Page 53 - HaMizrachi Australia Sukkot 5781

But the chassid was determined to suc- “We will not deny you food,” the host problem. On the one hand, he had only
ceed in his mission; he just would not assured him, “but you may not enter remained in Berditchev in order to use
take “no” for an answer. our sukkah to eat it.” the etrog he had sold for the Rebbe’s
World to Come. On the other hand,
Eventually, after a lengthy debate, Angry and deeply offended, Berel every year of his life – in stormy wind,
Berel was brought to the court of the stormed out of the house, vowing pouring rain, or frosty snow he had
Berditchever Rebbe and offered a very never to return to such an ungracious eaten in a sukkah, or at least recited kid-
handsome price for his etrog. Still the host. But when he knocked on the door dush there, on the first night of Sukkot.
merchant refused. “But you haven’t of a neighbor and asked if he could join
heard my final offer yet,” Reb Levi him in his sukkah, to his total astonish- Berel thought it over again and again.
Yitzchak proposed in a soft voice. ment, this fellow, too, refused. Finally, he concluded that no matter
what he stood to lose, he had to do
Berel was about to raise his hand to He tried door after door, house after what was right: He had to eat in a
indicate that he would not change his house, but every chassid in Berditchev sukkah the first night of Sukkot. “Very
mind for any sum of money, but before turned him away. Berel was beside well,” the businessman responded
he managed to convey this message, himself with resentment and frustra- with a heavy heart, “I will resell you
the Rebbe dropped his bombshell: “Sell tion. “What an evil town of sinners!” your portion in the World to Come in
me your etrog in exchange for my por- he thought to himself. “Imagine deny- exchange for a meal in a sukkah.”
tion in the World to Come.” ing a fellow Jew permission to eat in
a sukkah!” Reb Levi Yitzchak breathed a deep
The Rebbe’s offer was astounding! As sigh of relief and offered Berel a
a businessman, Berel recognized a It was already after midnight and the warm embrace and an explanation:
terrific deal when he heard one, and merchant was as hungry as he was “In my eagerness to secure an etrog for
this was one proposition no Jew could furious. In desperation, he approached my People, I gave away my World to
afford to pass up. After all, Reb Levi a Jewish family on the other side of Come. Once I had made the deal, how-
Yitzchak’s piety was legendary and town and begged to be let in. This ever, I deeply regretted my decision,
there was no doubt at all that a spe- resident refused him, too, although for how could I how dare I give away
cial place of honor awaited him in the not as rudely as the others. He also something so precious to a person who
World to Come. hinted that the Berditchever Rebbe might have done nothing to earn it?
was behind the ban on Berel. Enraged,
The Rebbe explained his proposal, Berel made a beeline for Reb Levi After all, did you not refuse at first to
making the deal sound even more Yitzchak’s house and burst through share your etrog with the Jews of Ber-
tempting “We wouldn’t want you to the door. ditchev, knowing full well that without
be lacking an etrog for Yom Tov, so you “What have you done to me?” the busi- it we would all have been deprived of
will be our guest for the holiday, and nessman snarled through clenched the mitzvah?
you may use the etrog just like every teeth, confronting the Rebbe. “Don’t I “But now that I see you have passed
other Jew in Berditchev.” this difficult trial of faith and opted to
have the right to fulfill the mitzvah of
The merchant immediately gave his eating in a sukkah on the first night of do what is right, it is clear that you are
consent and sent word to his family. Sukkot?” “You certainly do,” the Rebbe truly deserving of my World to Come.
He was then given comfortable accom- replied, “...provided that you sell me “And now, Reb Berel, please come into
modations in the home of one of the back my World to Come.” my sukkah, where it will be my honor
Rebbe’s chassidim. “What?!” Berel smacked his palms to personally serve you.”
On the first night of Sukkot — when together as he lost all control of his  Heard from Rabbi Yosef Zeinwerth.
the Torah commands us to eat in a temper. “You,” he accused, “are sup-
sukkah – Berel joined Berditchev’s posed to be the pious Reb Levi Yitzchak
chassidim for evening prayers in the of Berditchev, the leader and advocate
shul. The service was moving and was of the Jewish People. But look how low
chanted with an enthusiasm and an you have stooped, tricking me into
intensity that he had never experi- abandoning my family and selling my
enced before. He returned home from etrog under false pretenses!”
shul extremely inspired and looking “My dear friend,” the Rebbe said
forward to the festive meal he was calmly, “my World to Come is still
about to enjoy. But when he walked yours, and our deal is still a deal. Rabbi Hanoch Teller is an internationally
through the door, his host turned to However, if you wish to eat in a sukkah acclaimed storyteller extraordinaire, an
him and said, “You may not eat in our tonight, you will have to sell it back award-winning author and a producer. A member of
sukkah.” to me.” His new podcast “Teller from Jerusalem” the Mizrachi
chronicles the stories of the early struggles Speakers Bureau
The merchant could not believe his The businessman paced back and of the modern State of Israel. Available mizrachi.org/
ears! forth, thinking over his terrible wherever you listen to podcasts. speakers

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