The Chassidic Rebbe of Hornostipol had a devoted attendant by the name of Reb’ Dan, who served the Rebbe faithfully for over fifty years. After the Rebbe’s death, the Rabbi in the village, Rav Yankel, announced that the coveted burial plot next to the Rebbe was due him inasmuch as he was the Rabbi of the town.
Reb Dan protested, saying that just as he had never left the Rebbe’s side in life, he deserved to not be separated from him in death.
The dispute was brought before the Rebbe’s son (Rav Avraham Twersky’s grandfather), who ruled that the decision should be made by G-d, and that whoever died first was to be buried next to the Rebbe.
From that time, whenever Rav Yankel would take ill, Reb Dan would panic, and would insist that the very best specialists be brought in to treat him. He would also go to all the synagogues urging everyone to pray for Rav Yankel’s speedy recovery. The thought that Rav Yankel would die first and thus win the coveted burial spot gave him no rest. And if Reb Dan took sick, Rav Yankel behaved in exactly the same way.
I heard this story from Rav Avraham Twersky, who noted that what people aspire to, and even what they envy, speaks volumes about their character.
These two men would gladly have given up years of their lives, to be buried near their Rebbe. There has and always will be envy. But what we envy says a lot about who we really are.
This week’s portion,