R. Hayim Yidel Travels to the Tolner
R. Hayim Yidel, a teacher – a Tolner Hasid – was a great pauper with 8 grown daughters and they had to be married off, but he had no dowry.
Usually, when the Tolner Hasidim traveled to their rebbe they took him along in their carriage out of pity.
Once, when the Hasidim were traveling R. Hayim Yidel was ill and could not go along and stayed behind.
He had one goat from which he derived his sustenance. He sold the goat to pay for the expense and he traveled to Tolna for the holiday.
On the second day of Rosh Hashanah after the meal, he went for a short walk in the garden and saw R. David Tolner looking out his window. When he saw him, the Tolner asked him: “Hayim Yidel what are you thinking?”
Hayim Yidel replied: “I am thinking how my eight girls will find good husbands.”
The Tolner then handed him a cooked plumb and said: “God will help you.”
R. Hayim Yidel merited to have eight sons-in-law who were learned scholars.
I.F.
Hirsh Lederman