The people of Vitebsk were a miserly lot. Not that they would leave a hungry man to starve. Not at all. If a pauper was hungry, the Jews of Vitebsk supplied him with food. However, when it came to giving money, that was an entirely different story. They rarely gave unless it was forced out of them.

It once happened that a Chasid came from Vitebsk to consult with the Tzemach Tzedek (Rabbi Menachem Mendel, the third Rebbe of Lubavitch). His only son, the apple of his eye, had just been ordered to appear in a few days at the conscription office. He would be evaluated to see if he was fit to join the Russian army.

The Chasid was at his wits' end. It was a particularly harsh year, and the government was going after everyone. Men who would normally have been exempted were being drafted. Though in the past, the Chasid could have relied on the fact that his son was an only child, this fact would no longer exempt him.

The Chasid stood in the Tzemach Tzedek's room and asked for the Rebbe's blessing. The Rebbe eyed him carefully: "I cannot help you."

Unexpected as the answer was, the Chasid did not lose faith. He stayed in the Rebbe's room, pleading and begging for his blessing, but to no avail. The Tzemach Tzedek repeated simply: "I cannot help you."

The Chasid was friendly with the Rebbe's son, Reb Shmuel, who was later to succeed his father. Out of desperation, the Chasid set out for Reb Shmuel's home and related to him all that had transpired. Could Reb Shmuel intervene on his behalf? Reb Shmuel said he would try his best. When the time was right, Reb Shmuel entered his father's room to plead the Chasid's case. But the Tzemach Tzedek repeated once more: "I cannot help him."

The Chasid returned to Vitebsk discouraged and broken-hearted. Two days before his son's appointment, he sent a special messenger again to Reb Shmuel with a heartfelt plea to try once more. Reb Shmuel went to his father. There were another two days left: could the Rebbe bless the Chasid?

The Tzemach Tzedek turned to his son and said, "What do you want from me? I cannot help him. Bring me a Midrash Tanchuma." Reb Shmuel did so, and the Rebbe opened it to the portion Mishpatim, to the verse that starts, "When you will lend money to my people," and read to him the following:

"The Holy One, Blessed be He, says: 'The pauper's soul was famished with starvation and you gave him support and revived him. I promise you that I shall reimburse you with a soul for a soul.'

" 'The day will come,'" the Tzemach Tzedek continued reading, "when your son or daughter will succumb to sickness or approach death's door, and I will remember the deed that you performed. I shall repay a soul for a soul."

The Tzemach Tzedek closed the book and the subject was closed.

A few days passed and the news was heard in Lubavitch that this particular Chasid's son had been spared. He had been at the conscription office and had managed to return home a free man.

When the Tzemach Tzedek heard the news he was elated. Reb Shmuel, too, rejoiced in the Chasid's good fortune, yet he could not help but wonder what had transpired. What was it that had saved the boy?

Shortly after, Reb Shmuel needed to consult with a Doctor Heibenthal who lived in Vitebsk. Reb Shmuel used the opportunity to meet with this Chasid. "Tell me," Reb Shmuel asked, "What was it you did on the day your son went to the office which saved him from conscription?"

"I honestly don't know," he replied. "Well then, go ask your wife."

The Chasid did so. His wife told them that she did not remember anything in particular which could have contributed to what had happened. Reb Shmuel was insistent. He prodded her and she thought back to that day. And then she remembered.

A hungry pauper had come to their door early that fateful day and asked them to give him some food. They brushed him off angrily and shouted at him. "Today we are tearing the graves apart asking for mercy," they had screamed at him, "and you come to bother us? We have no time for you now!"

The pauper was adamant. He ignored their cries and began complaining of the powerful hunger he felt. "I truly have not eaten in a long time!" he said. "How is it that you can refuse another Jew who is starving? I am so hungry!"

There was a meal that had been prepared for the family to eat that day. Due, however, to the emotional strain and anguish that everyone felt, it was untouched. The Chasid's wife took the food and served it to the poor man. He, in turn, enjoyed a hearty meal.

Reb Shmuel heard all she had to say and the meaning of the Midrash Tanchuma became crystal clear. How far-reaching was his father's vision! "It is enough," he said to them, and he took his leave.

Many years later, when the Previous Rebbe related this story during a gathering on Passover he noted: "We can see from this story the power behind even one deed. Each and every good deed brings with it much good fortune. This story is a testimony as to the effects that all of our physical actions have."