A Widow’s Journey and the Rebbe’s Unusual Solution

A young woman had lost her husband and was left childless. According to Jewish law, when this happens, the woman must either marry her husband’s brother (a mitzvah called yibum, levirate marriage), or receive a formal release known as chalitzah if marriage is not an option.

But there was a serious complication. Her late husband's brother, who was supposed to perform chalitzah, was mentally limited and he lacked basic understanding and common sense. The woman went with him to various rabbis, hoping they would find a way to release her through chalitzah, even with his condition. But the rabbis debated the issue, consulted each other, sent letters back and forth, and ultimately decided they could not perform chalitzah in this case.

Still determined, the woman continued traveling from town to town, seeking rabbis who might help her. Along the way, she spent a great deal of money not only on her travels, but also on those who cared for the brother-in-law, who often caused damage or accidents. He would break wagons and destroy people’s market stands, and she had to pay for the damages.

Eventually, she arrived at the home of the great Torah scholar, Rabbi Eliezer Moshe of Pinsk. He carefully reviewed all the previous discussions and added his own reasoning, but in the end, he too said chalitzah could not be performed.

However, seeing her great suffering, Rabbi Eliezer Moshe took pity on her. “Go to Lubavitch,” he advised gently. “There you’ll find the Tzemach Tzedek. He is not only a brilliant Torah scholar, but also a deeply righteous man. I believe he will help you.”

The woman followed his advice and traveled to Lubavitch to meet the Tzemach Tzedek.

When the Tzemach Tzedek heard about her situation, he instructed his assistant to quickly bring in everyone waiting for a private audience, so they could go on with their day. Once they were done, he asked for the woman and her brother-in-law to be brought in.

He spoke briefly with the woman, and then turned to the brother-in-law. “What’s your name?” he asked kindly.

“Why do you care?” the brother-in-law replied suspiciously.

“What is your name?” the Rebbe asked again with patience.

“You tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine,” the man responded.

“My name is Menachem Mendel,” said the Rebbe.

“Well then, mine is Moshe.”

“Moshe,” said the Tzemach Tzedek warmly, “can you help me with something? Do you know where the market is?”

“Yes, of course,” Moshe replied.

“Wonderful,” said the Rebbe. “Take these ten kopeks. Buy some pastries, and with two kopeks, buy some fruit. Then bring me two kopeks in change. Can you do that, Moshe?”

“Do you think I’m a thief?” Moshe cried out. “Of course I’ll bring the change!”

With that, he jumped out the window, ran straight to the market, and shouted at the shopkeeper, “Quick! Give me pastries and two kopeks worth of fruit! And don’t forget the change!”

He returned to the Tzemach Tzedek and proudly handed him the pastries, the fruit, and the change. “Here you go! See, I’m not a thief!” he announced triumphantly.

The Tzemach Tzedek smiled and immediately told his assistant to arrange for the chalitzah ceremony to take place the following week.

The woman was overjoyed. She waited eagerly for the ceremony, and after it was completed, she gave generously to charity in gratitude.

Before returning home, she approached the Tzemach Tzedek. “The rabbi from Pinsk,” she said, “asked if the Rebbe would write a note explaining his ruling, so I can deliver it to him on my way back.”

She expected the Rebbe to take a few days to write a scholarly letter, as had happened with the other rabbis she visited. But instead, the Tzemach Tzedek said gently, “I’ll write it right now.”

He took a small slip of paper and wrote just one line:
“It is stated in the Jerusalem Talmud… a fool who knows how to make change is not considered a fool.”

When the woman handed the note to Rabbi Eliezer Moshe of Pinsk, he read it, grasped his head in amazement, and turned to those around him.

“Do you know how many times I’ve studied the Jerusalem Talmud?” he said. “But when one learns Torah with pure intentions for the sake of Heaven, it brings true clarity. That’s what lights up the eyes.”