Preparations for the festival of Sukkot were under way, but for the poor, there were often obstacles. Finding wooden boards with which to erect the sukka was always hard, and so every year Reb Mordechai of Lechovitch amassed wooden boards that he lent out to needy Jews.
One year when the eve of Sukkot fell on Friday night, a tattered-looking man limped up to Reb Mordechai's door and asked if he could borrow a few boards to build his sukka. The tzadik replied that unfortunately there were none left. Without a word, the poor fellow turned and limped off to continue his search for the requisite boards.
Reb Mordechai watched sadly as the man disappeared into the alleyway, and then burst out in tears. He addressed G-d, crying, "Master of the Universe! See how Your children love the mitzva of dwelling in a sukka! Here You see a poor, wretched cobbler, lame in one leg, with torn clothing and no proper shoes--tramping through the mud, doing what!--looking for boards to build his sukka! Heavenly Father, look down from Your holy dwelling place and bless Your people, Israel--`Spread out over them Your Sukka, Your Tabernacle of Peace.'"
Reb Mordechai went outside, climbed his roof, and searched until he discovered a few loose boards. He then called his attendant and instructed him to bring the boards to the poor cobbler, and since time was short before the holy Shabbat, to help him to build the sukka as well.
