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Weekly Chasidic Story #752 (s5772-31 / 2 Iyar 5772) Three Times No If the deal succeeded he would make millions. He hurried off to Lubavitch for the advice and blessing of the Rebbe Maharash. Connection:Seasonal - the 178th anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe Maharash.
Three Times No
The fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel (the Rebbe Maharash), had a certain chasid who was a successful businessman. Before undertaking any significant deal, he always consulted the Rebbe and followed his instructions. One time, the chasid was offered a fabulous opportunity. If successful -- and most certainly it would be -- he would make millions. The deal, however, required that he invest almost his entire fortune. As he never would consider making such a major move without the Rebbe's advice and blessing, he set off to the hamlet of Lubavitch to speak to the Maharash. The Rebbe listened carefully to the details of the proposition, but then told him that he should not go through with the deal. The chasid was stunned. He tried to convince the Rebbe that this was a sound proposal; he described all of the great profits to be made, but to no avail. The Rebbe's answer was final: NO! A few days later, the would-be business partners came to the chasid. When they heard that he was not interested, based upon the Maharash's answer, they laughed at him. "Certainly you didn't understand the Rebbe's words," they chided. "Or maybe there were some important details you left out that would solicit a different answer. After all," they said, "isn't there a saying that 'according to how you ask, that is how you're answered?' Go back to the Rebbe and make sure to tell him all the details. You'll see, the answer will be different this time." Back to Lubavitch the chasid went. "Rebbe," he pleaded, "obviously I did not explain myself well enough last time. We're talking about tremendous sums of money. I can become rich overnight and give much tzedaka as well." The Rebbe listened patiently once again. At the end of the "presentation" his answer was simple and direct: "No. It's not worthwhile." The chasid made his way home, thinking about all the money he could have made, if only the Rebbe would have agreed. "The Rebbe doesn't even explain his reasons," thought the chasid. But his friends and family wouldn't let up. "It's forbidden to lose such an opportunity," they cried. "Go back to the Rebbe again and certainly the answer will be different." In his third attempt, the chasid tried everything, even begging the Rebbe to let him make the deal, but the Rebbe answered once again, "No." When the chasid came home, he couldn't stand up to the pressure of family and friends, and contrary to the Rebbe's advice, he signed the deal. He quieted his conscience by telling himself that he would now give really a lot of charity. Unfortunately, things did not go well. In a short while, the chasid lost all his money. The chasid realized how wrong it was to not have followed the
Rebbe's instruction. Full of regret, he made his way back a fourth time to see
the Rebbe. "There are people," said the Rebbe, "big businessmen among them, who come to ask my advice concerning important matters. Sometimes the issues are quite complex; matters which I have never engaged in, nor did my ancestors. So then why do they ask me my advice, and follow my instructions and counsel? "There are three possible answers, each one matching a different type of Jew who comes to me. "One person thinks, 'It's very simple. The Rebbe has ruach hakodesh - Divine Inspiration! He is a G-dly man, a prophet. It is G-d's words coming from his mouth and therefore we must follow him, no questions asked!' "Another type," continued the Rebbe, "is a person who operates on a different level, somewhat more down to earth. 'The Rebbe studies Torah all the time and serves G-d with his entire being. His intellect is totally nullified to G-d's Will. Therefore, everything he says stems from Torah and certainly his words will be fulfilled.' "The third type," explained the Rebbe, "says, 'The Rebbe meets so many people, from all over the world and from all walks of life. He has acquired an incredibly broad knowledge of worldly matters. With this knowledge and his ability to see things from many different angles, the Rebbe sees what others cannot. Therefore, we must listen to him.' "Whichever group you might belong to," the Rebbe Maharash
concluded, "you should never have gone through with the deal after hearing
from me not once, not twice, but three times clearly 'no!'" Connection: Seasonal -- the 178th anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe Maharash. Biographic note: ~~~~~~~~~~~
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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.