What did his bank account in Shamayim look like? Could he take even a single coin with him into the Next World?
17th century Eastern Europe, the town of Sharayeh
As the wolves howled and the night became increasingly colder, Yankel found himself wishing he had brought along an extra pair of clothing. Around midnight, the stranger, who was sleeping near him, awoke. He seemed to be about the same age as Yankel and also had a long beard. Hunched over from the cold, the stranger glanced over at Yankel, who quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
The stranger took his blanket, walked over to Yankel, and let it drop over Yankel’s icy cold body. Then, he washed his hands with water from a small can near him and sat down next to the fire. As the flames danced and shadows flickered across the man’s lined face, he began to say Tikkun Chatzos from a tattered siddur. Tears fell from the man’s eyes and spilled onto the yellowed pages. The flames of the fire seemed to grow taller and flicker faster.
Yanklel watched all of this with shock. Such devotion, such passion, in sub-zero weather?!?
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