A Torah Trial Between Worlds: A Story of Justice and Repair

A group of chassidim, followers of Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl, gathered around a traveling guest who had just arrived. They leaned in closely to hear the incredible story he was about to share:

A few years earlier, in the city of Berditchev, an agent came into a shop and bought goods on behalf of storeowners from his town. After paying, he tucked his wallet with the remaining money into his coat pocket. As he turned to leave, the wallet slipped out and landed on the floor without him noticing.

“I saw it happen,” said the guest, “and I picked it up. Right away, my heart started racing. Should I return it or keep it? While I was debating, the agent left the store and turned a corner. Then he disappeared from sight. I couldn’t find him again.”

The man returned home and used the money. With Hashem’s help, he became very wealthy. Meanwhile, the agent also returned to his town, but life turned against him. The money he lost wasn’t his own, it belonged to others. His creditors came after him, and since he couldn’t repay them, he lost their trust. The storeowners stopped working with him. One hardship followed another until, in his deep poverty and despair, the man passed away.

His widow was left with nothing, and his children couldn't attend school because there was no money for tuition.

“Then one night,” the guest continued, “the man appeared to me in a dream and said, ‘Why did you destroy my life? My wife is suffering, my sons have no education and it’s all because of you. I’m summoning you to a Torah trial in the World of Truth.’”

“I woke up in a panic and told myself, ‘Dreams are just dreams.’ I tried to push it away, telling myself I had been thinking about the story a lot and that’s why I dreamt it. But the next night, the dream came again. And then again, night after night.

“One night in the dream, I responded, ‘Fine. I agree to a Torah trial but not in the World of Truth. What good will it do if I die too? My wife would be a widow, and my children would be left alone.’ The agent replied, ‘Then you decide where we’ll go to be judged.’ I asked him to give me time to find someone, and he agreed.”

The man sought out the tzaddik (righteous sage) Rabbi Aharon of Karlin. But the Rabbi told him this case wasn’t for him and advised him to travel to Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl instead.

When the man arrived, Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl told him that the next time the agent appeared in a dream, he should say that the Torah trial would take place in the Rabbi’s court. The agent agreed.

A date was set. The man arrived at the tzaddik’s home on the appointed day. The Rabbi asked the deceased agent to state his claims. Though no one else heard it, the Rabbi turned to the man and said, “The claims against you are true. You caused his death. What do you have to say for yourself?”

The man replied, “I wanted to return his wallet, but he disappeared. I didn’t know who he was or how to find him.”

Rabbi Aharon asked, “Will you accept whatever I rule?” The man agreed. The Rabbi said the deceased also agreed to accept the ruling.

After a short pause, the tzaddik gave his judgment. “Go home and make an honest list of everything you own from thread to shoelace. You will divide it all in half. One half will remain yours. The other half you will personally bring to the widow and give to her. You will also arrange to hire good teachers for her children. From your portion, you should also set aside money to give as tzedakah (charity).”

The man returned home, followed the tzaddik’s instructions exactly, traveled to the widow, and did everything the Rabbi had said. Then he returned to Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl to thank him.

“And now,” he said to the chassidim in Berditchev, “I’m on my way home. As I passed through your town, I wanted to stop here and make a seudas hoda’ah, a meal of thanks. Please join me.” He smiled warmly and pulled out bottles and sweets, inviting them all to share in his gratitude.