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33 With the Rebbe’s Power T O L D B Y T O N Y S A L O M O N - M A ‘A R AV I In our town, the Hasidim used to beam with joy whenever anyone returned from a long journey and brought back with him some miracle worked by the rebbe’s* power. One day the worshipers in the tailors’ synagogue found out that a young man from Dorohoi had been suggested as a match for Reb** Henokh Stoller’s daughter, Idislen. Because Reb Henokh had relatives and lots of acquaintances in that town, he went to Dorohoi to learn something about the proposed match. Of course, he set out on a lucky day—a Tuesday. And because he left us on a Tuesday, he would arrive on Thursday, so that on Friday, when people come to the synagogue early to pray, he would be sure to learn something. And that’s just how it was. His relatives and acquaintances received him warmly. They all gave him helpful information and advised him that on the Sabbath he should pray at the rebbe’s kloyz.§ They would send the synagogue wardens a note asking that he be admitted to the rebbe right after Havdalah.§§ He should tell the great rabbi about the match that had been proposed for his young daughter. When Reb Henokh came to the kloyz, the wardens greeted him: “Where are you from? What request do you want to make of our great tzadik?”*** Smiling, the chief warden told him, “Our rebbe, may he have a long life, is truly an emissary of God. Listen what a miraculous event occurred because of him: “Here in the town we had a Jew, a tailor, a truly pious man. But he had three grown daughters and, what is more, was as poor as the night. And * A Hasidic rabbi. ** Rabbi or Mr.§ Hasidic house of prayer.§§ Ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath. *** Great scholar or holy person. 250 truth is truth, the poor tailor never complained to God. Heaven forbid! He was always content, steadfast in his faith, and an optimist. But after his daughters started turning thirty he never left the rebbe alone and kept asking him for a great blessing. Because only with a blessing would his daughters find a match. “Three days before Rosh Hashanah the tailor came to the rabbi and told him, amid great sobs: ‘Rabbi, our great tzadik, the year is almost over. A new year is coming and my daughters are all still without a head covering.’ He burst into tears like a little boy. “Our rebbe pondered for a while. Then, as if waking from a deep sleep, he told the poor tailor, ‘Look, my brother, here are a hundred lei.* Tomorrow morning go pray with the first minyan.** Afterward go straight down the street and buy whatever you are offered. Then God will help you.’ “The tailor did as the rebbe said. The next morning, right after the first minyan, he went out with the hundred lei in his hand and started looking for something to buy. “He passed a rich man who was standing by the door to his shop. When the latter noticed the poor tailor, he asked him, almost jeering, ‘Nu, little tailor, what are you looking for so early in the street? Have you already finished all your work? Here it is almost Rosh Hashanah, and you’re going for a stroll.’ “Like an idler, the tailor answered him. ‘Oh, I want to buy something for a hundred lei.’ “ ‘So you have a hundred lei? Nu, what can you find to buy in town so early?You know what? I’ll sell you my share in the world to come.’ “The tailor, feeling very blue, remembered that the rebbe had advised him to buy whatever he was offered. He gave the rich man the hundred lei and started for home. “The city started bustling. Business was brisk, like any holiday eve. The rich man told everyone he met about his good fortune in meeting the little tailor. “People started making fun of him. “What can I tell you, my dear friend,” the first synagogue warden continued . “An important man, when people in town laugh at him—he doesn ’t like it at all. He ran to the poor tailor and asked him to take back the 33 / With the Rebbe’s Power  251  * A relatively small sum. ** Quorum of...

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