With arctic temperatures busting plumbing pipes left and right, work was no problem for Pinchus the Baltimore plumber.
"I'm getting home at 8:30PM every night, he told me. Every muscle in my body aches.
The problem is the money,"
"What
do you mean?" I asked him.
"Some
of my customers don't have enough money to pay me," he explained. "But I
can't leave them without heat and water in the middle of winter."
"You're
racking up blessings, " I told him.
"I
don't know," he replied.
The
uncertainty of this good hearted plumber reminded me of a story of my holy
ancestor, the Baal Shem Tov. Once there was a poor man named Rav Yitchak and a
rich man named Yankel (name changed to protect the innocent). One
day Rav Yitchak, who couldn't afford any luxuries at all, had an urge for tobacco.
He went to the Beit Knesset, siddled up to Yankel the rich man and begged for a
pinch.
"You
come in to the Beit knesset with your smelly clothes and dare to ask for a pinch
of tobacco," he replied."Get out."
This
rebuff on top of all the other tribulations of poverty was too much for the gentle
Rav Yitchack, who fainted on the spot. At that moment, a decree was made in
Heaven that all the money of Yankel the rich man would pass over to Rav
Yitchak. Over the next three years, opportunities opened up for Rav Yitchak,
and his fortunes grew, and grew, and grew. At the same time, Yankel the rich man was plagued
with bad luck and his wealth dwindled, dwindled, and dwindled. To the exact measure that Rav Yitchak's
fortunes increased, Yankel's sank.
At
the end of three years, Rav Yitchak was a wealthy man. In the afternoons he
showed up at the bet Knesset in clean perfumed rich man's clothes. He was respected by
everyone in the community. Yankel was now reduced to poverty and walked around
in poor beggar's clothes, bemoaning his losses. He went around from Rabbi to
Rabbi asking for answers. How did his fortunes abandon him? What was the
cause of his bad luck? He didn't remember the tiny affront he had made to Rav
Yitchak at all. Finally, someone suggested he go visit the holy Baal Shem Tov.
Yankel
made the pilgrimage to the home of the holy sage. He was met at the gate by
the worker in charge of charity (gabbai tsedahkah). Everyone who came to the gate
of the Holy Bal Shem Tov received a ruble for their trouble. Only those with
more serious problems were invited in. The gabbai
handed Yankel a rubble, but Yankel angrily threw it to the ground .
"What
use is a ruble to me," he said. "I used to deal every day in
thousands of rubbles until my fortunes changed. You know the rules, give
charity to a man up to the level he is used to. This one ruble is nothing."
"Calm
down," said the gabbai, I will let you in to see the Baal Shem Tov.
Explain your problem to him."
Yankel
stood before the holy wonder worker and asked him what was causing his current
poverty. The Baal Shem Tov proceeded to explain
to Yankel his whole story.
"When you refused to give Rav Yitchak a pinch
of tobacco, a decree was written in the Heavens that all your money would transfer
to him."
"What
can I do to get my money back?" asked Yankel.
"You
must ask Rav Yitchak for a pinch of tobacco," said the Baal Shem Tov,
"and if he refuses to give you some, the decree will be reversed and all
your money will return to you."
Yankel
returned home with one thought on his mind; he must ask Rav Yitchak for tobacco
in a way that will make him refuse his request. The next day he showed up at
the Beit knesset in his dirtiest smelliest beggars clothing. He
siddled over to Rav Yitchak, and boldly asked him for a pinch of tobacco.
"A
Jew asks for some tobacco, how can I refuse," replied Rav Yitchak.
Without
hesitation he pulled out his silver tobacco case and gave the beggar
a pinch.
"Drat,"
thought Rav Yankel,"he gave me some."
Not to be defeated, Yankel waited
until the next time Rav Yitchak was called to the Torah. Just as the rich man was walking
towards the bimah, Yankel strode up and demanded more tobacco. Rav
Yitchack turned, pulled out his silver tobacco case, and handed him a pinch.
"A Jew asks for some tobacco, how can I refuse," he said.
Darn
again," thought Yankel. "Next time I'll ask at an even more difficult time."
Yankel
waited until Rav Yitchak was marrying off his daughter. The wedding was a
splendid affair and all the townspeople were invited. Beggars could
also attend and a small table was set for them in the corner. Yankel marched
through the crowd of wedding guests in his filthy beggar clothing and stode up
to Rav Yitchak who was at that moment attending to the Ketuboth (marriage
contract).
"Rav Yitchak," he said, "give me some tobacco." No please,
no grace, just blunt words coming from Yankel's mouth. Without a seconds delay,
Rav Yitchak pulled out his silver tobacco case and gave the poor townsman another
pinch of tobacco.
"A Jew asks for
some tobacco, how can I refuse,": he said.
Yankel
was very depressed at this turn of events, and decided he would try one last
time. Just as Rav Yitchak was escorting
his daughter down the aisle in front of all the guests, with beautiful wedding music
playing in the background, Yankel run up behind him, pulled on his jacket in
the most obnoxious way possible and asked for tobacco. Rav Yitchak paused,
turned around, pulled out his silver tobacco case, and gave the miserable beggar
some more snuff.
"A Jew asks for some
tobacco, how can I refuse,": he said.
This
final development was too much for the poor Yankel who abruptly cried out and fainted on the spot.
The defeated beggar was laid out on a couch and after he revived he
explained the whole story to the patient Rav Yitchak.
"If
the holy Baal Shem Tov told you that my money came from you, then it must be so; consequently, I will give you half of my wealth."
We
see from this story that little acts of charity make great waves In Heaven,
which is why the honest Baltimore plumber who gives free or reduced service to
poor customers in winter is truly collecting great blessings.
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The story is courtesy of 1st Choice Plumbing Inc. ; 3502 Taney Road, Baltimore, Md. 21215; 410-967-6547 ; http://www.1stchoiceplumbinginc.com
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