ושבת עד ה’ אלקיך ושמעת בקולו ככל אשר אנכי מצוך היום… (נצבים ל:ב)

One Motzei Shabbos Slichos, the Sar Shalom of Belz zt”l summoned his gabbai R’ Elimelech a”h and they went together to the home of a simple tailor.  The Sar Shalom and his gabbai stood near the window and peered inside.  They saw the tailor sitting at the table, filling two shot glasses with some schnapps – liquor.  He first drank one cup of liquor, then took the second cup, wished himself l’chaim, and drank the second cup.  The Sar Shalom and his gabbai left after that.

The following day, when everyone congregated in Shul for early morning selichos, the gabbai went over to the tailor – whose face was still red from consuming the liquor – and asked: “What was going on at your house last night that you drank two cups of liquor?” 

The tailor was very troubled by the question, wondering how the gabbai knew about his actions. The gabbai told him that he had come with the Sar Shalom and they stood outside his window observing everything that had transpired.

The tailor explained: “I have been a tailor for many years and thanks to Hashem, I had plenty of parnassah from the townspeople and I also used to sew clothes for noblemen. One day, one of the noblemen stopped giving me work, and then another, until I was left without parnassah. I thought that if this went on, I would start praying less.  Every time another client leaves, I will deduct another kapital (chapter) of Tehillim that I used to recite.

Since the Yomim Noraim is approaching, I realized that my actions were wrong and I told Hashem: “Father in Heaven, I want to ask for Your forgiveness and let us make a deal: I will resume behaving appropriately, davening and saying Tehillim how one is supposed to and You will give me plenty parnassah…” “As you know,” continued the tailor, “when two people ask each other for forgiveness, they sit down and drink a ‘l’chaim.’  I, therefore, filled two cups with liquor and, drank one cup and said, “Ribbono Shel Olam, You do not drink so that I will drink instead of You,” and I then drank the second cup, wishing l’chaim to cement the reconciliation between Hashem and myself.”

The episode overtook the gabbai and shared the story with the Sar Shalom.  The Sar Shalom then said: “I saw all of the פמליא של מעלה – Heavenly angels – come down to see how a Yid asks forgiveness from Hashem, and I also wanted to witness it…”.