איש על מחנהו ואיש על דגלו (במדבר א:נב)

Once there was a Jew who rented the local pub from the local Poretz (nobleman) and derived a nice living from the income. The Jew’s idyllic existence came to an abrupt end when the Poretz told him that he decided to rent out the pub to someone else.  Understandably, the leaseholder became very upset and did what every good Yid would do in such circumstances: he traveled for Shabbos to his Rebbe, the holy Rabbi Meir in Premishlan (Peremyshlyany in Poland, nowadays in Ukraine).

The Rebbe listened intently as his Chassid poured out his heart, begging for salvation from this calamity that befell him and his family.  That Shabbos the Rebbe changed from his regular minhag (custom) of honoring a Chassid to sing the Zemiros (songs) at the Shabbos Tish.  Instead, he started to sing כל מקדש שביעי (Kol Mekadesh Shevi’i – sung Friday night at the Shabbos table) by himself and went on to translate the words of this age-old song: “שכרו הרבה מאד” – the reward of someone who keeps the holy Shabbos is very great – על פי פעלו and instead of the regular translation “according to his doing”, the Rebbe used the word “פי” (mouth) explaining that those who keep the Holy Shabbos have the merit that whatever they bless on earth below, is agreed upon up in the high heavens.

The Rebbe then turned to the assembled and asked in his inimitable manner: “Would you all say that Meir’l keeps the holy Shabbos?” – referring to himself.  The answer was not long in coming; a loud “yes!” was heard across the room, coming from all the Chassidim.

“If so” said the holy Rebbe Rabbi Meir of Premishlan “Meir’l decrease that איש על מחנהו ואיש על דגלו – every man should remain with their livelihood and no one should be able to remove him from it.”

No one at the Tish understood what the Rebbe was saying – except for the innkeeper, whose future depended on his Rebbe’s blessings.  When the Chassid arrived home, he heard the news that the poretz had a bad fall, forcing him to admit that this came as punishment for trying to relieve his Moshke from his longstanding source of livelihood.  He sent a message to the Chassid that he may stay in the pub indefinitely.