Shaindle Rivka was known as a holy woman of great knowledge and wisdom. People were constantly coming to her for advice and blessings. Many looked upon Shaindle Rivka as a great spiritual leader.
Tam and Chacham traveled to meet this holy woman. The rabbis were amazed at the love and reverence all the people of the village had for Shaindle Rivka. They sat from many long hours talking about the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah. During their conversation, Tam asked, “From where do you get your great power to do miracles?”
The holy Shaindle Rivka answered humbly, “For that, I have to thank Yankel Ganiff (Yankel the Thief)” Then she explained:
“On erev Yom Kippur, it was the custom for all the Jewish people in the village to come to my holy father to receive his blessing of gemar chasima tova, ‘May your heavenly decree be sealed for good!’ One year when I was still a little girl, I was standing in his room at that time. One of the men who entered was a certain unpleasant person named Yankel, who had a reputation as someone who makes his living by taking others’ property. He tried to avoid stealing from Jewish people, but that didn’t excuse his crooked ways. When his turn in line came to be before my holy father, he put out his hand to shake my father’s hand and receive a blessing, but my father quickly pulled his own hand back and refused to bless him.
“Yankel was determined and began to cry a flood of tears, as he pleaded and begged my holy father to bless him like all the other Jewish people. He even argued that he was not to blame if this was the livelihood that heaven had decreed for him! But my father denied that, saying that every person can choose for himself a decent and upright way to make a living and that heaven will provide for him! In the end, after much begging and crying, my father softened and had pity on Yankel. My father covered his holy hand with a cloth and then held Yankel’s hand and gave him a blessing. (Some exceptionally holy people may experience great pain when coming into physical contact with an exceptionally sinful person; that is why the holy rabbi covered his hand.)
“When I saw my holy father bless this thief,” said Shaindle Rivka, “I immediately went over to him and said, ‘If a person like this succeeded in receiving a blessing from you now, it must be a special time. So I want you to bless me too!’”
“‘What blessing do you want?’ he asked. “‘That my blessings be fulfilled!’ I said.
“And he blessed me!” concluded Shaindle Rivka.
It is told that Yankel completely repented and gave up stealing for a living after he received the holy rabbi’s blessing, and that after the holy rabbi’s death, he was found more than once crying his heart out in prayer.
Shaindle Rivka asked that her blessings come true, which is the power of a great spiritual leader. That is how she merited to do miracles and became very respected by many people. Why would a little girl ask for that, for the power of blessing? Perhaps because she realized that it was the outward sign of her father’s greatness.
But in explaining how she became a great spiritual leader, Shaindle Rivka humbly compared herself to an unworthy thief who, so to speak, stole a blessing from her father, the rebbe. Yet despite her holy humility, even as a little girl she was sensitive and realized that it was a time of special grace—when even a thief was accepted—and she was bold enough to ask for what she wanted. May we also be alert to times of grace and know what to ask for at the right moment.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
