Did you hear the story about Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen’s daughter?
He was one of the leading poskim of Vilna in the late 19th Century and she was ready for a shidduch. So he sent two close disciples to check out a particular guy for her.
The two men traveled to a small village in Poland to meet the young man and learn more about him. They were impressed with the G-d fearing budding scholar they encountered. He had an excellent reputation in the town and his parents were only too happy to hear about a shidduch with the famous Rabbi Shlomo’s daughter.
The two men departed for Vilna in high spirits, rejoicing in the impending mazal tov.
One of their fellow travelers overheard their discussion and couldn’t help but be curious.
“I hear you’re making a shidduch in our town,” he said. “Can you tell me who the young man is?”
They told him.
The stranger shook his head sadly. “Yes, he’s a fine scholar. It’s such a shame is he is so weak and sickly.”
“What do you mean? We spoke to him for hours and he seemed completely fine.”
“I can tell you two are real talmidei chachamim. All you see is how much Torah he knows – which is a lot. You didn’t notice his physical condition, though it’s obvious to everyone else. Maybe it should be taken into account before finalizing the shidduch.”
The two students were seriously disturbed by this conversation. How could they recommend this Shidduch for the rabbi’s daughter without knowing for sure if the stranger’s claims were true?
On their way home, they passed through Lublin and they decided to visit the Chozeh. Though they were misnagdim, they felt sorely in need of advice from the famous sage.
The Chozeh welcomed them and immediately began telling the following dvar Torah:
In the Book of Shmuel, the story is told of how Shaul’s father Kish’s donkeys got lost.
Kish said to Shaul: “Take one of the lads with you and go search for the donkeys”… They searched for three days but didn’t find them… Shaul said to the lad that was with him: “Let’s return, lest my father stop worrying about the donkeys, and begin worrying about us.”
The lad replied: “Behold there is a man of G-d in this city and he is much respected. Whatever he says, transpires. Let’s go to him. Perhaps he will tell us our way, that we went on.”
The Chozeh paused there and asked: “Why did the lad speak in past tense – about the way they went ? Shouldn’t he have asked what way they should go – in future tense?”
The Chozeh continued: “Sometimes a person goes on a mission and fails. This indicates that there was another reason why he had to go to that place or do that thing. There is never ‘no reason’ for anything we do, so long as we have sincere intentions. The lad was hoping that the Prophet Shmuel would be able to tell them the real reason for their journey, since it was apparently not about donkeys.”
Indeed, no.
Shaul was not destined to be a donkey hunter.
As soon as Shmuel saw him, he anointed him as Hashem’s chosen King of Israel.
The true purpose of his mission was revealed.
At first, the two disciples were not entirely sure what to make of the Chozeh’s dvar Torah. But later in Vilna, after the shidduch fell through due to the young man’s poor health, they began to ponder it some more.
They were amazed that the Chozeh had guessed their business and known that they would fail. They realized they needed to return to Lublin and ask they Chozeh what was the real purpose of their mission, since apparently they were not good shidduch hunters.
As soon as they spoke to him more, they understood that the true goal of their journey was simply to meet the Chozeh as they had much to learn from him.
- This story was adapted from the Torah Wellsprings Parshah sheet compiled by Rabbi Elimelech Biederman.
Who Moved my Donkey?
Don’t you love learning real meaningful lessons directly from the Tanach? Maybe that’s why this story really speaks to me personally.
I won’t offer any interpretation.
It’s dedicated to you, my fellow Jewish entrepreneurs and doers – all of you with a mission and the courage to pursue it. I’m sure you can take what you need from this story without me saying any more!
Wishing you a Healthy, Successful and Prosperous New Year.
– Naomi
Tova Younger says
great story, I enjoy your style. bracha and hatzlacha – gmar chasima tova
Naomi says
Thank you. Gmar Chasima tova to you too!