In The Maggid Speaks Rabbi Paysach Krohn tells of Reb Naftali, the gabbai tzeddaka (charity collector) in a small town in Poland around the turn of the 20th century. Late one night, after Reb Naftali had returned home from an exhausting day collecting tzeddaka for a local emergency, a beggar arrived at his door asking for 20 rubles. The money Reb Naftali had already collected was spoken for, and he felt unable to go back to the townsfolk once again for additional funds. But in the face of the beggar’s pitiful entreaties, Reb Naftali relented and prepared to ask the one man he thought might be in a position to help.
Unfortunately, this individual was young, irreverent and wild, someone who wasted his time drinking, gambling and carousing, and Reb Naftali dreaded the expected encounter. Coming upon the young man in the local tavern and in an agreeable mood, Reb Naftali made his request. The young man acquiesced, but only on the condition that Reb Naftali dress in priest’s clothes, compliments of the young man, and lead the young man and his cronies around town with loud singing, dancing and merrymaking.
Though mortified by the prospect of being humiliated in this way, Reb Naftali agreed and endured the jeers of the shocked townsfolk, who had always respected Reb Naftali but who were now pelting him with eggs as the entourage sang and danced through the streets. When the ordeal was over, Reb Naftali gave the money to the beggar, ripped off the priest’s clothes, threw them in the closet and crawled into bed a depressed and humiliated man.
Some months later, the Divrei Chaim, the Sanzer Rebbe (1793–1876), came to town and told his entourage that he smelled Gan Eden emanating from Reb Naftali’s house. The Rebbe entered the house and discovered that the smell was coming from the priest’s clothes. After pressing him for the story behind the clothes, the Rebbe instructed Reb Naftali to be buried in those very clothes and that, as a result of his self- sacrifice, he would go straight up to Gan Eden. What had seemed to Reb Naftali as the worst moment in his life, a moment to be buried and forgotten, was actually an Olam Haba moment.
In a moment our life can be fulfilled when we do the right thing. For God's sake.
Unfortunately, this individual was young, irreverent and wild, someone who wasted his time drinking, gambling and carousing, and Reb Naftali dreaded the expected encounter. Coming upon the young man in the local tavern and in an agreeable mood, Reb Naftali made his request. The young man acquiesced, but only on the condition that Reb Naftali dress in priest’s clothes, compliments of the young man, and lead the young man and his cronies around town with loud singing, dancing and merrymaking.
Though mortified by the prospect of being humiliated in this way, Reb Naftali agreed and endured the jeers of the shocked townsfolk, who had always respected Reb Naftali but who were now pelting him with eggs as the entourage sang and danced through the streets. When the ordeal was over, Reb Naftali gave the money to the beggar, ripped off the priest’s clothes, threw them in the closet and crawled into bed a depressed and humiliated man.
Some months later, the Divrei Chaim, the Sanzer Rebbe (1793–1876), came to town and told his entourage that he smelled Gan Eden emanating from Reb Naftali’s house. The Rebbe entered the house and discovered that the smell was coming from the priest’s clothes. After pressing him for the story behind the clothes, the Rebbe instructed Reb Naftali to be buried in those very clothes and that, as a result of his self- sacrifice, he would go straight up to Gan Eden. What had seemed to Reb Naftali as the worst moment in his life, a moment to be buried and forgotten, was actually an Olam Haba moment.
In a moment our life can be fulfilled when we do the right thing. For God's sake.
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