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Adapted from Echyeh v'Asapar, pp. 145-146
(first published in Kfar Chabad Magazine)
The wheel of fortune had taken a downward turn for a
once-wealthy Jew who lived in the Moroccan city of Rabat. He was forced to leave
home and wander from town to town in search of an appropriate business
opportunity that would enable him to support the large extended family that had
come to depend on him. His faith in the One that provides all was strong, but
still, the forging of a receptacle for the Al-mighty's blessing was proving to
be difficult.  | | " He gave his money pouch to his host for safekeeping..." | | |
Finally, after several failed attempts, he succeeded
in amassing a significant amount of money. He was finally able to return home.
On the way, he passed through the town of Sali, which
is not far from Rabat. As it was already fairly late on Friday, he figured he
had better remain in Sali for Shabbat. A good friend from his youth whom he had
not seen in many years lived there, and he knew he would find a warm welcome at
his house.
Indeed, as soon as his friend saw him, he insisted
that his surprise guest remain for Shabbat. The weary traveler accepted the
invitation happily. Before candle lighting, he gave his money pouch to his host
for safekeeping, so that he wouldn't have to worry about it during the Day of
Rest.
By Saturday night, the traveler was anxious to reach
home. Immediately after Havdala, he requested his money pouch back from
his friend.
"What are you talking about?" denied his host. "You
never left any money with me."
The stunned guest could not believe his ears. He
almost fainted. When he recovered his senses, he begged his (former) friend to
return to him the money he had labored so long and hard for, and that it was
critical for his family's survival.
The host blew up. "You have some nerve!" he yelled.
"Aren't you embarrassed? You slept in my house, you ate at my table, and now you
dare hurl at me these false accusations!" | | " Just before Shabbat we sat under a tree..." | | |
Seeing the "righteous" indignation on his host's face,
the man realized there was no chance that this conniver would admit what he had
done and give back the money willingly. He decided he had better go right away
to make a claim at Beit Din (rabbinical court).
The Rabbi of Sali at the time was the famous Ohr
HaChaim, Rabbi Chaim Ibn Atar. The two men went to his house. Rabbi
Chaim listened carefully to both sides. He then addressed the host: "This Jew
claims the money that he says he deposited with you on Shabbat Eve. What do you
say?"
"It never happened", the man answered glibly. "He is
making it up and slandering me."
Rabbi Chaim turned to the hapless guest. "Perhaps
there was a witness at the time you say you handed your money to him?"
The dejected man now felt even worse. "No, there was
no witness there. Just before Shabbat we sat under a tree. That is when I took
my pouch out of my pocket and gave it to him to hold for me until Saturday
night."
"Under a tree? Very good!" cried out the Ohr HaChaim
excitedly. "Go back and summon that tree to be a witness on your behalf!" | | " Without saying another word, he promptly returned the money..." | | |
The traveler was shocked when it sunk in what the
rabbi wanted him to do, but, being well aware of the Ohr HaChaim's reputation as
a miracle-worker, he stood up and left the house without questioning the great
rabbi's instructions.
After just a few minutes, the Ohr HaChaim remarked
casually that for sure the man has already reached the tree.
"What do you mean, Rabbi?" responded the other man
spontaneously. "That tree is quite far from here."
With a hard stare right at the man's eyes, the Ohr
HaChaim declared: "Give that poor innocent Jew his money back, right now!"
Seeing the surprise on the man's face, the Rabbi stroked his beard and added:
"If you didn't receive the money from him under that tree, how is it that you
know where the tree is!"
The man turned pale. Without saying another word, he
promptly returned the money that had been entrusted to him.
After he finally reached home, the merchant applied
most of his hard-earned savings to wise investments, and, with G-d's help,
became wealthy again, as he had been once before.
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