good deeds were not able to intercede on your behalf. I requested twelve gold coins, corresponding to the twelve months of the year, to remove the accusation against you. Now that all the charity and kindness you perform throughout the year is cleansed of any ulterior motives, your prayer was accepted, and you were cured from your sickness."

The generous man acknowledged that he had indeed given to charity many times with material or spiritual calculations in mind. Rabbi Tzvi-Hirsch left Sanok and returned to Rimanov, but his piercing words remained a guiding light for Ze'ev-Wolf. He continued to engage in charity and acts of kindness, but now he was careful not to deceive himself, thus ensuring that all his actions were truly for the sake of Heaven.
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Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the popular Chabad Hebrew weekly, Sichat Shavua (#1271).

Why This Week: The Torah reading opens with a listing of the thirteen types of offerings that G- d declared to be required for building the desert Sanctuary. Gold is the first.

Biographic note: Rabbi Zvi Hirsh of Rimanov [5538 - 29 Cheshvan 5608 (1778-Nov. 1847)] was the attendant of the well-known rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimanov, and subsequently his successor. He had a reputation as a miracle worker. Some of his teachings are collected in Mevasser Tov and in Be'erot HaMayim.

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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