A very wealthy man – A Chasid – did not have any children, God forbid. He came to the Shpoler Zeide to ask for mercy. By nature, the Shpoler Zeide was very sharp and he blurted out: I swear that you will never have any children.
The wealthy man did not rest [on his laurels]. He came to R. Pinchas Koritzer to “make an appeal.” He arrived at R. Pinchas’ house before Pesach and R. Pinchas was in the Beis Medrash. He observed the frightful poverty [in the house of R. Pinchas]. They virtually had nothing for Pesach – no Matzah, wine, or food. The Rebbetzin lamented the fact that the Rebbe has no practical sense – he earns money, but it doesn’t dawn on him that purchases need to be made for Pesach.
The wealthy man soon bought everything needed for Pesach – all the good things. Food, utensils, and silk for a caftan. He even instructed to whiten [the walls of] the house.
R. Pinchas came home and didn’t even notice the new clothes, he did not ask where the new utensils and all the good things came from. He received it with love.
He made Kiddush with fervor and he ….. …..1 by the Seder. Until the middle of the Seder he
didn’t ask where all this came from and did not even look at the guest, the philanthropist.
In the middle of the Seder, he noticed the guest and greeted him. The Rebbetzin told him what the philanthropist did for them and explained his request.
He promised him: I swear that you will have a child. Tzadikim said that they never heard R. Pinchas swear [i.e. make a promise in the form of an oath].
In the end, the Jew returned and by the end of the year, a child was born.
When the Shpoler Zeide heard that a child was born, he called out: you will see that by the age of 13, the boy will pay him [meaning R. Pinchas] back.
And this indeed came to pass. At the age of 13, the son converted to Christianity, and he tattled on R. Pinchas’ children to the government that they converted a Gentile to Judaism, and they incarcerated them and closed their printing press.
I.F.
Sanzer Rebbe
