The Tzadik Reb Moshe Lieb Sossover was a student in the yeshivah of the Rebbe Reb Shmelke of Nickolsberg. Once, before he took leave of the Rebbe for a trip to visit his family in his hometown, Reb Moshe Leib went to say goodbye and get a brochah. The Rebbe told him he wanted to give him three things for his use along his journey home. He went to the other room, and a few minutes later, he came back and he handed Reb Moshe Lieb three seemingly random items: a gold coin, a loaf of bread, and the kittul he had worn the previous Yom Kippur. Reb Moshe Leib knew better than to question his Rebbi, and he packed these items and began his journey home.
On his way, he passed by a large estate, and heard the sounds of terrible moaning and crying coming from the property. He went to investigate, and discovered that there was a dungeon in the far corner of the property, and, nebach, there was a Yid languishing in prison, broken and crying.
He was able to converse through the window, and the Yid told him he was thrown into prison because he owed 50,000 ruble to his landlord, which he was unable to pay. Reb Moshe Lieb was determined to get this Yid out of prison, and with incredible bravery he walked over to the mansion and knocked on the door, demanding to see the landlord.
The landlord made it clear that if he paid the 50,000 ruble on behalf of this Jew, he would be happy to let him go, but not a ruble less! Reb Moshe Leib reached into his bag, pulled out the single gold coin his Rebbe had given him, and calmly handed it to the landlord, as payment for this Yid’s debt.
The landlord was furious! One gold coin wasn’t even close to the value of 50,00 rubles! Was this Jew mocking him? He grabbed Reb Moshe Lieb, and threw him straight into an even worse dungeon, one that was teeming with wild dogs and animals! Reb Moshe Leib quickly reached into his bag, and put on the kittel that his Rebbe had given him. Immediately, the dogs quieted down, and sat down in a circle around him, in a protective stance.
The landlord, expecting the dogs to devour this Rabbi, was very shaken up, and understood that this was a special and holy individual. He opened the door to let him out, and told him that he was now willing to accept that gold coin as full payment for the Yid’s debt, and he should go get the Jew and leave immediately!
When he went to free this Yid, he discovered that he was so weak from hunger that he didn’t even have the energy to walk out of the prison. Reb Moshe Lieb reached into his bag and pulled out the final item his Rebbe had given him, and gave the poor Yid some bread to eat, until he regained enough strength to walk out of the prison and return to his family.
Take It To Go!:
We have no idea what kind of “landlord” or “wild dogs” or “hunger” we may come across during the week. But Shabbos Kodesh is like the Rebbe Reb Shmelke. Shabbos gives us the care packages we need to get through the journey of the six days of the week. When we come across the challenges of the week, we need to reach into our bag and take out the gifts that the previous Shabbos gave us, before we set out on this journey. With these gifts, we’ll be able to free ourselves from any prison we find ourselves in.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 38.