REDEMPTION
OF THE IMPRISONED 
REDEMPTION
OF THE IMPRISONED
On the eve of the Day of Atonement Rabbi Hayyim Soloveitchik of Brisk was told that a wealthy congregant was bankrupt and was being held in the debtors' prison until he could pay five thousand rubles he owed his creditors. That evening when the Kol Nidre was to be said, Rabbi Hayyim addressed the congregation:
"Jews, compassionate children of compassionate sires, I have decided
that Kol Nidre will not be recited until our affluent brethren will promise
to provide five thousand rubles at the conclusion of Yom Kippur so that we
may liberate our brother from prison."
An immediate response of pledges guaranteed the entire sum necessary. Only then did Rabbi Hayyim permit the chanting of Kol Nidre.
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From "Hasidic Tales and Teachings"
The Yom Kippur Anthology, ed. Philip Goodman (JPS, 1992) |