The Two Brothers

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov (“Degel Machaneh Ephraim”) (1748-1800) is commemorated on the 17th of Iyar. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

The Two Brothers

Rabbi Ephraim and his brother, Rabbi Boruch of Medzhybizh were grandsons of the Baal Shem Tov.

Rabbi Boruch used to frequently travel so he could visit with his Hasidim.

Once, when Rabbi Boruch was on one of his trips, he made a visit to his brother in Sudlikov and saw that his brother’s wife, the Rabbonit, was lighting plain, brass candlesticks for Shabbos.

He groaned and said:

“My brother! Woe is me, that I have witnessed this! For, by now, the time should have already come to pass for you to be lighting silver candlesticks!”

Rabbi Ephraim answered:

“Be happy for what you’re seeing, my brother:

“Better that the candlesticks should be בנכר / unfortunate (b’nikar) with me at home than that I should be roaming about בנכר / in foreign lands (b’nikar) with the candlesticks at home!”

(as told by their Hasidim)

 

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