[1]

By Reb Meir Mordechai Czernin[2]

The chassid Reb Michael Aharon Pisarevsky was a businessman of average income. He never had to do without the necessities of life, though at times his profits were abundant, and at other times, meager. He managed to marry off his sons and daughters, and to support them in the style customary for men of affairs.

There was nothing unique about his knowledge of the revealed Torah and Chassidus. He participated in the regularly-scheduled study sessions and public lectures, and also had a regular study session in private. His personality, however, was another matter. He was a very spirited individual with a "chassidic heart," always concerned with the welfare of others.

One of Reb Michael Aharon's acquaintances was the chassid Reb Nachman Lipa Zeltzer, a storekeeper who was well versed in the revealed Torah and in Chassidus. He taught classes in Mishnayos and in Likkutei Torah at the shul, and on Shabbos he spent a long time praying in the chassidic style. But he had a large family, including sons and daughters of marriageable age, and at that time his financial circumstances were extremely poor.

The chassid Reb Leib Posen owned a large store in Vitebsk. He had an abundant income and was a highly successful businessman. He owned several mansions, and was known as a magnate who supported his family with affluence. Though not a particularly friendly person, he gave charity generously and did other acts of kindness. People said of him that he gave away the required one tenth of his earnings, and his home was open to chassidim and other men of good deeds.

He had only a modest knowledge of the revealed Torah and Chassidus, but he was nevertheless deferential to Torah scholars. He participated in Torah study sessions, though he was unable to comprehend them adequately.

One of Reb Leib's acquaintances was the chassid Reb Shmuel Brin. Because of his outstanding abilities and his proficiency in the revealed Torah and Chassidus, Reb Shmuel was one of the foremost chassidim of Vitebsk. He was also famous for his shrewd manner of speech, his clever mind, and his understanding of business and commerce.

Though his business - general contracting - occupied much of his time, he nevertheless kept up a regular study session every day. His main subject was an in-depth study of Gemara and Choshen Mishpat; he also studied Chassidus in great depth. His success in business varied: sometimes up, and sometimes down. But he never paid attention to such trivial matters.

During the year 5640 [1880], strife and contention arose between the noblemen who owned the estates and the forests in the counties of Vitebsk and Paskov, and the local peasants [who worked for them]. As a result, the latter went on strike, and the cutting and transportation of wood ceased. This was disastrous for Reb Shmuel Brin's business. At the same time, he was also swindled by some unscrupulous merchants. In the end, he lost his entire fortune, and was left seriously in debt.

Just before Pesach, our two chassidim - Reb Michael Aharon Pisarevsky and Reb Leib Posen - happened to be in Lubavitch at the same time, having come to spend Shabbos with the Rebbe Maharash.

When Reb Michael Aharon went in to the Rebbe for yechidus, the first subject he mentioned was his friend Reb Nachman Lipa Zeltzer. He described his poor financial situation, and the fact that his sons and daughters were of marriageable age. He discussed this at length, and begged for mercy in his behalf. The Rebbe gave his blessing that G-d would help him, and would exchange his situation of poverty for wealth. Reb Michael Aharon begged the Rebbe to guarantee that his blessing was a firm commitment.

Afterward, Reb Michael Aharon began to discuss his own situation. As he described his business dealings, it became apparent to the Rebbe that his business was in a sad state, and that he was impoverished and in debt. "If that's how things are," said the Rebbe, "then it seems that you're even worse off than Reb Nachman Lipa."

"Well, about myself, I know that I don't deserve anything better," said Reb Michael Aharon. "Therefore, it is forbidden to complain about my situation, and I will have to be satisfied with what I have."

The Rebbe covered his holy eyes with his hands and meditated for a short while. Then he said, " 'If one prays for his fellow Jew, his own prayers are answered first.'[3] May G-d (blessed be He), grant you success."

"What do you think happened next?" said Reb Michael Aharon to Reb Meir Mordechai Czernin. "Why, Nachman Lipa suddenly became a success! Avraham Shalom the linen merchant suggested to him that - besides his store - he should trade in linens on the side. Reb Avraham Shalom's expertise in the linen business is legendary, and within half a year Reb Nachman Lipa became very wealthy.

"I myself also began to reap unusually large profits, both in my regular business, and on the side. Even when I casually mentioned to Chayim Yonah Ginsburg that it would be a good idea if he married off his daughter to Yaakov Leib Hurevitch, they both embraced my suggestion. They paid me a generous shadchonus, which was completely unexpected. At year's end - with the Rebbe's consent and according to his instructions - I purchased two mansions across the river, along with surrounding estates."

On the other hand, when Reb Leib Posen went in for yechidus, he began by discussing his own affairs at great length and in full detail. His entire oratory was devoted to a description of his financial status, and his request for a blessing. However, after he finished discussing his own situation, he sighed and added that Reb Shmuel Brin's affairs were in a very bad state.

"I certainly don't question the judgment of G-d (blessed be He)," said Reb Leib, "for whatever He does is undoubtedly the way things ought to be. Nevertheless, Reb Shmuel deserves great pity." The Rebbe covered his holy eyes with his hands and meditated deeply, but made no reply.

After Pesach, a fire broke out (may such a disaster not befall us) in the street where the warehouses containing Reb Leib Posen's linen were located. Everything was destroyed, resulting in a loss of several tens of thousands of rubles. At the same time, another fire broke out in his property across the river. His store burned down, along with all his merchandise, worth twenty thousand rubles. None of the damage was insured.

A few days later, he traveled to Lubavitch to see the Rebbe and tell him of the two disasters. Upon entering the Rebbe's chamber, he began to weep with great bitterness, saying that the two fires had cost him fifty thousand rubles. He then poured out his heart in bitter lament.

The Rebbe fixed a stern glance on him, and then said, "When you described Reb Shmuel Brin's poor situation - the loss of his entire fortune and his large debts - you took comfort in the fact that Heaven acts with justice. But when your own living and your own store are at stake, you raise a furor and cry; you don't even take comfort in the two mansions that you still own, nor in the sums that you have invested in businesses and in government securities. It seems that your standards regarding other people and those regarding yourself are totally different."

When Reb Leib emerged from the yechidus, he meditated deeply about the Rebbe's holy words. He realized that this evil had befallen him because of the sinful way in which he had spoken about Reb Shmuel's situation. For two days he remained in a state of severe confusion, at a loss for what to do about it. He finally decided to go in for a second yechidus, and to request that the Rebbe give him a penance. Upon entering the Rebbe's room, he was at first emotionally overcome, and unable to utter a word. When he calmed down a bit, he requested a program of teshuvah and atonement, promising that from then on he would concern himself with the welfare of others.

The Rebbe replied:

There is a tradition handed down from the Baal Shem Tov[4] that whenever someone pronounces judgment upon his fellow Jew - be it for good or for evil - he in fact pronounces judgment upon himself.

For example: if one says, "In reward for this good deed that so-and-so did, or that good thing that he said, he deserves to be helped by G-d with all his needs"; or, if one says, "As punishment for this wicked deed that so-and-so did, or those wicked words that he spoke, he deserves such-and-such"; whenever one speaks such words, he is in fact pronouncing his own judgment, whether for evil or for good.

Whenever someone justifies a Heavenly decree against another person, and does not feel anguish about it or pray for mercy in his behalf, by his own speech he pleads against his own cause. As a result, the Heavenly Court examines his conduct and his speech. But if one empathizes with his fellow Jew's anguish and prays for mercy in his behalf, he is rewarded.

Commenting on the Talmudic statement,3 "If one prays for his fellow Jew, his own prayers are answered first," the Mitteler Rebbe quoted the Alter Rebbe: "If he himself is in need of something, he is answered first. And even if at the time he needs nothing, he nevertheless will receive his reward; he benefits first, for Heaven will reward him for his noble gesture."

"And now," concluded the Rebbe, "you must give to Reb Shmuel Brin a personal loan of three thousand rubles interest-free, so that he may purchase merchandise and float it down to Riga by raft. Give it to him generously and cheerfully, thanking G-d that you have the privilege of doing good and charitable deeds. As for your own situation: travel to Moscow and buy goods for your store. May G-d replace your loss two-fold."

On the very day he returned home, he went to Reb Shmuel Brin, bringing a purse containing the money, as instructed. But he did not find him at home. Members of the household told him that Reb Shmuel had left two weeks earlier to inspect a convoy of rafts that were about to be floated down to Riga, and he had not yet returned.

A day passed by, then a second and a third day, and finally more than a week. But Reb Shmuel had not yet returned.

Reb Leib Posen waited impatiently day after day for Reb Shmuel's return, so that he could carry out the Rebbe's orders and give him the required loan. Each day seemed like a whole year, for he was anxious to make his own trip to Moscow and obtain merchandise for his own store.

Reb Leib was afraid to do things in a different order from the way the Rebbe had instructed him. The Rebbe had said that he should first make the loan to Reb Shmuel Brin so that he could purchase rafts and float them down to Riga; only then should he travel to Moscow and obtain goods for his store.

When Reb Leib arrived in shul for Kabbalas Shabbos, he saw Reb Shmuel Brin in the midst of a large crowd of people who were standing on the floor and on the benches. He had a joyful expression on his face, and appeared to be in a very cheerful mood as he spoke, while all the others listened.

At that moment, Reb Leib felt a twinge of envy: "Fortunate is a man with such a lot. More than two months have passed since his fortune was overturned and he became destitute, but he nevertheless manages to ignore it all. At this very moment he appears as though he were the luckiest person in the world!"

Reb Leib was startled out of his contemplation when Reb Hirsh Hirshman, the gabbai, banged on the table and cried out, "Sha! Sha! Reb Shmuel Brin is about to repeat the chassidic discourse that he heard from the Rebbe (may he be well) in Lubavitch."

As Reb Shmuel began to recite,[5] "My dove is in the crevices of the rock, hidden within the terraces" the shul suddenly became silent and all the listeners appeared exceedingly pleased.

That Shabbos, everyone in shul went to Reb Shmuel's home for Kiddush, where he repeated the discourse again. After Minchah, chassidim from the other shuls came, and Reb Shmuel repeated the discourse a third time. The joy of the chassidim knew no bounds.

After Shabbos was over, Reb Leib fought a battle with his own conscience: some say that at the conclusion of Shabbos or Yom Tov it is not appropriate to spend money, even for household needs; it is even less proper to spend it on someone who is not even a member of the household. He was unable to decide, when suddenly there appeared to him a vision of the Holy of Holies - a likeness of the Rebbe - standing before him and regarding him with a stern glance. Immediately, he took the purse with the three thousand rubles and went to Reb Shmuel Brin's home.

When he arrived, he discovered Reb Shmuel studying Tur, Choshen Mishpat. Reb Shmuel greeted him warmly, and began to speak words of encouragement concerning his recent losses in the fires (at the time, Reb Shmuel had been out of town). He reminded him of the well-known saying,[6] "after a fire, people become rich."

Reb Leib listened, and was amazed at Reb Shmuel's mental fortitude and inner strength, at a time when his fortunes were overturned (may G-d preserve us). Nine months earlier, he had been planning to purchase a large mansion, and now his fortune was at its lowest ebb; he had lost everything and now found himself in debt, unable to afford even a proper meal.

In spite of all the forgoing, he had gone to attend to the rafting business, had traveled to Lubavitch, returned with a chassidic discourse, and repeated it for the public benefit, happily and with a joyful voice. Now, he found him studying Choshen Mishpat, and what's more, Reb Shmuel was even attempting to comfort him!

"What do you plan to do now?" Reb Leib asked Reb Shmuel.

"As for myself," replied Reb Shmuel, "you know what women say: 'At the beginning of the week one must speak only of happy things'; my present situation is not fit to discuss at this moment. However, I am sincerely hopeful that G-d will help. I have done what I could: I went to inspect the ready-made rafts, and I also examined much good merchandise that was sitting on the river bank waiting to be loaded onto rafts. Now, it's up to G-d (blessed be He), to provide me with the necessary funds, and to grant me His abundant blessing."

[Reb Shmuel described his trip to Lubavitch]:

When I arrived in Lubavitch, I was overjoyed to be able to hear a chassidic discourse. I also heard it repeated three times by the Rebbe's sons and his son-in-law. On Sunday I was in yechidus with the Rebbe for over an hour.

The Rebbe expressed his great distress over the trouble being caused by the noblemen who owned the estates and the forests. They harbored resentment toward the Jews, who had leased the [logging rights in] the forests, and who paid high wages to the gentile laborers to cut and transport the lumber. Consequently, the laborers refused to work for the noblemen at lower rates.

"This resentment," [said the Rebbe,] "will raise the level of anti-Semitic feelings and the pogrom spirit that have prevailed during this past year. The Jewish merchants should take this into account - especially those who have taken advantage of the current economic climate to acquire estates and forests from the nobility at very cheap prices."

At the end of the yechidus, the Rebbe inquired about my financial situation, and I gave him a very brief summary of how things stand.

"Shmuel, don't give up," replied the Rebbe. "Buy ready-made rafts, also, buy [logs] at the riverbank, and tie them together yourself [to make rafts]. May G-d (blessed be He) send your way good merchandise and honest businessmen - both locally and in Riga - and some side-income in addition."

When I arrived in Rudnia,[7] I bought a ticket to go all the way home. But when I got on the train, I met Reb Aharon Brudna, who was returning from Smolensk, where he had been involved in the dispute between the wealthy Mrs. Dina Wittenberg of Denenburg and the wealthy Mr. Schwartz of Smolensk. They had agreed to a zabla, and had already chosen their judges for the zabla. Reb Aharon was on his way to see me in Vitebsk, for I was to be the third judge, having been designated by the two chosen judges. We got off the train, and remained in Rudnia to wait for the next train going [in the opposite direction] toward Smolensk.

We labored four days and four nights before we finally succeeded in arranging a compromise and straightening out the particulars of the dispute. I received a generous payment, in the amount of six hundred rubles. I was paid the three hundred from Mr. Schwartz then and there in Smolensk; Reb Aharon Brudna is supposed to send me the three hundred from Mrs. Wittenberg any day.

So you see, my dear Leible, the Rebbe's blessing is already being fulfilled. He blessed me to earn side-income in addition to my business, and (thank G-d) I did earn the income. Leible, one has to be a chassid - then, things are good even in material affairs. I myself (thank G-d) now have some money to pay the grocers, and I will still be left with a few hundred for business expenses.

"But what about the deposit you will have to give to the raft owners?" asked Reb Leib. "And you will also have to pay the oarsmen and the pilots of the rafts. And if you plan to buy [logs] at the riverbank and tie them together by yourself, you will need a fortune - at least several thousand."

"Well, didn't the Rebbe tell me that G-d would send good merchandise my way?" replied Reb Shmuel. "And the holy Rebbe surely knows that you can't buy anything empty-handed! So, it's only reasonable to assume that the blessing includes G-d's sending my way the amount I need to purchase this good merchandise.

"To us chassidim, belief in the sages flows naturally in our veins. We do not need miracles and wonders to prove anything to us. We see the sun in the sky, but none of us has ever investigated or studied it. We have no idea what it is or what this strange object is made of. It has been placed in the sky; but how does it behave, and what sort of thing is it? Yet all of us together know that the sun gives light and benefits all living things; even sick people obtain some relief from their sickness when the sun shines with its maximum power. For chassidim, the Rebbe is their sun, their salvation, and their hope.

"What can I tell you, Leible? We have known each other for thirty years, since we were both young men. You know very well that I was never conceited when things looked up, nor did I ever give up hope when things looked bleak. I always kept in mind that ups and downs are merely parts of a wheel that turns constantly, regardless of whether we are presently on top or on the bottom.

"But this time, I won't hide from you the fact that I am discouraged, and I have almost given up hope entirely. If not for the Rebbe's instructions - transmitted to me by Yisrael Nachman HaKohen,[8] the melamed in the household of Zalman Yeruchem of Velizh - I would have given up business altogether, and become a rabbi, even in a small village."

"Three days before Pesach I received the first news about my business, and by Erev Pesach I already knew that I had fallen into a trap set for me by unscrupulous merchants; I had lost everything I owned, and all that I had borrowed and invested in that unfortunate business.

"It took a great deal of fortitude for me to control my emotions during the first two days of Pesach. During Chol HaMoed I nearly went insane, but I resolved that I would put the whole matter out of my mind until after Pesach was over; with G-d's help, I managed to carry out this resolution.

"At the conclusion of the last day of Pesach, I was sick in bed with a high fever for two days. On the third day I felt a little better, and toward evening Yisrael Nachman HaKohen of Dubravna came to visit me. He told me that he had come from Lubavitch the previous day, and that the Rebbe had given him a message to deliver to me. I had still been sick when he first arrived; since he was in a hurry to depart for Velizh, he had waited for the first opportunity to deliver the message that the Rebbe had sent. This is what he said:

During Chol HaMoed Pesach, Reb Leivik the butler told me that the Rebbe had said to him, "Although Yisrael Nachman HaKohen often departs from Lubavitch without entering for yechidus, this time let him not do so"; for the Rebbe wished to send an extremely urgent message with me. When I entered the Rebbe's chamber, I found him sitting in his chair with two seforim opened in front of him. As I approached, he covered the open seforim with his silk handkerchief, and said to me:

"When you arrive in Vitebsk, go to see Reb Shmuel Brin and inform him that I know everything. I disagree with his decision. On the contrary, I hereby order him to abandon his plans. The Alter Rebbe says that the mind rules over the heart by natural instinct. This applies to the behavior of all people who are worthy of being called human beings. But it especially applies to chassidic behavior. If the heart obeys the head, then the heart can deal with whatever the head understands.

"Repeat these words to Reb Shmuel Brin in person, and let no one else know about it. If you have to wait a day, do so, but you must transmit the message exactly as I have dictated it. Remember, you've been warned!"

"I understood exactly what the message meant. As soon as I was out of bed, I went to shul to daven. When I returned, I met Reb Dov Ber Feigelson, from whom I borrowed thirty rubles for my trip. And now, when I receive my three hundred from Denenburg, I will depart on my business trip."

Reb Leib Posen had been sitting there the whole time, listening to Reb Shmuel Brin's story. He could not think of a way to broach the subject of lending him the purse of money, when suddenly his mouth uttered the idea of its own accord:

"Don't worry about capital for your business venture; I've brought you the necessary amount." Before the words were out, he had produced several packets of fifty- and hundred-ruble notes.

Reb Shmuel's eyes wandered from Reb Leib to the packets of notes lying on the table, and back again, but he said nothing. He could not figure out what was the matter with Reb Leib. He was aware that Reb Leib was a philanthropic individual, and that one could always borrow fifty or even a hundred rubles from him. But a sum such as this could hardly be called a casual loan!

"I've brought you a loan of three thousand rubles," said Reb Leib. "I extend the loan until after you've sold the rafts in Riga. Then, you will repay the exact amount; I don't expect any share of the profits."

"What are you talking about, Leible? I can't accept such a loan from you, and you have no right to offer it. Any investment, even the most sound, has the potential for loss as well as profit. G-d forbid that you risk such a sum in someone else's business, and as a free loan yet! In any case, I refuse to take it from you. Who gave you the idea to make me such a proposition?"

Reb Leib Posen then recounted to Reb Shmuel Brin the whole story from beginning to end, while Reb Shmuel paid close attention.

When Reb Leib finished speaking, Reb Shmuel said to him, "You obeyed all the instructions that the Rebbe gave you. 'Good intentions are counted by G-d as if they were deeds,'[9] and in fact He counts it as though the deed was done to perfection. But for my part, I refuse to take the money from you."

That very night Reb Leib Posen traveled to Lubavitch to complain to the Rebbe about Reb Shmuel's refusal to accept the sum as the Rebbe had instructed. He went in to the Rebbe and deposited the packet of notes on the table.

Early Monday morning, the Rebbe's second butler - Reb Pinchas Leib Magidson - came to Reb Shmuel Brin bringing a sealed package that the Rebbe had sent, along with the following note in the Rebbe's handwriting:

"I hereby send to you three thousand rubles to use in your business venture; this loan is extended until after you have sold the rafts in Riga. May you have much success!"

Reb Leib Posen took with him a purse full of money to repay the debts he owed to the merchants in Moscow for the goods he had lost in the fire, and an additional sum to purchase fresh goods. When Reb Leib arrived in Moscow, he began to tell the local merchants about his losses.

Before he could even finish speaking, one of the leading merchants declared that undoubtedly, they would all be willing to assume a portion of his losses. They would examine their books and let him know what percentage they could afford to discount from his debt. Meanwhile, they would give him as much merchandise as he needed, on credit. A few days later, the merchants informed him that they would cancel fifty percent of the debt, and give him up to two years to pay off the remainder.

That summer, Reb Leib won fifteen thousand rubles in the national lottery. Following the Rebbe's advice, he invested it in linen, acquiring a large quantity of goods at a bargain price. The market price soon rose three-fold. He was equally successful at whatever he put his hand to.

Meanwhile, Reb Shmuel Brin purchased ready-loaded rafts, and also some [logs] tied up on the riverbank. Some [logs] he resold immediately, and some he floated down to Riga as rafts. He earned huge profits and repaid all his debts. Following the Rebbe's advice, he bought a mansion with a large surrounding estate.

Today, Reb Michael Aharon Pisarevsky is quite old. His sons, his daughters, and all his descendants are wealthy business owners.

The chassid Reb Nachman Lipa Zeltzer passed away, leaving behind his sterling reputation and an estate that included mansions, forests, and large business enterprises.

Reb Leib Posen is exceedingly wealthy; his sons are also prosperous, and he is considered one of the aristocracy.

Last but not least - Reb Shmuel Brin left his many businesses to his sons and sons-in-law; he receives an ample income from the mansion that he kept for himself. His home is always open to chassidim, to men of good deeds, and to Torah scholars. He is held in high esteem even by the misnagdim, not to mention by the chassidim.

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) From HaTamim, Issue No. 7, pp. 102-108; 12-13 Tammuz 5697.

2. (Back to text) [The subtitle reads, "From stories told by Reb Meir Mordechai Czernin." The editors of HaTamim included - as a footnote - a brief biography of Reb Meir Mordechai (a translation appears in the next chapter).]

3. (Back to text) [Bava Kamma 92a.]

4. (Back to text) [Kesser Shem Tov, Addendum, chs. 88, 89 and sources cited there; In the Paths of Our Fathers, p. 98.]

5. (Back to text) [Shir HaShirim 2:14. This verse introduces the chassidic discourse; possibly the first discourse of the Hemshech Yonasi, 5640.]

6. (Back to text) [Igros Kodesh, Admur HaZakein, p. 189.]

7. (Back to text) [The train station closest to Lubavitch.]

8. (Back to text) [Reb Yisrael Nachman HaKohen Mariashin was a great-grandson of Reb Yisrael Nachman Mariasha's; cf. Chapter 8 in The Making of Chassidim, Sichos In English, Brooklyn, 1996.]

9. (Back to text) [Kiddushin 40a.]