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Weekly Chasidic Story#1440 (5785-42) 18 Tammuz 5785 (July 14, 2025) "The Lottery
Test" Why This Week? In this week's Torah reading, Pinchas, a major lottery is employed to determine the division of the Holy Land among the Twelve Tribes.
The Lottery Test
Rabbi Yeshaya Asher-Zelig Margulies, one of the main 20th century Kabbalists of Jerusalem, once shared a story[1] about a Jew who came to Rebbe Shaya'leh of Kerestir to complain about his difficult financial situation. Reb Shaya'leh listened to the litany of problems and suggested a particular business in which the fellow might engage. Along with advice, Reb Shaya'leh dispensed warm blessings for success. A year later, the same Jew returned to inform the Rebbe that he had succeeded. He thanked Reb Shaya'leh for the guidance and encouragement. "However," he announced, "I now have a new problem." It turned out that along with success had come a steady stream of requests for help. Suddenly, distant relatives and old friends were appearing on his doorstep, eager to reignite their friendship. He felt beholden to all of them, yet the expense of satisfying their expectations was mounting. Reb Shaya'leh was deeply pained that a Jew who had faced poverty such a short time earlier could have forgotten its taste so quickly. He requested a pen and piece of paper from his gabbai [attendant] and turned back to the visitor. "Who are the distinguished Jews in your hometown?" the Rebbe asked. The petitioner relayed some of the prominent personalities, and Reb Shaya'leh wrote the name of each one. "Now," the Rebbe reflected, "since you don't want to share your wealth, we will find another person who is more willing!" The visitor gasped, realizing the import of the Rebbe's words. He immediately protested, insisting that he regretted his words and that he would be generous with anyone who asked for help. "Why does one seek plentiful parnasah [income] if not to assist other Jews?" the Rebbe wondered. As the Jew continued to plead for a second chance, Reb Shaya'leh prepared slips of paper, each with a name from the list that he had recorded. "Alright," the Rebbe stated, "this is what I shall do. I'll prepare a paper with your name too so that you can be included in the lottery . If your regret is genuine, then your name will be selected and your wealth will be preserved. If not, someone else will be given the opportunity." Reb Shaya'leh withdrew a slip of paper as the Jew stood there and wept; the name on it was that of the visitor. He had been granted a reprieve. "You've learned your lesson," the Rebbe told him. "Be kind and generous in the future. That's the purpose of your wealth." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why This Week? In this week's Torah reading, Pinchas, a major lottery is employed to determine the division of the Holy Land among the Twelve Tribes. Biographic note:Rabbi
Yeshaya "Shaya'leh" Steiner of Kerestir (1851- 3 Iyar 1925) was
the founder of the Kerestirer dynasty. He was a disciple of Rabbi Chaim Halberstam
of Sanz after whose passing he became a disciple of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna.
The latter suggested that he move to the small town of Kerestir, Hungary. He
complied, and there he became a famous Rebbe with the reputation of a miracle
worker. (based on Wiki) Appendix:
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One
Saturday night, while Reb Shaya'le was eating this special Melaveh Malka meal,
a chasid came to him with an urgent request. He was a man who had a warehouse
full of foodstuffs and he made his living by buying and selling food. For the
past number of months, his warehouse had been taken over by mice who were eating
his grain and other commodities and his entire livelihood was threatened. He
asked Reb Shaya'le for a blessing that the mice should leave his warehouse.
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.