תענית ז

A wood seller went to his רב and asked him to pray for a cold winter with lots of snow, which would permit him to transport wood to the city on horse drawn sleds. He put his hand in his pocket, took out 303 silver coins, the number representing שלג, and gave them to the רב. On his way out, he also gave the רבנית ten silver coins. Alas, it was a mild winter, full of rain but no snow. The disappointed wood seller, having been unable to transport his wood through the mud, came back to the רב and asked “How is it possible?” Why didn’t the תפילות and his שלג donation of the 303 coins help? The רב responded: “I’m sorry to tell you, but you did this to yourself. When you were leaving and gave my wife 10 more coins, you added ten to the count והפכת מ׳שלג׳ ל׳גשם׳.”

05/10/2021