Weekly Chasidic Story #626 (s5770-11 / 7 Kislev 5770)

The Rabbi with the Torn Coat

Rabbi Naftali of Rophshitz asked the young man to lead him to his father's tailor's shop.

Connection: Weekly Reading - the engagement process 

The Rabbi with the Torn Coat

Once, when Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz visited Warsaw, he went to a local shul to study. He noticed a young man learning Talmud with great intensity, and initiated a discussion with him on the topic he was studying. Rabbi Naftali was favorably impressed with the young man, Asher, who was unusually knowledgeable for his age. Discreet inquiry revealed that he was the son of the local tailor.

Wishing to speak with Asher's father without revealing to the boy that he was considering him a potential son-in-law, Rabbi Naftali asked Asher to bring him to his father's shop so that he could have repaired his torn bekeshe (a below-the-knee, belted, robe-like jacket or frock-coat).

Upon their arrival at the tailor shop, Rabbi Naftali showed Asher's father his torn frock-coat, then urged the young man to return to his studies. Once alone with the tailor, he broached the subject of shiduchim (arranging a marriage) and suggested his daughter as a fitting match for Asher.

The tailor, who was unaware of the greatness of the man who stood before him, dropped the robe in surprise. "What! I should take a mechutan (relative-by-marriage) with a torn bekeshe? My Asher is the most eligible young man in Warsaw - I have had the best offers for him already! What makes you think that you are worthy of my Asher?"

Rabbi Naftali was convinced that this was a good match, and was determined not to relinquish it easily. "Don't refuse too quickly," he replied. "Ask the Chemdat Shlomo (Chief Rabbi of Warsaw at the time) for his advice." The tailor was surprised by this response, but he agreed to do so. When he told the Chemdat Shlomo that it was Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz who was eager to take his Asher for a son-in-law, the rabbi assured him it was indeed a worthwhile match. He remarked that nowhere would the tailor find a better match than with the Ropshitzer, even if his best garment was torn.

The reverse also took place. When the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin heard about the match, he was surprised that Rabbi Naftali, who stemmed from illustrious lineage, should choose for a son-in-law a young man from a simple family.

After the engagement, Rabbi Naftali brought young Asher to Lublin to spend a Shabbat. The Seer was very impressed with the young man, even honoring him with leading the Thanksgiving Prayer at the end of each meal.

When Shabbat ended, the Chozeh declared his approval, quoting the words of our Sages, "a wise man is preferable to a prophet" (Bava Basra 12a), referring to Rabbi Naftali's wisdom as opposed to his own status as a Seer. He also made a cryptic remark, "A fine Pesach sacrifice," which only became clear many years later when Rabbi Asher passed away on Erev Pesach.

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[Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from "Gut Woch" (Mesorah) by Avrohom Barash]

Connection: Weekly Reading - the engagement process

Biographic notes:
Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz (6 Sivan 1760 [the same day as the Besht's passing!] -11 Iyar 1827) became the rebbe of many thousands of chassidim. He was noted for his sharp wit and humor and his elusive sprkling aphorisms. Some of his teachings are collected in his works, Zera Kodesh, Ayalah Sheluchah, and Imrei Shefer. Many stories about him appear in the book, Ohel Naftoli.

Rabbi Shlomo-Zalman Lifshitz (1765-1839) was appointed Chief Rabbi of Warsaw in 1821. In his influential book Hemdat Shlomo, he deals with the problems of his generation, including assimilation. His rulings about conversion still hold great weight today.

Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak, the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin, (1745 - 9 Av 1815), was the successor to R. Elimelech of Lizensk (1717-1787), and leader of the spread of chassidus in Poland. Many of his insights were published posthumously in Divrei Emmes, Zichron Zos, and Zos Zichron.

Rabbi Asher-Yeshaya (Rubin) of Ropshitz (?-1845 or 1855) was the son-in-law of Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz, whom he succeeded as Rebbe. He authored Or Yeshai.

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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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