Weekly Story: Realize Its True Value
Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
In general, Chanukah, and more specifically the oil of Chanukah, is compared to Chassidus. I’m sharing a story and thought that I heard at a Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen.
As always your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Reb Shmuel Schmelke of Nikolsburg was known for his charitable ways. Whenever a poor person would come to his home, he would give him the small amount of money that he had. Oftentimes he had no money, so he would search the house for an item of value, so as not to turn the poor person away empty-handed.
His wife owned a very expensive piece of heirloom jewelry, and she was fearful that her husband would give it to a poor person. Therefore, she decided to find a secure hiding place with the hopes that he would not find it.
One day, a poor person knocked on the door and requested some help. Since there was no money in the house, Reb Schmelke began searching for something of value. After a thorough search he found this precious jewelry. True to his nature, Reb Schmelke gave it to the poor person and wished him well. The poor person thanked him and walked away from the house smiling.
At that moment, Reb Schmelke’s wife was returning home and saw the poor person leaving the house with an expression of joy on his face. Knowing that there was nothing of value in the house besides for her hidden piece of jewelry, she was gripped with apprehension that her husband found it and gave it away to this poor person. Upon entering her home, she immediately went to her secure hiding place. Sure enough it was missing, and she realized that her husband must have found it and gave it away.
Going over to her husband, she told him “The ruby on that piece of jewelry was worth at least a few thousand rubles!” Hearing this, Reb Schmelke rushed out the door running after the poor person. Seeing that Reb Schmelke was chasing him, the poor person was fearful that he regretted giving him the piece of jewelry and was going to ask for it back. So he started running away. However, after a long chase, Reb Schemleke finally caught up to him and said, “I want you know that what I gave you is very expensive. I believe you are going to go to a pawn shop and exchange it for money. Make sure that you get at least a few thousand rubles for it because that is its true value!”
After relating this story, the Mashpia said, “We all know that Chassidus is something special. As the Alter Rebbe said in his famous parable, it is the crown jewel of the king’s crown. Sometimes, we do not truly appreciate its value. Let us listen to Reb Schmelke and don’t sell it cheaply; it has tremendous value.”
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran Mechanech and the author or numerous books on the Rebbeim and their Chassidim. He can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com
