When the Rizhiner fled Russia, R’ Yosef Rashkaver, who lived at the border, ran ahead with a flag and proclaimed: “Make room for the righteous one (Tzadik) of the generation.”
Later, the Rashkaver was in Sadagara by the Rizhiner and expressed displeasure at how the court was held there – the grandeur – the luxury.
He thus interpreted the verse (Ps. 34:20): “Many evils befall the righteous – ‘many’, ‘grandeur’ is evil for a Tzadik”; he was going to finish the verse ‘and from all of it HaShem will spare him’, but the Rizhiner stopped him and told him the following story:
There once lived in a small town, a rabbi and a wealthy man – they both grew up together – studied together, and grew to be very close friends. Upon their deaths, they ascended to heaven, their merits and faults were weighed, and were found to be equals to each other.
Both the rabbi and the wealthy man had each sired a son. They too grew up and studied together – and grew to be quite close friends – the rabbi’s son became a rabbi and the wealthy man’s son in turn grew to be quite wealthy. When they died, it was revealed that the rabbi’s son was equal to his father – however, the wealthy man’s son was found lacking. Still an upright fellow, but no longer the same as the father.
It was then asked, “How is this so? Both were raised
together just like their fathers – and their fathers were found to be equals and yet the sons were already quite different. The wealthy man’s son explained that his wealth and assets had led him astray.
The Rizhiner concluded – this is the reason why in heaven it was decreed that the righteous should be tested with treasures and luxury.
The story was heard from Sheve’le, a daughter of Gite’le, the daughter of the Rizhiner, who heard it herself from her father.
Y.F.
Boyaner Chassid
