Basya Tsybukmakher
A Jew came to the righteous Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin to seek advice about making a living. Perhaps he should do this, or perhaps that, start trading in one kind of merchandise or another.
The rabbi said to him: “Our Sages say that providing a person with sustenance is as difficult as splitting the Sea of Reeds.
And we need to understand what the similarity is. The people of Israel stand before the sea, with the Egyptians behind them and a desert full of predators on either side. Then they hear Moses' promise: ‘Stand and see the Almighty's salvation, which He will bring about for you today.’ What did they think? That the Almighty would strike the Egyptians: perhaps blind them, or perhaps make them turn aside and send them into the scorching desert. Perhaps He would send a cloud to protect them like iron walls. Yet it could never have occurred to anyone that the Almighty would split the sea and that they would walk across its bed as if on dry land!
It is exactly the same with making a living: a person should make an effort and take care that the words ‘I acted badly and (because of this) ruined my livelihood’ do not come true for him. But how and from where his livelihood will come—the Almighty has many ways…”
A Jew who sold alcoholic beverages died, leaving a wife and young children. The eldest was ten. There were fewer customers, and accordingly less income. When the supplies of vodka ran out, the merchants were unwilling to extend credit to the widow, fearing they would not get their money back. There was nothing left to sell, and the family felt the pangs of hunger…
The poor widow came to the righteous Rabbi Avraham Yaakov of Sadigura with tears in her eyes: what should she do, who would help her?
“The Almighty's mercy is great; He is the Father of orphans and the Judge of widows!” the tzaddik replied.
But she was not satisfied with this answer: “Rabbi, promise me that I will find hidden treasure!”
But the rabbi answered: “The Almighty has many ways; He does not need our advice.”
While the widow was with the rabbi, a non-Jew knocked at their door. The eldest son opened it, and the man asked: “Where is your father?”
“In heaven…” the boy replied.
The visitor was embarrassed: “I didn't know… I used to buy vodka from you; it was of excellent quality. Next week my daughter is getting married, and I would like to buy some of that vodka.”
“Unfortunately,” the boy replied, “we don't have a drop of vodka…”
The visitor smiled: “Look at you, so young and already a real merchant! You'll surely ask double the price! Come on, let's go down to the cellar and have a look.”
The boy led him into the cellar, which was filled with potbellied barrels. The visitor rocked one of the barrels and heard liquid sloshing inside. He gave the boy a triumphant look, but the boy explained: “That's just water… To rinse out the yeast…”
The visitor smiled again: “Bring me a little glass…” He poured himself a glass and tasted it: “Ah, wonderful vodka! Exactly as I remember it.” And he clapped the boy on the shoulder. Meanwhile, the widow returned home. “Your little boy is an experienced merchant!” the non-Jew said to her, and handed her cash for all the barrels. The widow was speechless. When she recovered, she insisted that the buyer taste some from every barrel. Before their eyes, he began to get drunk! In the end, he called workers who carried the barrels out of the cellar and took them to his home.
The widow immediately sent her son to the rabbi to tell him of their miraculous deliverance. Hearing this, the rabbi said: “Your mother had planned where her deliverance would come from. Ask her whether such a possibility had occurred to her…”
At the wedding, all the guests were delighted with the wonderful taste of the vodka and began asking their host where he had obtained it. He told them, and customers flooded the tavern….
Thus, providing sustenance is like splitting the sea, and finding a spouse is like splitting the sea… A person has thousands of plans, but whom does he end up marrying…
Do not give the Almighty advice!
Translation: Mrs. Leah Shukhman