In a small Polish town there lived a Jewish innkeeper who was well known for being honest and very strong in his faith. One day, on a late Friday afternoon, a Russian General and his troops arrived in town. They were returning from fighting in a war, and settled in the town for a rest.
The sun had already set when the General sent his one of his aides to fetch some wine from the local Jewish innkeeper. From every Jewish house the Shabbos (Sabbath) candles were shining through windows, which cast an air of celebration and holiness. The general’s aide arrived at the inn and found it closed. He went to the innkeeper’s home and found him dressed in his Shabbos clothes. The aide was welcomed in. “The General sent me to buy some of your best wine”, the aide said, taking out a roll of money. “I am very sorry”, the innkeeper replied. “We are now celebrating Shabbos – the Holy Sabbath Day. I do not do business on our holy day of Shabbos”. The aide returned to his General and told him that the Jewish innkeeper had refused to sell him wine because of the Shabbos. The General flew into a rage.
He immediately dispatched two soldiers to the innkeeper to warn him that if he still refused to sell them wine for the General, he would face the most serious consequences. The soldiers returned to the General without wine. “Why didn’t you bring me wine?!”, the General roared. The soldiers explained that they tried to buy wine, but the Jewish innkeeper said he could not sell any wine on the holy Sabbath day. However, he sent the key to his wine cellar, and suggested that perhaps the General might wish to help himself to any of the wine as his guest.
How strange that innkeeper is!, the General thought. He would not sell me a bottle of wine, yet he is prepared to give away his entire wine-cellar. That little Jewish innkeeper has a great deal of brazenness. So the General decided to meet the Jewish innkeeper in person!
When the General came to the innkeeper’s house, he remained standing at the door as he absorbed the wonderful scene that met his eyes. The table was covered with a white cloth and laden with tasty dishes. The Shabbos candles shone brightly. The innkeeper, his wife and children were dressed in their Shabbos clothes; all faces aglow with delight. The General almost felt sorry to have disturbed this beautiful atmosphere. The innkeeper rose to meet the General and respectfully invited him to join in the feast. The general said to the innkeeper, “Don’t you know the severity of not selling wine to the army during war?” The Jewish innkeeper calmly answered, “To keep the Sabbath day holy is one of the Ten Commandments given to us by G-d, His command we must obey before any command by human kings and princes”. The General was greatly impressed. He sat down at the table and motioned his aide to do the same. Never in their lives had they enjoyed such a delicious meal.
Several years later, the Jewish innkeeper was arrested and falsely accused of spying against his country. He was in great danger of severe punishment or even death. One day, when he was in jail, the heavy door of his solitary cell opened, and a high official appeared. The tears which filled the innkeeper’s eyes blurred his vision, and he could not see the inspector very well. But the inspector gazed at him intently, and then exclaimed, “Why, this is my good friend the Jewish innkeeper. What are you doing here?” The Jewish innkeeper wiped his tears and looked in astonishment at the inspector. It suddenly dawned on him that this was none other than the General whom he had entertained in his house that Friday night many years before! “Believe me, your Highness, I have done no wrong. I have always minded my own business and took no part in any politics. I am innocent”, The innkeeper cried. The Chief Inspector assured him, “I have no doubt about your innocence. Rest assured that I shall leave no stone unturned to get you out of here. At last I shall be able to repay you for the friendship and hospitality you showed me that Friday night. I have never forgotten the experience of that evening”.
The General, now Chief Inspector, personally appeared before the investigating committee and vouched for the innocence of the Jewish innkeeper. He told them, in detail, of his experience with the innkeeper, and assured them that he had not the slightest doubt that the Jewish innkeeper had no part in any conspiracy. The Chief Inspector’s words, and his great influence in the highest spheres of the government, dispelled all the suspicion directed against the Jewish innkeeper and he was promptly released and sent home.
Great was the joy of the innkeeper’s family when he suddenly returned home. “How did this wonderful thing happen?” his wife asked. “The Queen has intervened in my behalf”, answered the Jewish innkeeper. “What Queen?”
“The Shabbos Queen, of course” replied the innkeeper with a smile.
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)