תביא כבש בן שנתו לעולה…זאת תורת הילדת. ואם לא תמצא ידה די שה ולקחה שתי תרים או שני בני יונה…(תזריע יב:ז-ח)

The chassid Reb Levi Miller z’’l, father of the renowned Belzer yoshev, the bochur R’ Asher Hibniver z’’l, was held in high esteem in Belz—not only as the father of such a distinguished son, but for his own noble deeds.

R’ Levi was a simple Yid who lived in great poverty. Despite this, he had a remarkable custom: he would not sit down to his Shabbos seudah until every guest in the town of Hivniv had a place to eat and sleep for Shabbos. Anyone without accommodations was welcomed into his home and provided with whatever he could afford.

Once, Maran Reb Yissocher Dov of Belz zt’’l asked him how his parnassah was, especially during the harsh winter months.

R’ Levi replied with the well-known saying: “קשה מזונותיו של אדם כקריעת ים סוף” — a person’s sustenance is as difficult as the splitting of the sea.

“And how is Shabbos by you?” the Rebbe continued.

R’ Levi answered: “עשה שבתך חול ואל תצטרך לבריות” — Make your Shabbos like a weekday, and do not become dependent on others.

Upon hearing this, Maran rose from his seat, took R’ Levi by the arm, and exclaimed:
“Hashem told the Yidden: ‘בני, לוו עלי וקדשו קדושת היום והאמינו בי ואני פורע’ — My children, borrow on My account in order to sanctify the day of Shabbos; trust in Me, and I will repay you” (ביצה טו).

From that time on, R’ Levi began preparing proper Shabbos seudos, with fish, meat, and all the necessary delicacies. And to everyone’s amazement—Hashem indeed repaid him.

It is told that when the Sar Shalom of Belz zt’’l made Kiddush on Parshas Tazria, he would arouse mercy for Yidden to have parnassah, explaining the order of the pesukim in the parsha.

At first glance, the sequence is difficult to understand: the Torah begins with “תביא כבש בן שנתו לעולה,” then states “זאת תורת היולדת,” and only afterward continues, “ואם לא תמצא ידה די שה ולקחה שתי תרים או שני בני יונה…” Seemingly, “זאת תורת היולדת” should appear later, as it concludes the halachos pertaining to a woman after childbirth.

Maran explained that the Torah always seeks the טובתן של ישראל—that Yidden should have ample parnassah and live with dignity. “זאת תורת היולדת” teaches that ideally, a woman who gives birth should be able to bring the קורבן of a wealthy person—“כבש בן שנתו לעולה.” Only if it is decreed that she cannot afford it does the Torah provide an alternative: “שתי תרים או שני בני יונה.”