43 thecommunityconnections.com 845-371-2222 | January 8, ‘25 to tzedakah. The sum he managed to procure by scrimping and saving would have been laughable for a wealthy man, but for Berel, it was a fortune by standards!! In his kvitel, he never mentioned parnossa, focusing instead on his family. One fine day in early spring, the news traveled like wildfire through the small town of Chosnik. The great Maggid of Chernobyl was coming to town for a visit. This was a rare and exemplary honor, which the residents of the small village had never merited. Of all the Jews in his village, Berel anticipated the great Rebbe’s arrival most of all. Ah Kleinigkeit? His Rebbe was coming to town, and perhaps—perhaps the Rebbe would choose to stay in Berel’s home, as was the case several years ago during the Rebbe’s previous visit. Berel tended his general store with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Each of his customers who entered the store were informed of the developments. “Have you heard the news?” Berel asked Zalman the milkman, a special glow on his face. “Can’t say I have,” muttered Zalman, a taciturn man. “The Maggid of Chernobyl is coming to town!” Berel was beside himself with joy. However, within a short time, his anticipation turned to despair. One fine afternoon, two days before the Rebbe’s visit, when the streets were festooned with torches and welcome signs, a stranger walked into Berel’s grocery store. He was dressed like a chosid, but Berel had never met him before. “Good afternoon, can I help you?” asked Berel solicitously. “Am I speaking to Berel, chosid of the great Chernobyler Maggid?” the stranger asked. Berel replied in the affirmative. “Well then, I have a message for you,” said the man, in a somber voice. “A personal message from the Rebbe.” “A message from the Rebbe?” asked Berel breathlessly, his heart beating like a drum. Oh, perhaps, perhaps the Rebbe had decided to stay at his home! “I’m listening,” he replied with forced coolness, waiting to hear the messenger’s next words. But his hopes were cruelly dashed when he heard the message, which hit him with a force of a hammer. “The Maggid of Chernobyl would like to inform you that you may not take part in the welcoming ceremony for his arrival, nor visit him at all during the duration of his stay. The Rebbe has no desire to see you, either in public, at the tisch, or during a private session, and you may not even join the throngs who will accompany him upon his departure.” “B…but why?” gasped Berel, his face ashen. He held tightly onto the herring barrel, certain he would faint. “I’m not finished yet,” said the messenger, a trifle impatiently. “The Rebbe has agreed to see you under one condition. You must prepare the sum of 2,000 golden rubles to give to the Rebbe, to be distributed for tzedaka.” Berel’s head spun. In those days, 2,000 golden rubles was a princely fortune, greater than the sum total of all his possessions combined. Even if he was to sell his general store, his home, his wife’s jewelry, and everything he owned, he could barely come up with 500 golden rubles. Berel realized with a sinking heart that the Rebbe knew all this already, and for some reason, the Rebbe truly did not want to see him. “Is…is that the Rebbe’s final condition?” asked Berel in a hoarse voice. The stranger looked at him with derision. “The Rebbe doesn’t make any conditions,” he said. “This is the message in its entirety.” Then he turned on his heels and left. It took Berel half an hour just to get his breathing under control. When he had calmed down somewhat, and downed a hot glass of tea, he rehashed the conversation once more. One thought stood out in his mind. What if the man was an imposter? Surely the Rebbe wouldn’t punish a loyal chosid with such a harsh punishment. Berel decided that come what may, he would join the crowds greeting the Rebbe, and hope for the best. Yet an inner voice told him that the messenger was serious, and it was in his best interests to obey. The next two days were The Rebbe has agreed to see you under one condition. You must prepare the sum of 2,000 golden rubles to give to the Rebbe, to be distributed for tzedaka
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