Weekly Chasidic Story #1056 (s5778-25/ 18 Adar 5778)

Hospitality for Man and Beast

"Honored Rabbis," he cried out to Rabbi Elimelech and Rabbi Zusha. "Why have you done this to me?"

Connection: Seasonal: Wednesday night-Thursday is the 231st yahrzeit of the Rebbe Elimelech of Lishinsk


Hospitality for Man and Beast


For many years the two saintly brothers, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk and Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli, wandered the back roads of Galicia. Disguised as simple beggars, they journeyed from town to town and from village to village, refining their souls with the travails of exile and inspiring their brethren with words of wisdom and encouragement.

Late one evening, the brothers arrived in the town of Lodmir. Seeing a lighted window in a large, well-appointed home, they knocked on the door and asked for a place to stay the night. "I don't run a hotel," was the irate response of its large, well-appointed resident. "There's a poorhouse near the synagogue for wandering beggars. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding accommodations there.
"
The heavy door all but slammed in their faces, and Rabbi Elimelech and Rabbi Zusha walked on. Soon they came upon another lighted home, whose resident, the town scribe,* welcomed them in and put his humble hut and resources at their disposal.

Several years later, the two brothers again visited Lodmir. This time, they were official guests of the community, which had requested that the now-famous rabbis come for a Shabbat to grace the town with their presence and teachings.
At the welcoming reception held in their honor and attended by the entire town, a wealthy gentleman approached them.

"Rabbis!" he announced, "the town council has granted me the honor of hosting you during your stay. G d has been generous to me, and you'll want for nothing in my home. I've already explained to your coachman how to find my residence, though he's sure not to miss it-everyone knows where 'Reb Feivel' lives..."

The gathering dispersed, and Rabbi Elimelech and Rabbi Zusha went to pay their respects to the town rabbi and meet with the scholars in the local study hall. The rich man went home to supervise the final arrangements for the rabbis' stay. Soon the coachman arrived with the brothers' coach and luggage. The horses were placed in the stables, the luggage in the rabbis' rooms, and the coachman settled in the servants' quarters.

Hours passed, but still no sign of the two visitors. Growing anxious, the host sought out their coachman. "What happened?" he asked. "When are they going to come here?"
"They're not coming," said the coachman. "Rabbi Elimelech and Rabbi Zusha are staying at the scribe's home."

"At the scribe's?! What are you talking about?! You're here, aren't you?"

"Those were the rabbis' instructions. 'Take the horses and our luggage to Reb Feivel's,' they said to me. 'We'll be staying with the scribe.' "

Reb Feivel rushed to the scribe's hut and fairly knocked down the door. "Honored Rabbis," he cried, finding Rabbi Elimelech and Rabbi Zusha before the fire, having a cup of tea with their host. "Why have you done this to me? It was agreed that I would host you. You must tell me what I have done to deserve such humiliation!"

"But you are hosting us," said Rabbi Elimelech, "at least, that part of us that you desire to host. Last time we were here, but without a coach, horses, coachman and bundles of pressed clothes, you turned us away from your door. Nothing about us, personally, has changed, so it is not us you want in your home now, but our coachman, horses and luggage-which are currently enjoying your hospitality!"
~~~~~~~~~~~

Source: As told by Yanki Tauber. Supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from //lizensk.com and A Treasury of Chassidic Tales, Festivals (p. 194).
* Editor's note:
According to another version, he was "a poor chasid named Aharon, who was related by marriage to Rebbe Aharon of Karlin.
Biographical notes:
Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk [of blessed memory: 5477 - 21 Adar A, 5547 (1717 - March 1787 C.E.)], was a leading disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov, and the leading Rebbe of the subsequent generation in Poland-Gallitzia. Most of the great Chassidic dynasties in that area stem from his disciples. His book, Noam Elimelech, is one of the most popular of all Chassidic works.
Rabbi [Meshulam-]Zusha of Anapoli [of blessed memory: ? - 2 Shvat 5560 (?-Jan. 1800 C.E.)], was also a major disciple of the Maggid. The seemingly unsophisticated but clearly inspired "Reb Zusha" is one of the best known and most beloved Chassidic personalities. He and his famous brother, the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk, spent many years wandering in exile, for esoteric reasons.
Connection: Wednesday night-Thursday is the 231st yahrzeit of the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk


 



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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