1504 (5787-05) 24 Tishrei 5787 (Oct. 5)

"Fish Store or Torah Scholar?"

A few hours after Yom Kippur he received a message that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov wanted to speak to him. "I want you to know that your prayers caused a great uproar in Heaven," the Rebbe said.

Why This Week? First week after the many holidays - back to work!

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Fish Store or Torah Scholar?

There was a special young man that lived in Berditchov. He spent his days immersed in prayer and Torah study in shul [which was also a Beis Hamedrash ('study hall')]. As his family grew he realized that he wouldn't be able to continue his present lifestyle; he would have to provide some source of income. He spent time thinking what he could do to earn a living. He decided to buy wholesale a barrel of herring fish and then go to the market place to sell them as single fish and thus earn a meager income. It wasn't a great business but at least his wife and children wouldn't starve.

When Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur arrived, he went to davven (pray) in the shul of the famous Rabbi Levi-Yitzchak of Berditchov. He was so glad to be able to spend a few days completely immersed in prayer again. The tears flowed down his face as he poured out his heart to the Almighty: how difficult it was for him being unable to spend his day in the Beis Hamedrash as in the past. Instead of studying the words of Abaye and Rava[1], Rashi and Tosfos[2] , Ramban and Rashba[3] , he was busy selling herring.

His memories of those elevating times aroused his emotions and tears. He begged G-D to allow him to once again be able spend his day in Torah and prayer.

After Yom Kippur he received a message. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov wants to speak to him. He entered the Rebbe's study and waited to hear what the great Rabbi wanted.

The Rebbe said, "I want you to know that your prayers caused a great uproar in Heaven. On the night of Yom Kippur, you cried to the L-rd, pouring out your heart how you can't spend your day in the Beis Hamedrash studying. You prayed that He should give you 120 gold coins and that would suffice you for a whole year to sit and study.

"However, after a night's sleep and thinking it over you changed your mind. You decided that if you have such a large sum of money in one go, your Yetzer Hara (negative impulses) will try and make you open a fish store instead of studying. So, you asked Him to give you 60 now and then 60 for Pesach.

"But then you decided that that isn't a great idea either, so you asked G-D to give you 10 gold coins per month so you would have enough each month. Then by Ne'ilah [the dramatic concluding prayer of Yom Kippur], you decided that the best would be if He would give you two and a half coins each week to provide you and your family with enough food. Thus, my dear friend, your prayers caused a big uproar in Heaven."

"Yes," replied the young man, "that is exactly what I prayed on Yom Kippur. So what was decided in Heaven?" he asked eagerly.

"The answer was 'No'," answered the Rebbe.

"But why?"

"Who said that what you think you need is also what the Master of the World wants from you? Who said He appreciates you more when you are in the Beis Hamedrash? Rather, He decided that He wants you to work honestly for a living, So go sanctify His holy name by your behavior and honesty in business to everyone who meets you. And then, when you come home tired at night, you will force yourself to go to the local shul and join a Torah-study class or acquire a learning-partner, even though you can barely keep your eyes open.

"That's how you will become a true model of what a working person should be, and that is exactly what G-D wants from you."

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Source: Modified and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from a 5784 email of "Inspired by a Story" by Rabbi Dovid Caro, as posted on ShabbosStories.com

Why This Week? First week after the many holidays - back to work!

Biographical note:
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak (Deberamdiger) of Berditchev [5500 - 25 Tishrei 5571 (1740 - Oct. 1810)] is one of the most respected and popular rebbes in chasidic history. He was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov. Many of his teachings are contained in the posthumously published Kedushat Levi. He is best known, however, for his love for every Jew and his perpetual intercession before Heaven on their behalf. [His son wrote about him in the introduction to his own book, Kesser Torah, "He raised up thousands upon thousands of disciples... and ignited within them a passion for learning Torah and serving the Creator with love. His own divine service was such that even the angels above were envious of him!"

Footnotes:
[1]Two major sages of the Babylonian Talmud [their burial location here in Tsfat ('Safed') is a place of pilgrimage.
[2]The two most prominent commentators on the Talmud; their explanations are printed in all 36 tractates of the Babylonian Talmud.
[3]Two famous commentators a few generations after the above two.

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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