R. Wolf Kitzes¹ raised an orphan boy, and the Besht [raised an] orphan girl. The Besht promised a dowry of 200-300 Rubles. The time for the wedding approached and the Besht did not have money to pay the dowry. R. Wolf wrote a letter to the Besht stating that they would not be able to go to the Chuppa until the dowry was set aside. But it didn’t help – there was no money.

In the meantime, an episode relating to the redeeming of captives took place, and the Besht pledged the sum of 200 Rubles, and the Parnes² borrowed the money from the Poritz. 

Once the Poritz demanded that the money be returned [and threatened] that if he didn’t receive the money within two weeks he would place both the Besht and the Parnes in chains. 

The Besht told the Parnes: here is money for expenses and travel to the Poritz and see if you can obtain from the Poritz money for the dowry.

The Parnes looked at him [the Besht] as if he were crazy – the Poritz is demanding that the debt be repaid, while the Besht wants a refund for a dowry. 

But it was the Besht after all and he obeyed him.

Thus, the Parnes came to the Poritz – he arrived while the Poritz was eating and naturally, they did not admit him [to see the Poritz].

While he was waiting, he came up with an ingenious idea – to ask the Poritz to see his records to ascertain whether he really owed the money.

After the Poritz finished eating and came out, they added up the figures and discovered that it was indeed the Poritz who owed 200 Rubles. The Poritz paid the debt.

The Besht thus obtained the money for the dowry and the wedding took place in an auspicious hour. 

I.F.

Kinever Rebbe

1. R. Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes (c.1685 – 1764),  student of the Baal Shem Tov.

2. The trustee of the community.