The Trade

Despite his vast wealth and riches, Reb Shlomo, a chasid of the Baal Shem Tov, was burdened with the deep sorrow of childlessness. Often he sought his Rebbe's blessing for children, but to no avail.

Nevertheless, Shlomo persisted. On one of his visits to Mezibush, he implored the Rebbe to bless him with children. This time, the Besht agreed to grant the blessing, but attached a condition. "If you agree to forego your wealth, you will be blessed with a child," promised the Besht.

Shlomo was overjoyed at the thought of his wish being granted and eager to accept. However, the Besht cautioned him, "Go home and discuss it with your wife."

Shlomo rushed home to consult his wife. "Hurry back to the Besht and tell him I agree wholeheartedly," she quickly responded. Shlomo immediately set out to Mezibush and finally received the long-awaited blessing.

On his journey home, he stopped at an inn to rest. He conversed with some fellow travelers who had passed through his city and without introducing himself, asked about the latest news.

"Haven't you heard about the misfortune of Reb Shlomo? His entire fleet of ships, loaded with tons of wood, was lost in the stormy seas!"

"So, it's actually happening," thought Shlomo with delight. As he neared his hometown, he was greeted with stories of fires that had consumed all his possessions. Shlomo, however, was anything but sad. "The blessing will come sooner than I imagined," he thought.

Neither Shlomo nor his wife complained about their misfortune. On the contrary, their thoughts were filled with eager anticipation and within a year, Reb Shlomo's wife gave birth to a baby boy.

By now, Reb Shlomo was reduced to begging for alms. He joined a group of beggars that made their rounds in other towns. During their wanderings, they passed through Mezibush. "Let us go to the Baal Shem Tov's house of study," one beggar suggested. "He always gives generously."

The group joined the line in the courtyard and passed in front of the Besht who handed out charity personally. Recognizing Shlomo, the Besht instructed him to return later and speak with him privately.

When he did, the Besht told him, "Though it was decreed that you be a poor man, you are entitled to a dignified level of poverty. Travel to Krim and there your fortunes will change. May you be successful."

Obediently and with great anticipation, Shlomo set out on the road. Upon arrival, he sought out the local shul, where he was greeted very warmly by the attendant and introduced to a wealthy man who would host him for Shabbat. It was a splendid Shabbat spent in joy and abundance; his host spared no effort to make Shlomo comfortable.

However, after Shabbat ended, Shlomo noticed a marked change in his host's demeanor from that of joy to deep concern and sorrow.

"You've been wonderful to me," Reb Shlomo said to his host gently. "I'm sorry to see you so troubled. Please share your problem with me; it may help to lighten your burden."

The wealthy man explained that his daughter had a terrible health problem.

"I know of someone who can help you," Shlomo exclaimed. "In the town of Mezibush, there is a very great tzadik, the Baal Shem Tov, who has assisted many people. We will seek the holy rabbi's advice."

With a hopeful heart, the rich man accompanied Shlomo to Mezibush, and presented his problem to the Besht. The Besht instructed Rabbi Tzvi Sofer, his attendant, to accompany him, and the four set out for the rich man's town.

Upon arrival, the Besht told his attendant to go to the mikva and declare: "The Besht has demanded that you leave this place."

As soon as he uttered those words, a voice was heard from the mikva: "The Besht has power only over Poland! I will not obey him here!"

When Rabbi Tzvi related what the voice had said, the Besht handed Rabbi Tzvi his walking stick, "Should the spirit refuse again," he told him, "strike the water with my stick."

Rabbi Tzvi did as he was told. When he struck the water, it turned crimson. The Besht then instructed that the mikva be cleaned.

The health problems that the rich man's daughter had experienced disappeared totally.

"How can I repay you for what you have done?" cried the rich man.

"I need nothing," replied the Besht. "However, please tell me how is it that you have amassed such wealth?"

"I owned a small dock at the harbor. One day, gusty winds blew a fleet of boats and logs into my dock. I sold the boats and the merchandise and netted a large profit."

The Besht nodded and pointed to Shlomo. "Those boats and logs belonged to this man," he said. "Though you were free to profit from the luck the sea brought you, he, nevertheless, is entitled to a share."

The rich man hearkened to the Besht and paid Shlomo a very generous sum.

This enabled Shlomo and his wife to live normally, while they enjoyed the pleasure of children and grandchildren.
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[Adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles from "From My Father's Shabbos Table," Eliyahu Touger's excellent selection and translation from the first two volumes of Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik's 4-volume series, Reshimat Devorim and from L'Chaim.]

Biographical note:
Rabbi Yisrael, the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed the Chassidic movement and his own identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 1734. He passed away on the festival of Shavuot in 1760. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos. An ongoing online translation of Sefer Baal Shem Tov can be found on www.baalshemtov.com.

Yrachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and editor of Ascent Quarterly and the AscentOfSafed.com and KabbalaOnline.org websites. He has hundreds of published stories to his credit.