Reb Yosef and The Milk

There once lived a man whose name was Yosef. One day, Reb Yosef was walking down the street, feeling very sad.

“I have no money,” Reb Yosef thought to himself. “I need money to feed my family, and to buy clothes for them. I have to get a good job.”

Reb Yosef decided to go to the marketplace. There, he hoped, he would have an opportunity to make money.

So, Reb Yosef went to the marketplace. As Reb Yosef was walking around in the marketplace, it did not seem as if there was anyone there who might be able to help him.

Then, Reb Yosef heard someone shouting: “Who wants to buy milk? A dollar a quart! Milk for sale! So good for you, and your children too!”

“Well,” Reb Yosef thought. “Selling milk—that’s a good job. Everybody needs milk. But cows are expensive, and I don’t have enough money to buy one!”

Reb Yosef went over to the milkman and asked: “Excuse me, Mr. Milkman. Where do you get your milk from?”

“Oh, well I rent cows from the poretz,” replied the milkman. “Every day, I go the poretz’s castle, milk my cows, and sell the milk.

Then, I pay the poretz ten cents for each quart of milk that I sell.

“Sometimes the poretz is in a bad mood and wants more money, but otherwise, I pay ten cents for every quart.”

That sounded like a good job to Reb Yosef. Of course, the price of milk fluctuates. But just as the price of milk can fall, many times the price rises, too.

Reb Yosef decided to go to the castle of the poretz, and see if he would also be able to rent cows and sell their milk.

The poretz happened to be in a very bad mood that day. When Reb Yosef arrived at the castle, the guards did not want to let him at first.

When Reb Yosef told the guards that he wanted to rent some cows, they let him in. “The poretz likes money. If he finds out that we did not let this man in, he might be very upset,” they thought.

So, Reb Yosef went inside the castle and approached the poretz’s room. He knocked on the door and was let in.

He said to the poretz: “My name is Yosef. I heard that you rent cows.”

“Yes, yes! Now, how can I help you, Yosef?” asked the poretz, angrily.

“Oh, I would like to know if I can rent some cows from you,” replied Reb Yosef. “The other milkmen told me that you rent cows, and charge ten cents for each quart of milk.”

“Ten cents for a quart? You must be kidding! Those guys were lucky. I charge fifty cents per quart!” the poretz replied.

Reb Yosef really had no choice. Either he could sign the contract, or could just remain a poor man.

Reb Yosef decided to sign the contract with the poretz. After all, even if he got to keep only fifty cents for himself, that was still money!

In the contract, it said that every day, a servant would come to see how much milk Reb Yosef sold. For every quart, Reb Yosef would have to pay fifty cents, regardless of the price of milk at the time.

After Reb Yosef signed the contract, he went with one of the servants into the barn, to select his cows.

The next day, Reb Yosef woke up early, da’avened and ate, and went to the poretz’s barn to feed and milk his cows.

Reb Yosef then took his milk and brought it to the marketplace to sell. “Who wants to buy milk?” he shouted. “Who wants to buy milk?”

By the end of the day, Reb Yosef sold enough milk that he would be able to feed his family. He paid the poretz’s servant, and went home.

This went on for a few days. Everything was going well, B”H.

Then, one day, when Reb Yosef went to the marketplace to sell his milk, he found out that the price of milk fell! The price dropped to eighty cents a quart! That meant that he made only thirty cents off each quart of milk that he sold.

But, Reb Yosef just went ahead and sold the milk. At least he was making some money for his family.

The next day was not any better for Reb Yosef. The price of milk went down to seventy cents per quart! Now Reb Yosef was left with only twenty cents per quart for himself and his family.

The next day too, the price of milk dropped. The price of milk was sixty cents per quart! Reb Yosef hoped that the next day, the price would not drop again—but it did!

Now Reb Yosef did not make any money off the milk that he sold! He was in big trouble. When the poretz’s servant came for the payment, Reb Yosef had to give him all his money.

That day, Reb Yosef went home empty handed! His children were hungry, but there was nothing that he was able to do.

The next day, Reb Yosef did not make any money either! Now he was in bigger trouble than before.

Before, he was a poor man, but now, he is a poor man that is selling milk for the poretz without any pay!

Reb Yosef started da’avening and saying tehillim. He needed money for his family! Then, Reb Yosef thought of an idea.

Reb Yosef decided that he would go to the tzaddik, Reb Chaim Meyer.

Reb Yosef traveled to Reb Chaim Meyer, and was able to speak with him. He told Reb Chaim Meyer what was going on, and how he was not making any money.

Reb Chaim Meyer told him: “Reb Yosef, you have traveled a long journey to come here. Why don’t you stay here for Shabbos?” He did not say anything about Reb Yosef’s problem, and he did not give any advice. He just invited Reb Yosef to stay for Shabbos!

Although Reb Yosef did not understand why Reb Chaim Meyer wanted him to stay for Shabbos, he accepted the invitation.

On Motzo’ei Shabbos, Reb Chaim Meyer called Reb Yosef over to his study. Reb Chaim Meyer said: “Reb Yosef, on Motzo’ei Shabbos, I like to smoke my pipe.” He then took some tobacco, and put it in his pipe.

Reb Chaim Meyer said: “What I need you to do, is help me light my pipe. Next to the fireplace, are some papers that you can ignite and bring to me, so that I can light my pipe.”

So, Reb Yosef went to the fireplace, and put one of the pieces of paper in the fire. As he was walking back to Reb Chaim Meyer, the fire suddenly went out.

“How about getting a bigger paper this time?” asked Reb Chaim Meyer. Reb Yosef went back to the fireplace, ignited another paper, and brought it to Reb Chaim Meyer.

But, just as Reb Chaim Meyer was about to light his pipe, the fire went out. Reb Chaim Meyer said: “Do you see that pile of papers in the corner? Try using one of those papers.”

So, Reb Yosef got another paper, lit it, and brought it to Reb Chaim Meyer. This time Reb Chaim Meyer was able to light his pipe.

Reb Yosef was still wondering what would be when he would return home. He needed to provide for his family, and it did not seem as if Reb Chaim Meyer had a way to help him at all!

After a few minutes of silence, Reb Chaim Meyer said with a smile: “Reb Yosef, thank you for staying for Shabbos, and thank you for lighting my pipe. Don’t worry about your problem. Just go home, and Hashem will help.”

The next morning, Reb Yosef da’avened, ate, and then set out on his trip home.

When he returned to his home town, he noticed many people congregating together, as if something big had occurred. When the yidden in the town saw Reb Yosef, they ran over to him.

They said: “Reb Yosef, do you know what happened last night, motzo’ei Shabbos? There was a big fire and the poretz’s barn burned down! Some people say that lightning hit it, and started a fire.

“By the time anyone was able to put out the fire, the whole barn had burned down to the ground. Reb Yosef, don’t you have some cows there?”

“Yes,” replied Reb Yosef. “I have a few cows that I keep there.”

“Well,” someone said, “they got all burned up! How will you make a living now?”

Reb Yosef really did not know! How would he make a living, now that he didn’t have any cows?

When Reb Yosef approached his home, he saw something very strange in his yard. In his yard, were his ten cows! “How can this be?” he thought to himself. “I thought that all the cows had been burnt!”

Now Reb Yosef felt a little happier. Now that he had his cows, he would be able to sell his milk the next day.

Reb Yosef went inside, and told his family about everything that had transpired over Shabbos.

When he told his family the story of how he lit Reb Chaim Meyer’s pipe, his wife said: “Yosef, that is very interesting! Did you hear what happened with the poretz’s barn?”

“Yes! I heard about it,” Reb Yosef replied.

”Well,” continued his wife, “first came one lightning, then another, and then, by the third lightning, the poretz’s barn caught fire. It seems like that happened the same time that you were lighting your Rebbe’s pipe!”

“I have a question,” Reb Yosef said. “How are our ten cows in our yard, if the poretz’s barn burned down?”

“Oh, well, someone came to our house, and told me that he was on the hill when the barn caught fire. Right away, he ran in, and tried to save as many cows as he was able to. But, he was only able to save our cows, before the whole barn was consumed by fire! “So,” Reb Yosef’s wife concluded, “he brought the cows here, so that we could take care of them for now.”

The next morning, when Reb Yosef went to sell his milk, nobody else was selling milk but him! Now, whoever needed to buy milk, had to come to Reb Yosef. He was able to charge more money, because there was only so much milk, and everybody needed it.

In the end, everything worked out well for Reb Yosef. He had enough money for himself and his family for many years to come!

The Little Zeide

The following story took place in the time of the Ba'al Shem Tov, in a town called Uman. There was a yid named Reb Boruch who lived there. Reb Baruch had a mitzvah that he liked to do very much, and that was the mitzvah of hachnosas orchim, having guests.

Reb Boruch fulfilled the mitzvah of hachnosas orchim in a very special way. Reb Boruch was B”H a wealthy man. He would assign his guests to one of the beautiful rooms in his home. If his guests consisted of an entire family, he would give them one of the separate houses that were in his courtyard.

Of course, Reb Baruch’s guests could stay as long as they wanted. Not only that, but Reb Baruch would give clothes to his poor guests, and to those in need, a horse and wagon!

As we said, Reb Boruch lived in the time of the Ba'al Shem Tov. But, this was before the Ba'al Shem Tov was known as a tzaddik. The Ba'al Shem Tov just seemed to be a simple yid, and he made a meager living by bringing cement into the town, to sell to builders.

The Ba'al Shem Tov’s horses were getting weak from so much hard work. One day, when the Ba'al Shem Tov was getting to work, he discovered that his horses could no longer handle the load that they had been given.

The Ba'al Shem Tov had to get new horses, because he could not continue working without them. Horses were very expensive. The Ba'al Shem Tov could not afford to buy them with the little money that he had.

Well, that day, the Ba'al Shem Tov heard about a person who could help him. His name was Reb Boruch, and he lived in Uman. The Ba'al Shem Tov had heard many good things about this man, and he wanted to visit him.

So, the Ba'al Shem Tov went with his weak horses to visit Reb Boruch. Although the horses could not carry the load that the Ba'al Shem Tov worked with, they could take the Ba'al Shem Tov and his wife, ever so slowly.

The Ba'al Shem Tov and his wife arrived in Uman. They found Reb Boruch’s house, and knocked on the door. A servant greeted them, and took them straight to Reb Boruch.

Reb Boruch was so happy to see that he had guests, and gave them one of the beautiful houses that were in his courtyard. Reb Boruch asked them how they came; did they have a horse and wagon, or did they travel by foot?

The Ba'al Shem Tov told Reb Boruch that they came with a horse and wagon. “Okay,” Reb Boruch said. “Let me take your horse into the barn so that it can eat and rest.”

When Reb Boruch saw the wagon, he noticed that it was very dirty. He asked the Ba'al Shem Tov: “What do you do with your wagon? It seems to be so dirty.”

The Ba'al Shem Tov responded: “To make a living, I use my horse and wagon to bring cement into the city. That is why my wagon is so dirty.”

“Oh,” Reb Boruch said, “your horses are much too weak for such work.”

“Yes,” the Ba'al Shem Tov replied. “It is even difficult for them to carry an empty load.”

Reb Boruch, as was his custom, did not leave the Ba'al Shem Tov with his old horse. Instead, he said: “Why don’t you come to the barn with me and I will give you new horses. Your old horses can stay here with me and I will take care of them.”

The Ba'al Shem Tov and his wife were so thankful to Hashem for Reb Boruch’s help. They stayed at the house that Reb Boruch had given them for a few days.

Soon it was Shabbos, and Reb Boruch invited them to stay for Shabbos. The Ba'al Shem Tov accepted the invitation, and had a wonderful Shabbos at Reb Boruch’s home.

Reb Boruch had other guests as well, so there were enough people to have their own minyan. After davening, they all enjoyed the Shabbos meal together at Reb Boruch’s house, in his humongous dining room. There was singing, divrei Torah, and of course, delicious food.

On Shabbos day, after the meal, Reb Boruch took a big nap. Later he woke up, and after Shabbos, after mariv and after havdala, there was a melava malka.

After the melava malka, everyone went to sleep. But not Reb Boruch, he was not tired, because he had rested during the day. As Reb Boruch was walking around his house, he saw a strong light coming from the window.

That surprised him very much. It was not something you would expect to see in middle of the night in a town like Reb Boruch’s. Reb Bourch thought that it must be morning already, and the sun was rising.

Reb Boruch looked at his watch, and saw that it was around one o’clock. He knew that the sun did not rise at one o’clock at night, so he thought that the bright light must be from the moon.

Reb Boruch just ignored the light, but then he realized that it was close to the end of the month, and the moon does not shine brightly at that time. At the end of the month, the moon looks like a thin banana—not bright at all!

Since Reb Boruch knew that the light was not from the sun, and not from the moon, he got worried. He thought that maybe the light was coming from a fire! Reb Boruch quickly looked out the window, and saw that the light was coming from one of the houses in his courtyard. This light was not a light from a candle. It was very bright!

Reb Boruch ran out of his house, to see what was wrong. He was sure the light was coming from a fire!

He went over to the house where the light was coming from. He looked though the window, and there he saw the Ba'al Shem Tov, sitting on floor, with his hands stretched upwards. Reb Boruch thought that the Ba'al Shem Tov was just an ordinary man, but the Ba'al Shem Tov was saying special teffilos that only tzaddikim say in middle of the night, called Tikun Chatzos.

Next to the Ba'al Shem Tov, there was standing a tall man, who looked like a holy tzaddik, and was made out of light! When Reb Boruch saw that, he let out a shriek and fainted!

The Ba'al Shem Tov heard the noise, and came outside. There, he saw Reb Boruch, and tried to revive him. The Ba'al Shem Tov was successful, and Reb Boruch was revived.

Reb Boruch asked the Ba'al Shem Tov about the man who was made of light. The Ba'al Shem Tov said: “If Hashem let you see that, then I will tell you what that was about, but you are not allowed to tell anyone.”

Reb Boruch agreed to keep it a secret, but then he said: “I did not know that you were a tzaddik. I thought that you were a simple worker. I would be most happy if you would stay here with me and I will take care of your every need."

The Ba'al Shem Tov said: “No, I cannot. Nobody is supposed to know anything about me. Since you saw what you saw, I will tell you what it was all about.”

The Ba'al Shem Tov continued: “That man you saw was the Maharal of Prague. He was sent from the shomayim to come down here. He came to go into the body of a new baby boy, not as the Maharal, but as someone else, to help yidden in need.

“You, Reb Boruch, are a great-grandchild of the Maharal, and in one year, you will have a baby with the neshoma of the Maharal.”

When Reb Boruch heard that, he was shocked! He said to the Ba'al Shem Tov: “Please let me take care of you. I will give you everything you need. You don’t need to work so hard like a simple man.”

Once again, the Ba'al Shem Tov refused, and said: “Remember, this is a secret, and you are not allowed to tell anyone about it. Treat me like a simple guest, because this is what Hashem wants.”

The next morning, the Ba'al Shem Tov and his wife left Reb Boruch.

A year later, Reb Boruch’s wife gave birth to a baby boy.

The bris took place on the eighth day. Reb Boruch notified everyone about the bris. There was a very nice seudah, and of course, Reb Boruch did not forget to set aside tables for poor people.

Reb Boruch named the baby Aryeh Leib, similar to the name of the Maharal, Yehuda Leib. (It seems that Reb Boruch could not name his son Yehuda Leib, because he already had a son with that name.)

They had a minhag of people coming up and giving brochos to the baby. Many of Reb Boruch’s friends gave brochos to the baby.

As Reb Boruch was greeting his many guests, he noticed that the Ba'al Shem Tov was among the. He wanted the Ba'al Shem Tov to bentch the baby, just as others had.

Reb Boruch knew that nobody was supposed to think that the Ba'al Shem Tov was anyone special, so he had a little problem. How was he going to ask the Ba'al Shem Tov to give the baby a brocha without anybody noticing? He wanted to walk straight over to the Ba'al Shem Tov, but the Ba'al Shem Tov signaled him not to.

So, Reb Boruch decided to go around the room with the baby, so that anyone would be able to give a brocha to the baby. He pretended that he came over to the Ba'al Shem Tov “by chance,” and asked him to give a brocha just like everyone else.

The Ba'al Shem Tov refused, saying: “I don’t know how to give a brocha. I never learnt how to do that.”

But Reb Boruch persisted and said: “Just say something to the baby.”

So, the Ba'al Shem Tov said: “I learnt in cheder, when I was a little boy, about Avrohom. I went to cheder for only a short while, but I remember my Rebbi teaching me about Avrohom. He said that Avrohom was the zeide of all the yidden.”

The Torah only says that Avrohom was the father of the yidden, but the Ba'al Shem Tov wanted to pretend as if he did not know much.

“So,” the Ba'al Shem Tov continued. “I want to give a brocha that this baby should also be a zeide.” People laughed, thinking that this man was just a simple beggar who gave a silly brocha.

Well, after the seuda, everyone left. Those who came to the bris, remembered what the Ba'al Shem Tov had said, and as a joke, would ask: “How is the little zeide doing today?”

When the baby grew up, he became a great talmid chochom, but the name still stuck—“The Little Zeide.”

Later on, he moved to a place called Shpole and became known as “The Shpole Zeide.”