Chassidic Story
# 274 (s5763-20/
12 Shvat)
THE
WITNESSING TREE Being well aware
of the Ohr HaChaim’s reputation as a miracle-worker, he left without
questioning the great rabbi’s instructions
THE
WITNESSING TREE The wheel of fortune
had taken a downward turn for a once-wealthy Jew who lived in the Moroccan city
of Rabat. He was forced to leave home and wander from city to city and town to
town, in search of an appropriate business opportunity that would enable him to
support the large extended family that had come to depend on him. His faith in
the One that provides all was strong, but still, the forging of a receptacle for
the Al-mighty's blessing was proving to be difficult. Finally, after several
failed attempts, he succeeded in amassing a significant amount of money. Now he
would be able to return home. On the way, he passed through the town of
Sali, which is not far from Rabat. As it was already fairly late on Friday, he
figured he had better remain in Sali for Shabbat. A good friend from his
youth whom he had not seen in many years lived there, and he knew he would find
a warm welcome at his house. Indeed, as soon as his friend saw him, he
insisted that his surprise guest remain for Shabbat. The weary traveler
accepted the invitation happily. Before candlelighting, he gave his money pouch
to his host for safekeeping, so that he wouldn't have to worry about it during
the Day of Rest. By Saturday night, the traveler was anxious to reach home.
Immediately after Havdalah, he requested his money pouch back from his
friend. "What are you talking about?" denied his host. "You
never left any money with me." The stunned guest could not believe
his ears. He almost fainted. When he recovered his senses, he begged his (former)
friend to return to him the money he had labored so long and hard for, and that
was critical to his family's survival . The host blew up. "You have
some nerve!" he yelled. "Aren't you embarrassed? You slept in my house,
you ate at my table, and now you dare hurl at me these false accusations!" Seeing
the 'righteous' indignation on his host's face, the man realized there was no
chance that this conniver would admit what he had done and give back the money
willingly. He decided he had better go right away to make a claim at Beit Din
(rabbinical court). The Rabbi of Sali at the time was the famous Ohr
HaChaim, Rabbi Chaim Ibn Atar. The two men went to his house. Rabbi Chaim
listened carefully to both sides. He then addressed the host: "This Jew claims
the money that he says he deposited with you on Erev Shabbat. What do you
say?" "It never happened," the man answered glibly. "He
is making it up and slandering me." Rabbi Chaim turned to the hapless
guest. "Perhaps there was a witness at the time you say you handed your money
to him?" The dejected man now felt even worse. "No, there was
no witness there. Just before Shabbat we sat under a tree. That is when
I took my pouch out of my pocket and gave it to him to hold for me until Saturday
night." "Under a tree? Very good!" cried out the Ohr HaChaim
excitedly. "Go back and summon that tree to be a witness on your behalf!" The
traveler was shocked when it sunk in what the rabbi wanted him to do, but being
well aware of the Ohr HaChaim's reputation as a miracle-worker, he stood up and
left the house, without questioning the great rabbi's instructions. After
just a few minutes, the Ohr HaChaim remarked, casually, that for sure the man
has already reached the tree. "What do you mean, Rabbi?" responded
the other man spontaneously. "That tree is quite far from here." With
a hard stare right at the man's eyes, the Ohr HaChaim declared: "Give that
poor innocent Jew his money back, right now!" Seeing the surprise on the
man's face, the Rabbi stroked his beard and added: "If you didn't receive
the money from him under that tree, how is it that you know where the tree is!" The
man turned pale. Without saying another word, he promptly returned the money that
had been entrusted to him. After he finally reached home, the merchant utilized
most of his hard-earned savings for wise investments, and with G-d's help became
wealthy again as he had been once before. [Translated and
freely adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles (and first published in Kfar Chabad
Magazine - English) from Echyeh v'Asapar, pp. 145-146. You may distribute
this e-mail as long as full attribution is given, including Ascent's email and
internet addresses.] Biographical note: Rabbi Chaim (ben Moshe) Ibn
Atar (1696-1743) is best known as the author of one of the most important
and popular commentaries on the Torah: the Ohr HaChaim. He established
a major yeshiva in Israel, after moving there from Morocco. Chassidic tradition
is that the main reason the Baal Shem Tov twice tried so hard (and failed) to
get to the Holy Land was that he said if he could join the Ohr HaChaim there,
together they could bring Moshiach. He is buried outside the walls of the Old
City of Jerusalem.
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