The Etrog That Was Meant For Someone Else

A chassid walked through the bustling Warsaw marketplace, seeking a very special etrog for his Rebbe, Rabbi Avraham of Chechanov. The price of the etrog was immaterial to him, as long as his Rebbe would be able to take pleasure in having the best of the best.

Aware of the chasid's mission, the merchants showed him their very best etrogs, each more beautiful than the one before. The chasid examined each one carefully and then returned it to its owner. In every etrog he found some sort of flaw: this one was too pointy, that one had a dirty spot, the third sported a blister.

There was just one etrog that caught the chasid's eye. It was an extremely beautiful etrog, clean and shining. The chasid wanted to buy it, but the merchant refused to sell it. This particular etrog had been designated for the saintly Rebbe, Leibele Eiger, the "Toras Emmes" of Lublin. The "Torah Emmes" was known for spending a princely sum on his etrog each year, and would surely wish to purchase this one.

The chasid would not give up. He begged. He pleaded. He raised his offer considerably, and was finally rewarded with the beautiful etrog. Joyously, he carried it back to his Rebbe.

The tzadik of Chernov accepted the etrog with joy. It was truly an outstanding etrog and had no equal.

On the first day of Sukkot, the Rebbe picked up his arba minim and was about to recite the blessing over them when he suddenly put them down again. He picked up the etrog and studied it from every angle. Finally, he summoned the chasid who had brought it to him.

The chasid came running. The Rebbe turned to him and asked, "Tell me please, how did you acquire this etrog?"

The chasid retold the whole tale to his Rebbe: how he had traveled to Warsaw to search for a special etrog, how all the merchants had clustered around him with etrogim that he had refused, and how, at last, he had spied the beautiful etrog whose owner declined to sell to him. The chasid had been forced to raise the price of his offer in order to buy it, but any price was worthwhile if it meant that he could bring his Rebbe such a perfect etrog.

"That's it!" the Rebbe exclaimed. "This etrog was intended for the Rebbe of Lublin! It is his. I have no permission to recite a blessing over it."

The Rebbe said the blessing over a different etrog -- and the chasid learned an important lesson in the proper way to conduct business.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from "Treasury of Chasidic Tales" and "Stories my Grandfather told me"(Mesorah).]

Biographic notes:
Rabbi Avraham Landau of Chechanov [1784 - 5 Adar 1875], a disciple of R. Fishel of Strikov and R. Simcha Bunim Of Pesishcha, was a renowned scholar and rabbinical judge. He served as Rav and Rebbe in his community for 56 years, refusing all offers to serve in larger, more prestigious posts. He authored Zechuta d'Avraham, Ahavas Chesed, and many others. In 1943 his grave was dug up, and his body and even his burial shrouds were completely intact.

Rabbi Yehuda-Leib ("Leibele") of Lublin [1816 - 22 Shvat 1888] was the grandson of one of the eminent Talmudic scholars of the century, Rabbi Akiva Eiger. He became a chasid of R. Menachem-Mendel of Kotsk, and subsequently of R. Mordechai-Yosef Leiner of Izbitz, upon whose death he became a Rebbe in his own right, in Lublin. One of his close followers was Rabbi Tzadik HaCohen of Lublin. His published works include Toras Emmes and Imrei Emmes, both on the weekly Torah readings and the holidays.

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A Bracha Over A Horse instead Of An Etrog

Before Reb Mordechai of Neschiz assumed his position as rabbi, he was a merchant. His son, Reb Yitzchak, recalled that every time he would return from a buying trip, he would take a portion of his profits and put it aside in a special box to be used to buy an etrog.

One year he had amassed the sum of six silver rubles, and he made his way to the town of Brody to purchase the etrog. As he travelled down the road, he was surprised to hear the sound of weeping. He came upon a poor man sobbing over the loss of his horse, without which he had no means of support. Reb Mordechai told the man to stay put, and with his silver rubles, he rushed off to purchase a new horse for the man. The poor man couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Reb Mordechai approaching with a horse! He gratefully heaped blessings on his benefactor and went on his way.

As for Reb Mordechai, now left without any money, he also turned towards home. He realized that he would be without an etrog for the upcoming festival, but he thought to himself: "What's the difference? Buying an etrog is a mitzva commanded by G-d, and helping my poor brother is also a mitzva commanded by G-d." A smile crossed his face and he chuckled to himself: "Everyone else will make the blessing over an etrog; I'll make my blessing over a horse." And so he continued home in a very happy mood. In fact, someone brought him an etrog in good time to use for the Yom Tov, and that year he made a blessing not only over an etrog, but over a horse as well!

The Son of An Etrog

Every year, immediately after Rosh Hashana, Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira of Mogelnitz sought a trusty messenger for a special mission. He would give him a large sum of money, send him out to purchase an etrog for the entire community and instruct him not to spare any effort to acquire the best one available. (An etrog is a citron fruit, one of the "Four Species" upon which a blessing is recited during the Sukkot holiday. The Torah describes the etrog as "the fruit of a beautiful tree" and it has long been customary to seek out a beautiful, unblemished etrog with which to enhance the mitzva.)

In those days in Europe, good-quality etrogim were very difficult to come by. In many towns and villages, as in Mogelnitz, there would be just one etrog for the entire Jewish populace.

One year it was extremely difficult to find a beautiful etrog; they were all blemished. The agent went from place to place, but was unable to find anything remotely suitable. He recognized right away that none satisfied the rabbi's requirements.

As the Sukkot festival approached, he became increasingly anxious. He realized that he would have to turn back towards home if he were to arrive on time for Sukkot. He would have to buy the first etrog he came across, even if it was plain.

Late in the day he arrived at a certain village and went into a small shul to pray mincha, the afternoon service. He overheard two men talking. "Did you hear about Mr. Almoni? This year he managed to buy the most beautiful etrog imaginable."

The agent inquired as to Mr. Almoni's address and hurried there. Mouthing a silent prayer, he reached up to knock on the door of the magnificent house. A servant admitted him, and showed him into the rich man's study.

The agent hesitated. How could he convince this stranger to part with the etrog? Certainly a man like that wasn't going to be interested in money! All he could do was express his feelings. He explained about Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira, that he was a great tzadik, an exalted person for whom performing every mitzva in an enhanced manner was an integral, indispensable aspect of life. "Please," he cried, "have mercy on this holy Jew and you will have a share in his great merit."

Mr. Almoni turned him down but the agent continued to plead. Suddenly, the wealthy householder's face softened slightly. He sat silently for a few minutes, thinking deeply. Then he spoke.

"You say your rabbi is a big tzadik?"

A ray of hope sparked in the agent's heart. "Yes! Yes," he exclaimed. "It's true."

"If so, perhaps we can do business," said the rich man. "Money is not the issue here. I paid a handsome sum for this glorious etrog. Thank G-d, I can afford it. But there is one thing I cannot buy. All these years, my wife and I have no children.

"I am prepared," he continued, "to 'sell' you my incomparable etrog. My non-negotiable price is that your holy rabbi should bless us to have a child, and that his blessing should come true within a reasonable period of time. If it comes to be, then the etrog is my gift to him. But if not, then retroactively your great rabbi and your entire community will not have fulfilled the mitzva (as one only fulfill this mitzva on an etrog that belongs to him)."

The rich man looked the rebbe's representative in the eye. "Do we have a deal?"

Silence permeated the room as the stunned agent considered how to respond. Finally he decided that he had no choice and accepted the proposal after which the agent set off straight for home.

Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel opened the box. Before him was one of the most splendid, perfect etrogim he had ever beheld. His joy knew no bounds, until the agent told him the conditions of the "transaction." He slowly re-wrapped the etrog.

For a long time Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel sat still, engulfed in his lofty thoughts. When at last he stood up from his chair, his face was pale, but a twinkle could be detected in his eyes.

"All right," he stated softly but firmly. "I accept upon myself this difficult condition. I will do that which I am able and bless Mr. Almoni that he and his wife should have a child. Now it is up to the Al-mighty to do His part."

A year later, on the eve of Rosh Hashana, a small package arrived for Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel. Inside was an etrog of superior quality, along with a note from Mr. Almoni announcing that a son had been born to him and his wife a few weeks before, and thanking the Rabbi for his blessing that had come to fruition.

Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel was overjoyed at the news. For him it was a two-fold celebration. Not only had the long-suffering couple been blessed with a child, finally he could fully rejoice over his mitzva of the Four Species of the previous Sukkot, which now no longer had a shadow of doubt cast over it.

Every year, the rabbi would receive a beautiful etrog from the grateful Almonis. One year, the messenger who delivered the etrog was a young yeshiva student.

"I have the etrog which my father requested that I deliver to the honorable Rabbi," said the young fellow, bashfully.

Rabbi Chaim Meir Yechiel stared at the youth. Tears welled up in his eyes. He extended one hand to receive the etrog and placed the other on the boy's head. "Not only are you the bearer of an etrog," he said, "you are the son of an etrog!"

Translated-adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles for the Ascent Weekly, www.ascent.org.il

An Etrog Story

Yosel was a simple, honest Jew, which is why each year he was chosen to be the one to buy a "special" etrog (citron) for his town. There were, of course, other etrogim in town that individuals purchased in order to fulfill the mitzva (commandment) of "lulav and etrog" on the holiday of Sukkot. But the special etrog was unique; it was purchased from a fund contributed to by everyone in the town so that a truly excellent etrog could be bought.

Yosel hummed a joyous melody as he and his horse plodded through the forest on their two-day journey to the city. Suddenly, Yosel noticed a person gesturing wildly by the side of the road up ahead. Yosel was sure that someone was in dire need and Yosel wanted to be of help if he could be.

Within a few moments, Yosel was near enough to take in the whole situation. A Jew was standing next to his fully-loaded wagon, holding his head and weeping aloud like a baby. Yosel couldn't stand seeing a fellow Jew sad.

"What's wrong?" called out Yosel compassionately. "Why is a Jew crying?"

The poor fellow just pointed to the ground. There lay his horse, still as a stone, harnessed to the carriage with one leg in the air; a truly pitiful sight.

Yosel understood. This unfortunate merchant was also on his way to the city but he had with him a wagon full of wares. This loaded wagon most likely represented his income for the next few months. And now, with his horse dead, there was no way for the merchant to reach the market.

"Come with me" offered Yosel. "My wagon isn't nearly as big as yours but you can put some of your things in." But as the words came out of the good-hearted Yosel's mouth, he knew this suggestion wouldn't work. His horse wasn't strong enough to pull a laden wagon and even so, everything left behind would certainly be stolen. The fellow would loose his wagon and the remainder of his goods as well.

"Look," Yosel said, "how much do you need for a new horse?"

The man whispered, "Five hundred rubles," and then began to weep again.

Yosel took the money for the special etrog out of his pocket and said, "Here is 500 rubles. Jump in! We can make it to the market in a half a day. You can buy a horse there, ride it back here and make it back to the market again before tomorrow morning. You can repay the loan later."

Yosel urged his horse on and throughout the entire journey Yosel sang a happy melody, thinking of how lucky he was to be in the position to help out a fellow Jew in need. Within two hour of reaching the marketplace, the Jew had purchased a new horse and was off like the wind to save his wagon.

As the Jew faded into the distance, so did the smile on Yosel's face. He suddenly realized the predicament he was in. Hmm, a two-day journey back to his own town, 500 rubles from his savings, a two-day journey back to the city to buy an etrog, then back home again... Yosel's head began to spin.

"I'm such a simpleton! A fool!" Yosel began berating himself. But suddenly he thought, "Hey! What possible good will come from being sad!? Exactly the opposite; the Baal Shem Tov says that 'Sadness is the doorstep to all sins.' It is a mitzva to be happy and joyous I will be!"

Just then, Yosel noticed a large group of people gathered around one man. Yosel approached and was awed by what he saw. A huge etrog, as brilliantly yellow as the sun, and spotlessly perfect! It was magnificent. He had never seen anything like it in his life. How he would have loved to have purchased that etrog as the special one for his community. Surely the selling price was at least one thousand rubles. Yosel took one last wistful look and then turned away. But then, he heard something that caught his attention. A raffle! It seemed that because no one had such a large sum the owner decided to make a raffle: He would sell 50 tickets for 20 rubles each.

Yosel bought a ticket. He wrote his name on a piece of paper and placed it together with the other 49 slips of paper in a hat. A child was called up from the crowd. He closed his eyes, stuck his hand in and...

Yosel won! Everyone in the crowd shook his hand and patted him on the back. Yosel graciously took the etrog and then walked to the nearby synagogue to recite the afternoon prayers and thank G-d properly. The next morning, Yosel set off for home. He marvelled at G-d's ways and continuously thanked G-d for the goodness He had bestowed upon him.

On his return trip home, Yosel once again caught site of someone by the side of the road. Yosel stopped his wagon and was delighted to see the Jew whom he had helped just the day before. The Jew explained, "A miracle! When I came back with the new horse I found that the old one that I thought was dead , wasn't dead at all. He was standing by the road, eating grass. So I hitched both horses up to the wagon and in no time I made it to the market and sold all my goods in just a few hours at a nice profit. Then I sold the new horse you bought me and raced out here last night so I could intercept you on your way back home, and now here you are, and here's your money back."

So, Yosel helped a fellow Jew in need, acquired a very special etrog for his community, and was even returning to his community with 500 rubles for them to do as they saw fit, all because of his simple joy.

By Rabbi Tuvia Bolton, from www.ohrtmimim.org

A Portion In The World To Come For The Mitzvah Of Sukkah

It was only a short time before Sukkot, and in all of Berdichev there could not be found a single etrog. The Tzaddik, Reb Levi Yitzchak, and the entire congregation, were concerned how they would be able to fulfill the important mitzvah of Lulav and Etrog. They waited, but no etrog arrived in Berdichev. Finally, the Tzaddik instructed his followers to go to the closest main highway – perhaps there they would find some Jew who had an etrog. And so they found a Jew, on his way home after a long journey, who had in his possession a very beautiful etrog. But his home was not Berdichev. He lived in another city, far from Berdichev; he was only passing through on his way home.

The followers of Reb Levi Yitzchak persuaded the traveling Jew to meet with the great Tzaddik, Reb Levi Yitzchak. The great Tzaddik tried to convince the Jew to spend Sukkot in Berdichev which would result in so many Jews having the merit of properly performing the mitzvah of Lulav and Etrog, and of course, Reb Levi Yitzchak too would also have the privilege of performing the mitzvah. The Jew would not agree. After all, he was traveling home to his family, whom he hadn't seen for so long. How could he deprive them and himself of the simcha of Yom Tov, the joy of the Sukkot holiday?

In order to further persuade the traveler, the Tzaddik, Reb Levi Yitzchak, promised the Jew wealth and great nachat (pleasure) from his children. The Jew responded that he had, thank G-d, both wealth and wonderful children, and was not in need of anything more. Finally, in desperation, Reb Levi Yitzchak told the Jew that if he would fulfill the rabbi's request, the rabbi would promise him that after 120 years, he would spend eternity together with the rabbi, in the rabbi's four cubits in the World to Come.

When the Jew who owned the etrog heard this incredible offer from the great Tzaddik, he immediately acceded to the Tzaddik's request and agreed to remain in Berdichev for the Sukkot holiday. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and the entire community were delighted, and the Jew with the etrog was ecstatic.

Unbeknownst to the Jewish traveler, a secret command had been issued by the Tzaddik to all the people of Berdichev, that under no circumstances should they allow this Jew who brought the etrog to Berdichev to enter any of their sukkot during the holiday. No one knew why, but the decree of the Tzaddik, was an unalterable decree.

On the first night of Sukkot, after services, the traveling Jew returned from synagogue to the inn where he was staying, and found in his room wine for kiddush, candles, challahs, and a table covered with food. The guest was perplexed...Doesn't the innkeeper have a sukkah? A righteous Jew like he, no sukkah? He went out to the yard and found a sukkah, beautifully built and arrayed, the owner and all the members of his household sitting around the table. The guest sought to enter, but he was not permitted. Why, why? How could this be? No response. So he went to the neighbors on the street and found them, each one in their own sukkah. He begged them to allow him to enter, to sit in their sukkah - for just a moment. No one answered. Finally, he learned that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak had decreed that he should not be allowed into a single sukkah in the entire city of Berdichev.

In panic, he ran to the Tzaddik's home. "What is this?" he cried. "What is my trespass? What is my sin?" Said the Tzaddik: "If you will nullify the promise I made to you that you would sit with me in the World to Come, I will immediately instruct my followers to allow you to enter their sukkot. The guest was astonished - outraged - but was silent. "What can I do?" he thought to himself. "After all, is it an insignificant thing to sit together with this great Tzaddik in the World to Come? On the other hand, in my entire life I have never missed performing the mitzvah of sitting in a sukkah. How can I fail now, on the first night of the holiday, to fulfill this wonderful mitzvah?" Finally, the guest came to a conclusion -- in favor of the sukkah. He said to himself: "Is it possible that all of Israel will sit in a sukkah and I will eat in a house, like a non-Jew? G-d forbid!" He then renounced the promise that Tzaddik had made to him, and at the demand of Reb Levi Yitzchak, extended his hand to confirm the agreement, and proceeded to sit in a sukkah.

When the festival concluded, Reb Levi Yitzchak summoned the Jew to his home. "Now," said the Tzaddik: "I am returning to you my promise. You see, I did this to teach you, to inform you, that I didn't want you to merit the World to Come for no reason, as if it were a business deal or bargain. I wanted you to truly earn a place in the World to Come because you were deserving, because of your deeds, and so I caused you to be tested in the mitzvah of sukkah. Now that you have passed the test, and have shown true devotion to the sukkah, you truly deserve to be my partner in the World to Come."

A Beautiful Etrog

Each Sukkot morning, after performing the mitzvah of taking the “Four Kinds,” the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, would allow all who wished to do so to use his lulav and etrog. Many chassidim availed themselves of the opportunity, though they had a set of “Four Kinds” of their own, regarding it as a great privilege to perform the mitzvah with their Rebbe’s set.

One day, after the Rebbe’s etrog was returned to him bruised and stained from being handled by hundreds of hands, one of his chassidim said to him: “Why do you allow so many people to use your etrog? Look at what has happened to it! It has lost its hiddur (beauty)!” [1]

“Why,” replied Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, “this is the most beautiful etrog in the world! What greater hiddur can there be for an etrog than the fact that hundreds of Jews have performed a mitzvah with it?”

-----
[1]. The chassid was referring to the principle of hiddur mitzvah(“beautification of the mitzvah”), derived from the verse, “This is my G-d, and I shall beautify Him” (Exodus 15:2). According to the Midrash, this teaches us to “make beautiful before Him with mitzvot: make Him a beautiful lulav, a beautiful sukkah, beautiful tzitzit, beautiful tefillin” (Mechilta, ibid.). One of the things that characterizes an etrog as mehudar is a “clean” surface, free of blemishes and discoloring.

From MLC

The Etrog Of R' Uri Of Strelisk

It was the first day of Sukkot, and all the congregation in the shul of Rabbi Elimelech of Lisensk were in a festive mood. As Rabbi Elimelech stood at the bima, all eyes turned towards him. There was something unusual in his manner this Sukkot. Why did he stop so suddenly to sniff the air? It was evident that something was on his mind, something rather exciting by the look on his radiant countenance!
The minute the prayers were over, Rabbi Elimelech hurried to his brother Rabbi Zushia who was standing, and said: "Help me find the etrog which is permeating the shul with the fragrance of the Garden of Eden!"

They went from person to person until they reached a corner of the shul where a quiet-looking man was standing, engrossed in his own thoughts.

"This is the one," exclaimed Rabbi Elimelech. "Please, dear friend, tell me who are you and where did you obtain this wonderful etrog?"

The man, startled by this unexpected question, replied rather slowly:

"Rabbi, it is quite a story. Do you wish to sit down and listen to it all?"

"Most certainly, I am sure it will be a story worth hearing!"

"My name is Uri, and I come from Strelisk. The mitzva of etrog has always been one of my favorites. I am a poor man, and could not normally afford to buy an etrog as I would wish, but my good wife, who agrees with me, hires herself out as a cook. In this way, I can use half of my earnings for spiritual matters. Every year I travel to Lemberg to make the purchase, and in order to conserve money, I go by foot.

"This year, during the Ten Days of Repentance, I was travelling with fifty gulden with which to buy an etrog, when I stopped at an inn to rest. It was time for the afternoon prayers, so I stood in a corner and prayed.

"In the middle I heard a terrible sound of moaning and groaning. I hurriedly finished so that I could see if I could help in some way. As I turned towards the man who was in obvious distress, I saw a person, dressed in peasant garb, pouring out his troubles to the inn-keeper.

"The man was a Jew who earned his living as a wagon-driver. He had a wife and several children, and barely managed to earn enough to make ends meet. Now, a terrible calamity had befallen him. His horse had suddenly collapsed in the forest and was unable to get up.

"I tried to encourage the poor man, telling him not to forget that there is a great G-d Who could help him out of any dilemma. The innkeeper, offered to sell him another horse at a good price, but the man replied bitterly: 'I haven't got even fifty kopeks, let alone fifty gulden!'

"How could I keep the etrog money in the face of such a tragedy? I asked the innkeeper what was the lowest price he would take for the horse. 'Forty-five gulden, but not a kopek less,' he replied.

"I immediately took out my wallet and handed him forty-five gulden, the astonished wagon-driver looking on. His relief and joy were absolutely indescribable!

"I had to content myself with buying a very ordinary etrog with my remaining money. Usually, my etrog is the best in Yanev, and everyone comes to make the blessing on it. But with such a poor-looking one, my wife agreed that I could come here to Lisensk where nobody knows me."

"But my dear Uri," cried out Rabbi Elimelech, "yours is indeed an exceptional etrog! Now I understand why your etrog has the fragrance of the Garden of Eden! Let me tell you the sequel to your story."

"The wagon-driver, overjoyed by his good fortune, decided that you must have been none other than Elijah the Prophet. He wanted to express his gratitude to the Alm-ghty, but didn't know how to pray. Suddenly his face lit up. He took his whip and lashed it into the air, crying out:

"'Oh, dear Father in Heaven, I love you very much! What can I do to convince you of my love for you? Let me crack my whip for you as a sign that I love you!' Then, the wagon-driver cracked his whip three times.

"On the eve of Yom-Kippur the Alm-ghty was seated on His 'Seat of Judgment,' listening to the prayers of the Day of Atonement.

"A wagon full of Jewish mitzvot was standing at the Gates of Heaven, when Satan appeared and obstructed the path with a wagon-load of Jewish sins. Nothing was able to budge Satan.

"Suddenly the sound of a cracking whip rent the air, causing a blinding ray of light to illuminate the whole universe, right up to the very heavens! All at once, the Angel Michael appeared, leading a horse, followed by the wagon-driver with whip in hand.

"The Angel Michael harnessed this horse to the wagon of mitzvot, and the driver cracked his whip. Suddenly the wagon gave a lurch forward, flattened out the Jewish sins, and drove on smoothly right up to the 'Throne of Honor.' A happy new year was assured.

"And now, dear Uri," concluded Rabbi Elimelech, "you see that all this came about through your selfless action! Go in peace, and know that you have with you the approval of the Heavenly Court. But before you go, permit me to hold this wonderful etrog of yours and praise G-d with it."

From The Complete Story of Tishrei.