A Jew came to the Apter Rav and related to him that he was an Arendar of a local poritz [=estate owner] and the landowner was threatening him that if he did not pay all his debts, he would be evicted from the inn. Fearing for his life, he came to the Apter Rav to plead for mercy. 

The Apter Rav related to him the following story: he once attended the wedding of a wealthy man. [At the wedding] there were badchanim [jesters] – the badchanim disguised themselves as a Poritz and a Jew. They put on a performance of a din Torah [= a dispute adjudicated in a court of Jewish law] concerning a Jew who cannot pay up his debts and the poritz demands his money. They ruled that since the poritz had enough money to cover his expenses, he should escape, and since the Jew is a pauper and cannot cover his expenses, he should remain on the estate. Naturally, the audience laughed heartily.

The Apter Rav continued: “I was in great distress. My entire life I was careful to avoid idle talk, thus how is it possible that my ears should hear such foolishness? Perhaps [despite my greatest efforts] I stumbled and transgressed. I was greatly aggrieved by this. 

Afterward, I calmed down. I understood that maybe this incident would be useful in the service of the Creator. Now, it finally comes to use. I rule like the badchan: the poritz should escape and you should remain on the estate.” The Jew returned home, although he did not believe the rebbe’s assurances. 

At that time, a revolution broke out among the Polish Gentiles. Since many of the landowners were also Polish the Russian police incarcerated many of them. That Poritz was also Polish – and he was afraid that he too would be jailed. Hence, he called for the Jew and told him: “I must escape immediately. Since I regard you as a trustworthy person, I appoint you as the manager of my estate. You take 50 percent of the profit and send me the remaining 50 percent to Paris.”

This is indeed what transpired. The Poritz escaped and the Jew remained. 

I.F.

Ya’akov Teitelbaum