Nasso: The Tavern Keeper
The Baal Shem Tov listened intently and then responded, "Reb Berel, don't worry. Everything will work out just fine and you won’t lose your tavern." Then the Baal Shem Tov wrote…
Parshat Nasso
“When a man or woman commits any of the sins against man, acting treacherously against God and that person is guilty…” (Bamidbar 5:5).
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Once, there was a tavern keeper named Reb Berel who ran a tavern that he leased from a Portiz (Polish landlord), as was the custom in those days. For many years he made a comfortable living from the tavern.
Then one day a fast talking, unscrupulous man named Reb Schmerel from a nearby town, spoke to the Poritz about letting him take over the lease to the tavern. At first the Poritz wouldn’t agree. “After all,” he said, “I’ve known Berel for a long time and he has always been honest in his dealings with me.”
But Reb Schmerel argued relentlessly using arguments such as, “My lord, you’ll make much more money because I’ll modernize the tavern and greatly
improve the business.” Finally, he convinced the Portiz to transfer the lease on the tavern from Reb Berel to him.
After Reb Berel was informed by the Poritz that he was losing his lease to Reb Schmerel, he demanded that Reb Schmerel appear before a Beit Din (court of Jewish law). According to Jewish law, one is not allowed to steal another’s business. Reb Schmerel refused to go before the Beit Din and just laughed at Reb Berel. Reb Berel became despondent, not knowing what to do.
The very next day, an old friend traveling through the village stopped by the tavern. Reb Berel unburdened himself and told his friend how a stranger came and “stole” his lease. The old friend just happened to be on his way to see the holy Baal Shem Tov. “Listen Berel,” he said, “come with me and tell your story to the Baal Shem Tov. He’ll be able to help you with this problem.”
Immediately, Reb Berel packed his bags and went with his friend to Medzibush to have an audience with the Baal Shem Tov. When they arrived, Reb Berel immediately went to meet with the Baal Shem Tov. Between sobs, he told him the entire story.
The Baal Shem Tov listened intently and then responded, “Reb Berel, don’t worry. Everything will work out just fine and you won’t lose your tavern.” Then the Baal Shem Tov wrote a summons requiring Reb Schmerel to appear before a Beit Din in Medzibush. The Baal Shem Tov handed the summons to Reb Berel and said, “Give him this and go with mazel.”
When Reb Berel returned to his village, he immediately gave Reb Schmerel the summons that the Baal Shem Tov had written. Reb Schmerel read the summons and said with a sarcastic laugh in his voice, “And I suppose you think this Rabbi friend of yours is going to force me to go to Beit Din!” With that, he tore up the summons, threw the pieces onto the ground and walked away.
“We’ll see how funny this is,” yelled out Reb Berel in frustration.
So Reb Berel returned to the Baal Shem Tov and told him how Reb Schmerel had laughed as he tore up the summons to the Beit Din.
“Don’t worry, my friend,” said the Baal Shem Tov, “He won’t think this is funny for very long.”
The very next day, Reb Schmerel had a stroke and became paralyzed. Everyone in the village knew what Reb Schmerel had done to get the lease and how he torn up the summons written by the Baal Shem Tov. All the villagers believed that his stroke was a punishment for his actions.
The paralyzed man’s wife rushed to the Baal Shem Tov. “Please Rebbe, pray for my husband. He was arrogant and is truly sorry for the way he acted and what he did to take Reb Berel’s lease.”
“Fine, bring him to me,” answered the Baal Shem Tov.
The wife returned home and immediately brought her paralyzed husband back in a wagon to beg forgiveness from the Baal Shem Tov. A few of the Chassidim carried him in to meet the Baal Shem Tov.
The Baal Shem Tov asked, “So what can I do for you?”
In a contrite voice, Reb Schmerel said “Rebbe, please forgive me for not going to the Beit Din as you demanded of me.”
The Baal Shem Tov pointed his finger at Reb Schmerel and said, “Do you agree to return the tavern to Reb Berel, the original tavern keeper?”
“Oh yes Rebbe, yes. I’ll return the tavern to him as soon as I return,” answered Reb Schmerel.
“Fine”, said the Baal Shem Tov. “In that case I give you my blessing that you will have a complete healing. Tonight, I’ll go to the mikveh and pray for your healing. I hope to see you in shul tomorrow morning.”
“Oh thank you Rebbe,” said Reb Schmerel with a little skepticism in his voice.
That night, the Baal Shem Tov went to the mikveh.
The next morning when the Baal Shem Tov came to shul for the morning prayers, Reb Schmerel walked up to him completely healed. “Thank you Rebbe,” he said with a sigh of relief in his voice.
And so it was.
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Tzvi Meir Cohn attended Yeshiva Hadar Hatorah in Crown Heights, Brooklyn after completing his university studies in Engineering and Law. While studying at the Yeshiva, he discovered a deep connection to the stories and teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. He can be contacted at howard@cohnpatents.com.
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