By Shie Deich
November 13, 2024
That’s what is transmitted on behalf of Rebbe Maharash. We are used to saying that telling stories about Baal Shem Tov at the end of Shabbat helps to earn money. However, this is a triple mistake: firstly, not only stories about Baal Shem Tov, but also about any righteous people; secondly, not only at the end of the Sabbath, but also on any day of the week; and thirdly – not only for earnings, but also for everything you need!
Nevertheless, many Hasidim tell stories about Baal Shem Tova at the end of Shabbat, and I also try to follow this custom at home. But last Saturday in Kislovodsk I was invited to a meal with Levi Levaev. In a warm Hasidic atmosphere, the heart of this wonderful man opened, and at the “melave malka” meal I asked him: “Tell us about your relationship with Rebe!”
“Once, many decades ago, I got an offer to invest in a small country, the name of which I heard for the first time – the purchase of rough diamonds mined there. The offer was tempting and promising, and my friends strongly recommended me to enter into this deal, from which I was supposed to make a huge profit. I described the details of the transaction and sent a letter to Rebbe.
The answer was amazing: “Check the tfilin”. My tfilins were quite new and of very high quality. But when checking, the scribe still found something that needed to be corrected, and of course, immediately corrected it. I informed the Rebba about it, and received this recommendation: “On the advice of friends”. I consulted with other friends who also recommended this deal. I wrote to Rebbe about it, and Rebe replied again: “On the advice of friends.” Strange! I asked several Hasidim what all this could mean, and they replied: “If the Rebbe answers in this way, it’s probably not worth entering into this deal.” I refused it, and a few weeks later I see a headline in the newspaper: “The coup d’état in the country…” I appreciated the Rebbe’s foresight.
There was another story in those years. They came to me with the idea of buying the rights to a certain TV channel. The project was supposed to bring high profits. Major experts and consultants studied the issue from all sides and recommended the deal. And my attorney, an experienced man, gave the green light. I transferred the cost of my part, which was a large amount, but shortly before signing the detailed contract, I sent the details of the offer to the Rebe. The answer was clear and clear: “No!”
I reported this to the attorney, who was surprised, but took note of the Rebbe’s words and made sure that I got back all the money already transferred. A year passed, and it turned out that the deal was full of problems, and other partners lost all the money they invested. And I stayed with my own – again thanks to the Rebbe.”