A heavenly Purim meal

The last rays of the sun had already disappeared, marking the end of the "Fast of Esther," and the beginning of the holiday of Purim. The synagogue of Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev was filled to overflowing. Everyone waited patiently as Reb Levi Yitzchak ascended the lecturn to begin the evening service and then the reading of the megila, the story of Purim recorded in the Scroll of Esther.

The sexton approached Reb Levi Yitzchak and whispered something in his ear. The Rebbe immediately went out from the shul into an adjoining room.

There, a poor women was standing with a ritually slaughtered chicken. When salting the chicken before cooking it, she had noticed what seemed to be a broken bone and had come to ask the Rebbe if it was kosher. Reb Levi Yitzchak examined the chicken and found it to be not kosher. "Oy, what will I do? My husband is sick and my children are starving. I spent my last few coins on this chicken, hoping the soup would help my husband and satisfy my children. What shall I do?" the woman sobbed.

"Do not worry, my daughter. G-d helps everyone and will certainly help you, too," said Reb Levi Yitzchak compassionately. "Now go to the shul and listen to the megila," he added.

When the woman had left, Reb Levi Yitzchak put on his overcoat and went quickly to his home. There he gathered up everything his wife had prepared for the Purim feast the next day; fresh hamentashen, fish, chicken, soup, challah, and all kinds of delicacies. He tied it securely in a large, white tablecloth and made his way to the home of the poor woman.

Reb Levi Yitzchak entered the house and immediately heard the voice of the sick husband. "Is that you Sara? What happened with the chicken?" he asked in a weak voice.

"A good Purim, happy Purim," answered Reb Levi Yitzchak. "G-d has sent you a Purim gift." The Rebbe set the table neatly and then hurried back to the shul. The prayers and megila reading had not continued without the Rebbe; despite the late hour, no one wished to miss hearing Reb Levi Yitzchak read the megila.

That year, the megila reading seemed to take on new meaning for those gathered in the shul, especially when the Rebbe read the words about sending mishloach manot - gifts of food to one's friends - and giving extra charity to the poor. Everyone understood the implications of love and unity that were inherent in these mitzvot [commandments].

When Reb Levi Yitzchak's wife returned home, she was more than a little surprised to find that everything she had prepared for the Purim meal was missing! She entered her husband's study and found him deeply immersed in a holy book, his face aglow. The Rebbetzin intuitively understood what had happened. She managed to pull together a suitable meal from leftovers here and there.

When the poor family told the town excitedly that Elijah the Prophet had visited their house and brought "mishloach manot from G-d" the townspeople also understood where their Rebbe had been. He had substituted for Elijah.

That year, the unusually generous people of Berdichev were even more generous than usual. They sent food in abundance to Reb Levi Yitzchak for his festive Purim meal, and extra food and charity to all the poor of the city.