Reb Nochumke was on his way to visit his mother. She resided
in Baisegale, near Kovna, Lithuania. The distance was far
and unfamiliar. He was bringing his mother a sizeable sum,
but proceeded on foot since he did not want to spend money
on renting a cart and a horse. Unfortunately, he made a
wrong turn, and lost his way in the thick forest. He was
hoping to find his way out before the nightfall, and spend
the night in a safer place, when he heard some voices
approaching and soon a group of riders appeared on a nearby
hilltop. Excitedly, he called them to halt, and hurried
towards them.
The closer he came, the more apprehensive he became,
realizing that there was something evil in their look. He
made a swift turn, and tried to hide and escape the group,
but it was too late. Several riders came swiftly over, and
seized him. He pleaded with them, "I am a poor Jew. What do
you want of me? I did not want to harm you."
"Ha, Ha, Ha!" they laughed, "Did you hear of a Jew with good
intentions?"
"I shall give you my purse. Just let me go!"
"Don't worry, we'll get your purse just the same!"
Reb Nochumke started praying and for a while the bandits
looked on, doing nothing. As his prayers continued, he
realized that they were preparing their swords and whips. He
started saying the viduy, eyes closed, but as soon as
the whips hit him, he fell to the ground, his blood oozing.
Soon, he thought, everything will be over. Who
will tell my wife? She will become an aguna.
Without a warning, more noises were heard, noises of bells.
A wagon was nearing! The bandits fled in haste, leaving the
wounded Reb Nochumke behind. Now, Reb Nochumke's prayers
were those of thanks to Hashem for saving him so
miraculously.
*
A baby boy was born in a household filled with girls. The
happy parent, Uziel and Mayda, celebrated the bris
and named him Menachem Nochum. He grew to be a good, clever
boy, but, alas, his poor parents could not afford to hire a
teacher for him, and Uziel, the father, taught the boy the
Aleph Beis and a little reading. Nochumke was eager to learn
more but there was no way he could do it.
From time to time a wandering Jew would pass by, and
Nochumke learned a bit more, but the travelers would go on
their way and the studies would stop until the next wanderer
came along.
Uziel was able to find better employment with a man who was
also a learned Jew; he took a liking to Nochumke, and
together they spent several hours learning daily. It was a
wonderful experience for Nochumke, but for a short duration.
The employer had to travel frequently to far-away places to
purchase raw materials and sell his finished products.
Nochumke tried to learn in a nearby town, but he was not
very successful, and though he tried as hard as he could, he
soon found it was necessary to stop his schooling and go
back home. The disappointed parents decided he must go to
work, and avoid being idle, as idleness is a source of
sin.
All along, he was determined to continue his learning, and
eventually found a way to do so. He wandered from one town
to another, and stayed in one place as long as he felt
welcomed. He wandered to far places such as Vilna and then
to Mir. His ability and diligence were noticed by all, and
eventually, he was offered a fine shidduch, Etta, the
daughter of the wealthy R' Yosef Eliezer Hacohen, from
Nishviez, who undertook to support the new couple.
Unfortunately, Nochumke's widowed mother was unable to
attend the wedding since the invitation was lost in the
mail. Nochumke yearned to visit his mother, and requested
his wife to allow him to travel. Both father and daughter
refused to let him go. He pleaded so much, and eventually
was allowed to go, after promising to come back without
delay.
On his way, in the forest he encountered a band of robbers
but Hashem saved him by miracle; he continued on, but he was
lost. Reb Nochumke searched the ground to see if he could
find the road leading out of the forest. While searching, he
found a purse full of gold coins. Assuming that it had been
dropped by the bandits, he took it and soon made his way to
a nearby town which had a small Jewish community. He hired a
wagon and continued on his way to Baisgale, where his mother
resided.
He found his married sister, but not Mayda, his mother. He
was told that upon learning that he was married, she had
decided to go visit him. Since money was scarce, she had
joined a group of beggars who wandered on foot from town to
town, and while he was heading to her home, she had been
going by foot to Nishviez, where she hoped to meet him and
his family. Reb Nochumke entrusted his sister with the purse
of money he had found so that when their mother returned,
she could live in comfort for the rest of her days.
Both mother and son headed back to their homes without
delay; their ways did not intercept and they missed seeing
each other.
*
Shortly after, R' Yoseph Eliezer, the father-in-law,
incurred some business losses and was forced to move out of
town. The family moved to the town of Horodna, where Reb
Nochumke was immediately welcomed. At first, the change of
place was for the good, but soon R' Yoseph Eliezer realized
that he was unable to continue to support his daughter's
growing family and he moved back to Nishviez. Reb Nochumke
and his family were now very poor.
The Horodna gaboim decided to create a special job
for the eminent and humble Reb Nochumke. He was to be the
shammosh of the community and see to the religious
needs of the townspeople, but would be aided by a young man
to do all the menial work that did not befit a man of such
caliber. The salary given to him would help the destitute
family survive. Reb Nochumke brought his mother to Horodna
to live with them, and made sure she did not lack
anything.
It was at that time, that a widow, a poor mother of young
children, came crying bitterly to Reb Nochumke. She told him
about the many debts she had; she had no way to repay them,
nor any source of steady income, for that matter. Reb
Nochumke started collecting money for her; people gave him
willingly so that he was able to set the widow on her feet.
She was followed by other poor people of Horodna who came
seeking his help for their needs. Before long, he was
helping everyone who turned to him, and they were many.
Reb Nochumke of Horodna became the address for all those in
need; he provided the poor with food and firewood in winter,
and listened to their woes with an understanding heart. To
this day, his good name lingers in the memory of Klal
Yisroel as a symbol of goodness and charity.
