The Fast and the Cake
by Dovid Zaklikowski for Hasidic Archives
Fundraiser for the poor in Israel, Yosef Ashbel, known affectionately by the chassidim of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch as Uncle Yossel, devoted himself to self-refinement and Torah study.
Once, while trying to immerse himself in prayer, he found it difficult to concentrate because of the pain from an infected finger. Distressed that he could not focus, he turned to his finger and said, “Why are you disturbing me from my prayers?” In frustration, he struck his hand on the table. The blow opened the wound, releasing the pus and easing his pain and allowing him to concentrate once more. It was worth the suffering, he felt, for another moment of connection with the Infinite.
Yet when it came to his spiritual pursuits, he wanted no attention or admiration from others. One day, his wife stood by the large ground-floor window of their home, speaking with her sister. As they conversed, Mattel said, “My husband fasts almost every single day, including today.”
Hearing her words, and not wanting anyone to think of him as some holy man, Yosef took a piece of cake, recited a blessing, and ate it. While his wife could not see him from where she stood, her sister could. “Why are you lying?” she exclaimed. “I see that he’s eating right now!”
The sister walked off, but Mattel was left with a new understanding, that for the sake of modesty, it is worthwhile to break even a cherished fast or spiritual practice.
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BMG Kollel Guy
If he ate less than a shiyur (of one volume ounce) , he would still be halachicly fasting! I hope that is what he did.
Tomim
If he would eat less than a shiyur, he couldn’t make a brocha achrona!
Gil
A more likely version of this story is related about R’ Shmuel Ber Borisover (Rashdam).
For backround, his wifes sister was married to a misnaged and gvir called Itche
(Some say this was the legendary Itchele Amtzislaver, gvir and askan).
They were next door neighbors and the sisters would shmooze with each other through the windows and that is where this story happened.
Gil
Reb Yossele the magids AKA as der feter Yossele was married to the sister of the Tzemach Tzedeks father. It is not known that there was another sister in Lubavitch as well.
The story of Rashdam is therefore the more likely version.