COLD COFFEE

n a town near Kozhnitz lived a widow and her only child, Abraham, known affectionately as Avremeleh. As a young man in his late teens, Avremeleh wanted to move to Kozhnitz to become a disciple of R' Yisrael Haupstein, theMaggid of Kozhnitz. His mother could not bear to be parted from her beloved son and decided to move to Kozhnitz too so that she could look after him.

Everything went well for some time. They settled in Kozhnitz and Avremeleh's mother took great pride in caring for him and tending to his needs. Every day he would come home to a freshly cooked meal prepared lovingly by his mother.

Their tranquil existence was brutally shattered one day when the merciless Russian soldiers marched into the town, enforcing the government's compulsory conscription order. Word spread throughout the town that all eligible young men would be abducted, sending the frightened Jews scurrying indoors to hide.

Avremeleh, however, was immersed in his studies and remained unaware of the danger. Deep in thought, he proceeded home, as usual, to enjoy the hot meal his mother had prepared for him, oblivious to the ominous silence around him.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, two strong arms grabbed him, and he looked up in horror at the sneering face of a Russian soldier. He was quickly thrown into a waiting wagon which then left the town, taking him to serve in the Czar's army.

Meanwhile, Avremeleh's mother was waiting anxiously for him to come home. When his usual lunch hour had come and gone with no sign of him, she began to worry. She reheated the meal again and again, but still there was no sign of Avremeleh. It was not like her son to keep her waiting and as time passed she became frantic. She realized that the worst must have happened - he had been snatched off the street by the cruel soldiers.

She ran directly to the Kozhnitzer Maggid and implored him to help. The Maggid reassured her that Avremeleh would return safely and all would be well, but this did not suffice for the unfortunate woman. She insisted that the Maggid do everything in his power to bring her son back immediately!

Just then the Rebbe's attendant entered, bringing the Maggid a cup of coffee. The Maggid looked up at the mother and declared, "I promise you, I won't drink this until Avremeleh returns!"

The Maggid's disciples were displeased, for they viewed his eating and drinking as spiritual acts, and they did not want him to delay drinking his coffee until Avremeleh's return. They tried to dissuade the Maggid, but he was adamant. "I said I would not drink the coffee until Avremeleh comes, and I will keep my word."

The disciples had complete faith in their mentor's powers, so did not doubt that Avremeleh would indeed be saved. Wishing to inform the Maggid immediately upon the young man's return, several of them took up positions at various points along the road leading to town, with each one instructed to signal the next one as soon as Avremeleh was sighted. The one closest to town would swiftly bear the good news to the Maggid, thus enabling him to drink his coffee as soon as possible.

But time passed slowly for the waiting students, as the minutes turned to hours and Avremeleh still had not returned. Their concern mounted as they wondered why he was detained for so long.

Finally, after an agonizing wait, the signal was given that Avremeleh had appeared. Jubilantly, the disciples ran to tell the Maggid that Avremeleh was on his way, and he could now drink his coffee. Much to their surprise and disappointment, however, the Maggid insisted, "I will not drink it until Avremeleh is standing before me!"

When Avremeleh at last arrived, the Maggid told him with a twinkle in his eye, "Because you are so stubborn my coffee turned cold!"

The Maggid's cryptic comment aroused the curiosity of the disciples, and they begged Avremeleh to explain what had occurred.

He related, "I was thrown into a wagon along with another Jew. We quickly drove off, and as the wagon rumbled on, I was distressed by many thoughts: 'How will my poor mother bear her suffering? Who will look after her? What will become of me? Will I be able to withstand the trials I will undergo with my faith intact? I must never succumb to temptation! I am proud to be a Jew, and surely the Torah I study and observe will protect me." These thoughts raced through my mind and I reassured myself that with G-d's help I would surely be rescued.

"Suddenly I saw a tall man with a long white beard running alongside the swiftly traveling wagon at superhuman speed. I realized that he must be none other than Eliyahu HaNavi/Elijah the Prophet. He knocked on the window and motioned that I should jump out. I told Eliyahu, 'There is another Jew here. I will only leave if he can also come.' The prophet replied, 'I was given permission to save only you.'

"Meanwhile the wagon drove on, with Eliyahu HaNavi keeping pace alongside. Again he knocked on the window and beckoned to me. Again, unswayed by his great holiness, I insisted that he take the other Jew along with me, and after several pleas and heartfelt persuasion, he finally relented and rescued us both."

Now the disciples understood the Maggid's remark, "Because you are so stubborn, my coffee turned cold!"

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[Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from "Gut Woch" (Mesorah) by Avrohom Barash]

Connection: Seasonal - 197th yahrzeit on Erev Sukkot (For those that feel deprived of an actual Sukkot story, you can retell it that the coffee was brought to him in the Sukkah -just remember afterwards to confess your 'sin' before your listeners depart!)

Biographic note:
R. Yisrael Haupstein, 1737- 14 Tishrei 1814, 'the Maggid' of Koznitz, a major disciple of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech, and author of the chassidic-kabbalistic work, 'Avodas Yisrael' and other books. His miraculous birth is the subject of a popular Baal Shem Tov story.

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