Guests at the Seder Table

Before he was ‘discovered’ and people began running to him from far and wide, Rebbe Issachar Ber of Radoshitz (1765-1843) was so poor that he didn’t even have a slice of bread in his house. The day before Pesach, he didn’t even have ten crumbs of bread to hide as is the custom before searching for Chametz. He was therefore forced – in order to uphold the mitzvah of bedikat chametz (searching for chametz) – to depart from his habit of never asking favors from people. He had to ask for a slice of bread from his neighbor.

The next day, there wasn’t a spec of chametz in Rebbe Issachar Ber’s meager home. There was absolutely nothing to eat for Seder night either; his pantry was empty.

At 3 PM, three hours before sundown on Passover eve, a fancy two-horse carriage stopped in front of the Rebbe’s home. They knocked on the door and asked the Rebbetzin – the Rebbe’s wife – where the Rebbe was. She told them that he was in the shtiebel (small synagogue) learning Torah and asked what they wanted.

“We are merchants from Ashkenaz (Germany)”, they said, “and we’re passing through Poland on business. We are very exacting in our observance of the Torah’s mitzvoth, and especially so during Pesach. We have heard of the Rebbe’s fear of G-d, so we’d like to be guests in your home for Pesach Seder and Yom Tov.”

The Rebbetzin shyly shrugged and looked down at the doorstep in shame. “My house is empty – I haven’t prepared a thing for Pesach.”

“No problem,” the guests said. They returned to their carriage and brought all the matzot, food and wine needed for the holiday. No detail was missing and everything was fully prepared. The guests set the table, fit for a king, then ran to the synagogue for minchah and Pesach eve prayers.

When the prayers were over, the two distinguished-looking guests approached the Rebbe, wished him a “Good Yom Tov” and asked to be his guests for Passover. The Rebbe responded, “I’ll be honored to host you, but I’ve prepared nothing for Pesach.”

The guests then said, “So be it – if the Rebbe doesn’t eat, we won’t eat either.” The three walked back together to the Rebbe’s house. To his amazement, the Rebbe saw his home shining in light with his table overflowing in abundance.

The Rebbe turned to the Rebbetzin and said, “Have you perhaps gone against my wishes and sought favors from flesh and blood?”

“Heaven forbid!” replied the Rebbetzin. Our honored guests brought everything for the Yom Tov with them.

The Rebbe could see that the guests were both pious Torah scholars. It was a pleasure to hear them pray. He therefore knew that everything they brought was perfectly kosher.

They had a beautiful Seder night and a most inspiring Pesach.

After the Rebbe recited Havdalah when the second day of Yom Tov was over, the guests walked outside but never returned. The Rebbe looked all over town for them, but there was no trace of them or their carriage and horses.

After the Shavuot holiday, Rebbe Issachar Ber traveled to his Rebbe, the famed Chozeh, the Seer of Lublin.

The Chozeh asked his student how he was. Rebbe Issachar Ber told his teacher about his poverty and about the miraculous salvation he had on Passover, when the two guests arrived right before the holiday.

“Do you know who those two guests were?” asked the Chozeh. Rebbe Issachar Ber shook his head in the negative. “They were the archangels Michael and Gabriel. How fortunate you are, Issachar Ber. People will now begin flocking to you and your poverty is about to end.”

Soon after, the holy Chozeh left the physical world and people began to seek the advice and blessings of Rebbe Issachar Ber of Radoshitz, whose two very special Passover guests left him with a blessing of fantastic abundance. May it be so for all of Israel, amen! Happy Passover!