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 Two Shidduchim

The following is a story about the Rebbe Rashab. The Rebbe Rashab would travel around a lot. He would meet with important people and government officials, in order to help the yidden.

Many times, the Rebbe Rashab would take his son, who later became the “Frierdiker Rebbe” along with him on his travels.

On one such trip, the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe were in their hotel room. After lunch, as was his custom, the Rebbe Rashab took a short rest on the couch. The Rebbe Rashab would lean back a little, and close his eyes. Later, he would go on with his busy schedule.

Well, this time, the Frierdiker Rebbe was waiting for the Rebbe Rashab to finish his rest. That was going to be their last day in that city and soon they planned to leave.

But, the Frierdiker Rebbe just waited and waited. The Rebbe Rashab was not waking up. He noticed that the Rebbe Rashab’s eyes were half-open. The Frierdiker Rebbe had never seen his father rest like that, nor for so long.

The Frierdiker Rebbe was getting worried, so he began making light noises to wake the Rebbe Rashab. Still, the Rebbe Rashab’s eyes were half-open and half-closed, and it seemed as if he was looking at something very far away.

An hour passed, and then two hours! The Rebbe Rashab was motionless! He was still breathing, but otherwise he was not moving at all. The Frierdiker Rebbe realized that something was going on, but he did not dare wake his father.

Another hour went by, but the Rebbe Rashab did not wake up. It was getting later and later, and the Rebbe Rashab was still motionless.

It was soon getting dark and the Rebbe Rashab was sitting just as before, without making a move. The Frierdiker Rebbe knew that something unusual was happening, so he left his father alone.

Just as the sun was setting, the Rebbe Rashab awoke. He stood up very quickly, seeming very excited. He asked the Frierdiker Rebbe: “What day is today? What is this week’s parsha?”

The Frierdiker Rebbe told his father what the day of the week it was, and what was that week’s parsha. The Rebbe Rashab said: “I have to daven mincha.”

The Rebbe Rashab prepared to daven mincha, and then davened together with the Frierdiker Rebbe who had not yet davened mincha. Later, they davened ma’ariv as well.

The Rebbe Rashab did not explain what had happened. Although the Frierdiker Rebbe wanted to know what was going on, he did not ask. He just thought: “I will see what will happen tomorrow.”

The next morning, after davening, the Rebbe Rashab asked the Frierdiker Rebbe: “How much money do we have?” The Frierdiker Rebbe told him how much money they had.

The Rebbe Rashab said: “I need more money. I am going to buy something, and I need a lot more money than that.”

So, the Frierdiker Rebbe went out to borrow money. Although they had planned to leave the city that day, it seemed that now that would not be possible.

Well, the Frierdiker Rebbe came back with the money, and gave it to the Rebbe Rashab. The Rebbe Rashab then left the hotel with the money. The Frierdiker Rebbe stayed behind.

A while later, when the Frierdiker Rebbe was in the hotel room, someone knocked on the door. The Frierdiker Rebbe asked who it was. It was a deliveryman.

The Frierdiker Rebbe understood that the Rebbe Rashab had bought something with the money and asked for it to be delivered. The Frierdiker Rebbe opened the door, and saw the deliveryman holding three big boxes decorated with pink ribbons and flowers.

The Frierdiker Rebbe took the boxes from the man and put them away. He noticed that the boxes had labels from a dress store. The Frierdiker Rebbe thought that the boxes might be for his three daughters, but he was not sure.

Soon, the Rebbe Rashab returned. He told the Frierdiker Rebbe: “It is now time to pack up. We are leaving.” They packed their things, and went downstairs to pay the hotelkeeper.

They paid the hotelkeeper, and took a taxi to the train station. When they arrived at the train station, the Frierdiker Rebbe went to buy tickets to return home.

As the Frierdiker Rebbe approached the ticket window, the Rebbe Rashab said: “We have to go to Pressburg. Please buy two tickets for Pressburg.”

The Frierdiker Rebbe was taken aback because he thought that they were returning home. The Frierdiker Rebbe bought two tickets to Pressburg anyway.

When the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe arrived at Pressburg, they got off the train. The Frierdiker Rebbe was about to hail a taxi to go to the hotel, but the Rebbe Rashab stopped him. The Rebbe Rashab said: “We will walk. Don’t get a taxi.”

The Frierdiker Rebbe was surprised as before, because they had many things with them. But still, the Frierdiker Rebbe took his things and went together his father, the Rebbe Rashab.

The Rebbe Rashab said: “We are going to Reb Avrohom’s hotel.” So, they left the train station, and started walking down the street with their baggage.

The Frierdiker Rebbe was still wondering why they had to walk when they had so much to carry. Why couldn’t they have taken a taxi? He did not know and he just went on.

As they were walking, the Rebbe Rashab stopped a bochur in the street. The bochur was walking very quickly and holding a gemmora in his hands. The Rebbe Rashab asked the bochur: “Excuse me, can please tell me how to get to Reb Avrohom’s hotel?”

The bochur seemed very busy, and said: “Oh, you go down the street till that corner, make a left, and there you can ask someone how to continue.”

Of course, the bochur would not have acted that way if he would have known to whom he was speaking. Still, the Rebbe Rashab would not say “I’m the Rebbe Rashab,” so he just said: “This is not the way to treat a stranger. Can you please tell me how to get to Reb Avrohom’s hotel?”

Well, the bochur gave detailed directions, and he added: “I would like to tell you something very important. Just yesterday, Reb Avrohom passed away. The hotel is open, but Reb Avrohom’s family is sitting shivah.”

“So when did Reb Avrohom pass away? Yesterday? What time?” asked the Rebbe Rashab.

The bochur answered: “He passed away around midday, and the levayah lasted until sunset.” The Rebbe Rashab thanked the bochur and said good-bye. The bochur then went off very quickly.

The Frierdiker Rebbe realized that Reb Avrohom’s levaya took place at the exact time that his father was sitting on the couch without moving with his eyes half-closed. He did not know what that meant, but he thought that there must be a connection.

Well, the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe Rashab went to the hotel. They came in, and got a room. They went to their room, put away their things, and rested up a little.

Then, the Rebbe Rashab said: “Let us go take a walk in the city.” So, they left the hotel, and stared walking outside.

The Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe came to a big yeshiva. They went inside and saw many people of all ages learning.

They entered a room, and the Rebbe Rashab said: “I will go to that table and test the bochurim there.” The Rebbe Rashab sat down together with the Frierdiker Rebbe at the table and got into a conversation with the bochurim.

The bochurim saw that they had a great tzaddikim with them. They asked him questions and he explained different concepts. Soon, many bochurim gathered around the Rebbe Rashab.

It just “happened” that the Rebbe Rashab was mainly asking questions of two particular bochurim. One bochur was a little older, and the other was younger. The younger bochur was the same bochur whom the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe had met not far from the train station.

A while later, the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe left the yeshiva, to return to the hotel. While they were walking, the Rebbe Rashab was talking about the two bochurim, and how they were such B’nei Torah.

When they arrived at the hotel, the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe did not go to their room. Instead, they went to the room where Reb Avrohom’s wife and three daughters were sitting shivah.

They went to comfort Reb Avrohom’s family. As they were talking, the Rebbe Rashab said: “I see that you have two daughters that are old enough to get married. Why don’t you find shidduchim for them?”

“I would love to do that,” Reb Avrohom’s wife said, “but we simply cannot afford it. We make very little money from the hotel. It costs a lot of money to make a chasuna and to set up a home. I do not even have enough to buy one dress for just one of my daughters.”

Then, Reb Avrohom’s wife started to cry. The Rebbe Rashab saw that the daughters wanted to get married but the money was stopping them.

The Rebbe Rashab said: “It might be easier than you think. Do not worry about the wedding dress. I have one right here with me in my room. I can give that for your first daughter, and when the time comes, I also have dresses for your other daughters.”

The Frierdiker Rebbe now understood what the pink boxes with the flowers were all about. Those were wedding dresses.

Now, Reb Avrohom’s wife said: “That is very nice of you to give dress for my daughters. Still, what is a chasunah going to be like without a choson?”

“I do not think that will be a problem either,” said the Rebbe Rashab. “I know some very fine bochurim from the yeshiva here. I think I have a choson for your older daughter and also one for your younger daughter.”

Reb Avrohom’s wife was very excited. She said: “Would it be possible for you to arrange shiddichum for my two daughters?”

The Rebbe Rashab was happy to do that. He arranged the two shidduchim, and very soon, they got married. Of course, the daughters both wore the dresses that the Rebbe Rashab had bought.

The story is almost over, but five years later, the Frierdiker Rebbe was traveling by himself and arrived in Pressburg. He decided to stop by at Reb Avrohom’s hotel and see how the family was doing.

When he entered the hotel, he saw Reb Avrohom’s youngest daughter. She immediately recognized the Frierdiker Rebbe and told him what had transpired:

The oldest daughter went together with her husband to another town where he became the rov. The younger daughter’s husband became a rosh yeshiva. Her husband was a fine man, who was in charge of the hotel.

She then concluded: “My family—my mother and my two sisters—are very thankful to you and your father for everything you did for us.”