There's a story which happened to a relative of my maternal ancestors, Reb Mendel Hauser. The story comes down in the family and was likely set early 19th Century. Reb Mendel was a very close follower of the Rebbe of Zidichov. He was also a very well to do businessman who was very generous with the blessings God gave him. He distributed alms in abundance. Plus, his mansion was always at the disposal of guests, especially those in need.
One day he embarked on a business trip and left his wife in charge of distributing the alms in his absence. He instructed her how much to give to each needy person. Taking into account the long lines of people typically awaiting alms at his door each evening, he left her with enough money for the duration of his trip.
Everything proceeded as planned until Reb Mendel was just about to return home. Suddenly, a particularly pitiful looking beggar came along. When Mrs. Hauser handed him his allotted share, he begged, "It's not enough. I need more."
With a smile, she added on a bit more.
But the beggar was still not satisfied and implored her for yet more.
Mrs. Hauser explained, "This is based on what my husband arranged for me to distribute. He's expected home shortly. Please take a seat here and when he returns you are welcome to discuss your situation with him."
As expected, in a little while Reb Mendel's coach arrived at his mansion. He greeted his wife, who pointed him to the beggar eagerly awaiting his return. Reb Mendel turned to the beggar, "I just arrived and you just arrived. You must be famished. Let's have dinner together. If you would like, we can discuss your situation over dinner."
Mrs. Hauser explained, "This is based on what my husband arranged for me to distribute. He's expected home shortly. Please take a seat here and when he returns you are welcome to discuss your situation with him."
As expected, in a little while Reb Mendel's coach arrived at his mansion. He greeted his wife, who pointed him to the beggar eagerly awaiting his return. Reb Mendel turned to the beggar, "I just arrived and you just arrived. You must be famished. Let's have dinner together. If you would like, we can discuss your situation over dinner."
Dinner was served and Reb Mendel listened to his story. He offered to add considerably to what his wife already offered. The beggar was still unsatisfied. So, he offered even more. Still, the beggar refused. Like a tightly competitive auction, the price to satisfy the beggar kept rising and rising, until an exasperated Reb Mendel finally pleaded, "Please tell me, how much do you really want?"
The beggar named a sum, which was astronomical for the given context. Reb Mendel was overcome by a vague intuition that something unusual was afoot and delightfully filled a money bag to the beggar's satisfaction.
After dinner, Reb Mendel turned to his guest, "Night already fell. It's no longer safe to travel. Please stay overnight. I can put you up in a comfortable guestroom. What would you like to take in with you?"
The beggar replied, "A candle and a volume of Talmud."
Though Reb Mendel couldn't put his finger on it, the feeling that something unusual was afoot lingered on. So, he placed the guest in a windowless guestroom and instructed a loyal servant to carefully guard the door. The room was furnished with a bed, a chair and a desk, allowing the guest to study Talmud in comfort.
Morning arrived and nobody emerged from the room. The servant assured him that the door remained shut ever since the guest entered. Reb Mendel was getting concerned. After waiting a while, he gently knocked. No response came forth. He knocked more firmly and there was still no response. Finally, he felt that he had no choice but to cautiously open the door and tip toe into the room.
To his utter shock, the room was vacant. There, on the desk was a sight to behold. The candle was still burning and the volume of Talmud was still open. Plus, the money bag with all its contents sat on the open pages of Talmud.
Reb Mendel could not figure out how the guest vanished. There was no escape route. The room was windowless and if the door ever opened at all, at the very least the servant would have known.
Unable to process what had just transpired, he ran to his Rebbe to seek counsel. He opened the door of his Rebbe's study. Before he had a chance to open his mouth, he heard the Rebbe chime rhetorically, "Is it any surprise that a close follower of mine should be privileged to be visited by Elijah the prophet himself?"
Morning arrived and nobody emerged from the room. The servant assured him that the door remained shut ever since the guest entered. Reb Mendel was getting concerned. After waiting a while, he gently knocked. No response came forth. He knocked more firmly and there was still no response. Finally, he felt that he had no choice but to cautiously open the door and tip toe into the room.
To his utter shock, the room was vacant. There, on the desk was a sight to behold. The candle was still burning and the volume of Talmud was still open. Plus, the money bag with all its contents sat on the open pages of Talmud.
Reb Mendel could not figure out how the guest vanished. There was no escape route. The room was windowless and if the door ever opened at all, at the very least the servant would have known.
Unable to process what had just transpired, he ran to his Rebbe to seek counsel. He opened the door of his Rebbe's study. Before he had a chance to open his mouth, he heard the Rebbe chime rhetorically, "Is it any surprise that a close follower of mine should be privileged to be visited by Elijah the prophet himself?"
In our family tradition, the story concludes: Apparently, Elijah the prophet had personally descended to test Reb Mendel's kindness and hospitality.
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