When the Rebbe met the innkeeper, he watched him for some time. Yet, he could discern nothing special about the simple Jew's behavior or mannerisms. Finally, he approached the innkeeper directly. "Tell me, what is the source of your power to bless people? How is it that your prayers are heard and listened to so readily in the heavens?" the Rebbe asked him.
"I am but a simple Jew," the innkeeper began. "What you see is what I am. However, I must admit that my faith in the Almighty is unshakeable," the innkeeper answered modestly.
"Please tell me more," the Rebbe begged.
"I have always believed that whatever G-d does is for the best. Whatever comes my way I know is from G-d and so I accept it lovingly and with the understanding that even if it is seemingly bad, ultimately it is for the good.
"Even when things look really bleak, I trust in G-d and do not despair of His help. I also give charity with an open hand and go out of my way to help those who are not as fortunate as I am."
The Rebbe encouraged the innkeeper to continue, and so he did. "Let me give you an example. My house is always open to wayfarers and travelers. I try my best to treat them royally. Once, when I was busy attending to my guests, a messenger from my landlord came banging at my door.
"'I have a message for you to appear before the landlord at once.' When I explained to the messenger that I would come as soon as I finished taking care of my guests he intimated that the landlord was very angry and would easily throw me in prison if I failed to show up immediately.
"I thanked the messenger and then quickly considered my options. If I left immediately the guests would go to bed hungry as they certainly would not wait to go to sleep until I returned to feed them. Haven't we learned from our ancestor Abraham that welcoming and caring for guests is equal to or perhaps greater than greeting the Divine Presence? I had no choice but to finish taking care of the guests. When they were all fed and I had shown them to their rooms, I proceeded to the home of the landlord.
"To my surprise, the landlord greeted me very happily. We had an amiable visit and then he sent me along my merry way."
The innkeeper saw that the Rebbe of Apta was interested in hearing more, and so he continued with another amazing story. "Two years ago, I suddenly became very poor. No matter what I turned my hand to was not successful. My family, though upright Jews, did not share my unshakable faith in G-d. They begged me to try my luck somewhere else. Perhaps, they suggested, in a larger city I would be able to find a partner who would go into business with me.
"Eventually I acquiesced to their urgings though I did not relish the thought of putting my faith in flesh and blood rather than in G-d above. All my life I had trusted only in G-d and now I would trust in man? But keeping peace in one's home is also a mitzva and so I sent on my way.
"As I walked past orchards, fields and vineyards bursting with their luscious produce I began to think of the Creator. My faith in G-d became even stronger. If He could create this entire world and sustain it, certainly he could support my family and me!
"I decided then and there to ask G-d to be the partner whom I was seeking and from the depth of my heart I begged Him to accept my offer. I would give Him one half of everything I earned henceforth if he would become my new business partner. "Just then, I felt something in my pocket. I reached in and my hand withdrew a silver coin. It had not been there before as I had searched and researched all of my pockets long ago for a few copper coins with which to buy food for my family. Surely this was the answer to my prayer and G-d had agreed. I immediately returned home and purchased a supply of liquor with the coin. I sold the liquor quickly and at a nice profit. I set aside half of my profit in a special cash box for my "partner."
No one knows who my partner is but I handle His money even more carefully than I do my own. I distribute His half where I believe it can be best used." When the tavernkeeper finished his story the Rebbe of Apta rose, thanked him and left.
When the Rebbe returned to his Chasidim in Apta, he related to them everything he had heard from the tavernkeeper and concluded, "Whoever has strong enough faith to become a partner with G-d and is meticulously honest in his dealings is able to perform wonders and miracles."
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