R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev
I ran across this posting on a blog called When Love Comes to Town. Thanks to pastor RJ in MA for this post.
For a bit of biographical info on the Berditchever, click on the “read more” link at the bottom of this post.
One day, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak entered the House of Study in Berdichev. At the pulpit was a guest preacher, one of the wandering maggidim who made their living speaking in
one town after another. Levi Yitzhak listened to the preacher enumerate the failings of the people, giving a vivid account of their sins and unworthiness according to God’s holy word.
And when the sermon was over, the gentle rabbi lifted his eyes in prayer and said, “O Master of the Universe, please give this man some money!” Now the people in the synagogue looked at the rabbi in shock. Their rabbi was praising this man who preached such a harsh and judgmental word? Their Levi Yitzhak – famous for his compassionate defense of the Jewish people – how could this be? But the prayer continued: “Obviously, Almighty One, this preacher needs the few coins he is given for these bitter sermons. So I beg you, please give him some other source of income so he will no longer speak such ugly words to your loving children!”
Lord, may it be so among us, too.
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Digital Maggid
