(אבות ב:א)רבי אומר: איזוהי דרך ישרה שיבור לו האדם, כל שהיא תפארת לעושיה ותפארת לו מן האדם

The Tzemach Tzedek zt”l received quite a nice sum of money for his wedding – a Nadan (the traditional present that a father in law was giving his newly-married son in law).  When he told his grandfather, the Ba’al HaTanya zt’’l, about it, his grandfather asked him what he planned to do with the money.

The young groom replied: “I will invest it with a businessman who will share the profits of his business deals with me.”

The Ba’al HaTanya disagreed, advising his grandson to deposit the funds in his Gemach (interest-free loan society) instead.  Ignoring his grandfather’s advice, the Tzemach Tzedek handed the money over to a businessman who started doing business with it but ultimately lost all of it.  

Despite the burning shame and anguish that permeated his whole being, the Tzemach Tzedek felt compelled to inform his saintly grandfather of his loss. 

His Zeide turned to him and said: “Let me tell you a story.  When I was still a young man, I once traveled and stopped at an inn to rest up a bit from the long journey.  The Jewish owner was a follower of my Rebbe and teacher, the holy Maggid zt”l of Mezeritch (Międzyrzecz in Polish). We chatted for some time, and then I asked him how, as a religious Jew, he could reside in a place without Minyan.  We then retired for the night, and when I woke up in the morning, I heard a commotion outside my bedroom window and beheld a row of horse-drawn buggies, all loaded up with the innkeeper’s possessions.

I asked the innkeeper what was going on. He replied to me: “You told me yesterday that it is improper to live in a place where there is no Minyan, so I immediately started packing my belongings, and I am now ready to move into town where there’s a regular daily Minyan.” 

Concluded the Ba’al HaTanya zt”l: “You see, at the time I was no Rebbe – I was merely a young disciple of his Rebbe. Still, he acted upon my admonishment as soon as possible, without questioning my words; “His Rebbe’s Talmid said something!”.  You, on the other hand, said the grandfather to his grandson, are a chassid of your Rebbe and your Rebbe told you what you should do. You didn’t listen to me”.