A Shabbat Story: A Mysterious Traveler and a Father’s Desperate Prayer

Meshulam was a wealthy man who lacked nothing except peace of mind. His only son, born after years of longing, had fallen ill in the most painful way. He began to speak nonsense, suffered terrifying fits of rage, and had to be restrained to avoid hurting others. Meshulam was devastated. He couldn't bear the thought that after all his blessings, his only son might remain unwell and never carry on the family name. He longed to see his son healthy, married, and raising the next generation.

Desperate to find a cure, Meshulam traveled from city to city, searching for expert doctors. He was willing to pay any amount of money, but nothing helped. The honest doctors could only shake their heads helplessly, while dishonest ones took advantage of him with expensive and useless treatments. Still, Meshulam didn’t give up. He was a believing Jew and also turned to great tzaddikim, righteous rabbis known for their holiness, for blessings. But nothing changed.

One day, a relative came to him with glowing eyes. “I’ve found a real answer,” he whispered. “There’s a holy man in Lizhensk named Rabbi Elimelech. People say he can accomplish anything through his holiness. Take your son to him. You’ll return home healthy in body and soul.”

Meshulam hesitated. Lizhensk was very far. His son needed to be tied down just to travel safely. How could he make such a journey? Besides, hadn’t he already gone to many tzaddikim with no results?

But the relative wouldn’t give up. More family members joined in, urging him to go. “If it doesn’t help, at least it won’t hurt,” they said. Eventually, Meshulam agreed.

He arranged a fine carriage with strong horses. His son was tied to a stretcher at the back, and two loyal servants came along to help with the journey.

Somewhere along the road, as they traveled through the countryside, Meshulam’s son spotted a poor man walking slowly along the side of the road. From his position in the carriage, he called out, “Father, please call that man over.” Meshulam stopped the carriage, and the man came closer.

When asked where they were headed, Meshulam shared his painful story. The poor man listened quietly, then said, “You should know the month of Elul is coming. During Elul, Rabbi Elimelech usually doesn’t see visitors, unless it’s a matter of life or death.”

Still, Meshulam was determined. “This is a matter of life,” he insisted. “We will go.”

The poor man nodded and turned to leave. But the son cried out again. “Father, give him charity.” Meshulam called the man back and placed a valuable coin, a rendel, which was worth quite a bit in those days into his palm.

And then, something incredible happened.

Within moments, the boy who had been tied to a stretcher began to speak like a clear-headed young man. He asked logical questions, made thoughtful comments, and even said, “Maybe we shouldn’t continue if we won’t be allowed to see the Rebbe.”

But Meshulam wanted nothing more than to see Rabbi Elimelech’s holy face. So they kept going.

When they reached Lizhensk, they were stopped at the entrance to the Rebbe’s home. It was true, he wasn’t accepting visitors. But with some gentle persuasion (and likely a few more coins), Meshulam was allowed to enter just for a moment, to see the tzaddik and offer a pidyon nefesh, a traditional offering given when asking for a blessing.

He handed over twelve rendlach, placing the coins in front of the Rebbe.

Rabbi Elimelech raised his holy head, looked at the coins, and smiled.

“What’s this?” he asked. “To Elimelech you give twelve rendlach, and to Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet), only one?”

Meshulam was stunned.

Only then did he realize who the poor man on the road had been.

Through one coin of charity and a heart full of faith, he had unknowingly given to Elijah the Prophet himself and opened the gates to a miraculous healing for his son.