One Horse for Purim, one Horse for Pesach

Although Zelig had become one of the wealthier Jews in the area, he remained a simple, modest person, never seeking to draw attention to himself. He made his living as the tenant manager of several estates of the prominent nobleman, Count Dombinsky. Although he was not specially honored within the Jewish community he was highly popular. Everyone referred to him as "Zelig the Manager."

It could be that Zelig's modesty was an inherent trait of his character, but his background was certainly a major contributing factor. For many years he had been nothing but a downtrodden, poverty-stricken wagon driver.

Once, at a mitzvah celebration meal in the synagogue, some of the men asked of Zelig to tell how it came to be that he was able to make such a strikingly upwardly mobile change of professions, from a lowly wagon driver to a respected, wealthy estate manager.

Zelig seemed confused and a bit nervous as everyone turned and stared at him. It was clear that he was uncomfortable at being the center of attention in a large gathering and that it was difficult for him to fulfill their request. Nevertheless, after a bit of pressure, he agreed to tell his story.

* * * * * * * **

Once, when I was still working as a wagon driver there was a ferocious storm. Sheets of rained pounded down from the heavens, accompanied by crackling lightning and mighty, terrifying winds.

People wisely refrained from leaving their houses, and certainly they were not about to embark on any out-of-town trips. Unfortunately, I had already obligated myself to one of the powerful noblemen of the area to deliver for him a wagon of goods to a distant location. I realized that if I delayed another day I would be in more physical danger from the furious noble than from the weather!

So, feeling I had no better choice, I elected to take my chances with the storm. I drove slowly and cautiously, but still, it was nothing less than a miracle that the wagon did not sink in the mud or an axle or a wheel did not break. After a few hours, I suddenly noticed a large bearded Jewish man off the side of the road. He was totally and thoroughly drenched from head to toe and his clothes looked like they were made out of mud.

I slowed down in order to pull over and offer my help. As I got close to the bedraggled storm victim, I saw to my amazement and horror that it was none other than the holy Sasover Rebbe! I quickly lent a hand for him to climb into the wagon, and helped him to shake and scrape the water and mud off of his garments.

He stared at me in wonder as if I were a redeeming angel from Heaven, while for my part I also stared at him, bewildered as to how it could be that the Rebbe was standing alone on the ride in the middle of nowhere in such terrible conditions.

The Sasover explained to me that he had committed himself to regularly travel to see his parents in Brod, where they lived. Occasionally it happened, as in this case, that when the time to visit came, he would find himself with no ready money, and therefore would have to journey the long distance from the town of Sassov to the city of Brod by foot. The morning he had set out the weather had not been so bad. After a time he was overtaken by the storm, but he had not been willing to turn back from the path to perform a mitzvah once he had already begun.

He then asked me how much money I expected to profit from the delivery job I was on. I told him, whereupon he said that he would obligate himself to pay me a much greater fee, if only I would agree to first take him to Brod.

The truth is that by that moment when he made his request there was already no need to do so. I had already pulled in the reins and shifted direction toward Brod. The way was extremely difficult, and many times I thought we would not make it. But finally, with the kindness of the Almighty, we arrived at our destination a few days later. The following week, after the weather improved and the roads dried out a bit, I drove the Rebbe back to Sasov.

Before we parted, the Rebbe repeated his promise to pay me as generously as he had first said. I, however, had never intended to take from that holy leader any payment whatsoever for helping him in his desperate situation. But knowing he wouldn't be pleased, I had waited until the final moment to tell him of my intentions. He, of course, insisted on paying me, but I just as firmly maintained my refusal.

Finally, to placate him, I said that although I wouldn't accept money from him, I would be delighted to receive a blessing. He thought for a few moments and then asked me, "What do you own?"

I couldn't understand what he meant by asking me that, so I answered simply, "These two horses." He considered again for a few long moments, and then gave me the most perplexing statement I ever heard of in my life: "Well, then, one horse shall be for Purim and the other shall be for Pesach."

"What sort of blessing is this?" I thought to myself. But I didn't have the nerve to question him about it.

Several weeks passed and it was already close to Purim. Two days before the holiday, one of my horses became ill and died. I was very upset. Still, the money I received by selling his carcass was enough to provide for the needs of the festival.

Four weeks later my second horse died suddenly. It was a disaster, destroying my ability to derive income, but this time too, the sale of the dead animal enabled me to barely meet the major expenditures of the Pesach holiday.

Now I realized what the Sasover Rebbe had hinted with his strange words. "One horse for Purim" meant for the needs of Purim, and "one for Pesach" meant for the required purchases for those eight days.

Immediately after Pesach, I went to call upon the Sasover Rebbe. I told him how his words had indeed come true, and in amazing fashion, but bemoaned the fact that now I was in extremely difficult circumstances with no means to make a living.

The Rebbe gazed at me with sparkling eyes and a beaming smile. He remarked cheerfully, "It seems that it has been decided in Heaven that you have spent enough years as a miserable wagon driver. The time has arrived for you to become rich!"

I stared at him dumbly, unable to utter a word. Could I really have heard him correctly? But then the Rebbe continued and said, "Take my advice. Go and lease a nice property from one of the nobility. Then you can make a nice living as an estate manager."

My initial reaction was that the Rebbe was teasing me, even though I knew a holy person such as he would never do such a thing. I didn't even have the money to purchase a new horse; how could I possibly come up with the funds to lease a prosperous estate? I left the Rebbe's room, only barely managing to conceal my perplexity and doubts at what he had told me.

I made my way from village to village -- confused, depressed, and at a loss over what to do next. One day, while sitting in an inn, I overheard a conversation between two Jewish merchants. It seemed that all the Jewish managers of the estates of Count Dombinsky had quit and left the region, due to his evil disposition and his ill treatment of them. The Count told the two men that he would not do any business with them until they found him a new Jewish renter to take over at least one of his properties.

I jumped up, ran over to them and volunteered to be the tenant manager they sought. It was absolutely clear that this is what the Rebbe had intended.

The Count acted pleased to meet me. When I told him I couldn't afford the lease money, he generously offered to waive the first year's payment and allowed me to rent an excellent estate with great income-producing potential. Over the years our relationship grew stronger and he encouraged me to lease other properties of his as well. Thus I prospered and became as you see me today.

I know all my predecessors and many other Jews found the Count to be a terrible person, but he has always treated me very well. I assume it is in the merit of the Sasover Rebbe's blessing.

[Translated and freely adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles from Sichat HaShavua #374.
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Biographical note:
Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sasov [1745 - 4 Shvat 1807] was a disciple of the Maggid, Reb Shmelke, and the Rebbe Elimelech, and a teacher of the Seer and the Zhidachover. He was well-known for his extraordinary dedication to helping widows and orphans and for his creative musical talent.

Yrachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and editor of Ascent Quarterly and the AscentOfSafed.com and KabbalaOnline.org websites. He has hundreds of published stories to his credit.