Guppy 🌹

The rabbi did actually get lost. When he wished to go back to the carriage, he had travelled in the opposite direction, walked around in circles and altogether lost his bearings. He spent several weeks in the forest, eating berries and mushrooms and sleeping on the forest floor.

In his confusion, the rabbi forgot when the Sabbath fell. Losing count of the days, he thought Thursday was Friday, and Friday, Saturday, so he celebrated Friday as the holy day.

Thanks to the rabbi's piety and good deeds, the Lord protected him against the wild beasts and, after a few weeks, led him out of the forest. When he returned to Janow, he told everyone of his adventures in the forest.

On Thursday evening the rabbi started his usual preparations for the sabbath, and was very surprised to see everyone else at other daily tasks. They explained that he was mistaken, and that it was only Thursday, not Friday.

But he was a very obstinate rabbi. He had no intention of giving up his conviction. He would not be persuaded. His family thought his experience in the forest had driven him mad.

On Thursday evening the rabbi went to the synogogue and said the prayers assigned for the beginning of the sabbath. Many people laughed at him. The next day the rabbi celebrated the holy day.

When other people started to say their prayers for the Sabbath in the evening, he shouted at them. His family's joy at having him home safe was much marred by his odd behaviour.

In all other respects he was a reasonable man: on this point, however, he behaved like a real lunatic.

At last news of the rabbi's strange behaviour reached the ears of Reb Shmelke, the rabbi of Sienawa. He travelled to Janow at once and arrived at his friends home on Thursday evening.

The rabbi of Janow was overjoyed by his friend's appearance and asked him to join him in celebrating the Sabbath. Reb Shmelke said that was precisely what he had come for.

On Thursday evening the two rabbis went to the mikveh and then, in their Sabbath best, went to the synogogue. The people of Janow were very surprised that rabbi Shmelke had been convincecd that it was Friday.

In the synogogue the rabbi of Janow said prayers for the beginning of the Sabbath, but Reb Shmelke said prayers for a weekday. After lengthy prayers, they went to the rabbi's home for a meal.

After the meal they discussed spiritual matters. Reb Shmelke suggested that the rabbi of Janow should celebrate his happy homecoming by having plenty of wine brought to the table. So it was done.

Reb Shmelke beckoned to the servants to pour out the oldest and strongest wine, and the rabbi of Janow drank as he never had done before. Eventually he fell asleep at the table.

Reb Shmelke had the servants slide a pillow under the rabbi's head. Then he smoked his pipe and said to the other guests, "Now you may go home. Hopefully, with G-d's help, all will end well."

He himself stayed on by the rabbi's sleeping side, making sure that nothing should wake him, even the chirping of birds in the trees. His friend slept through the whole night and the next day.

At midnight Reb Shmelke woke his friend and said, "Rebbe, let us say the prayer for after the meal now." The rabbi of Janow jumped on his chair, and said, stretching his arms, "Oh, I slept well and long enough."

The rabbi of Janow never found out that he had slept the whole night and day. He even boasted that he had forced his opinions on everyone and that now the whole world was celebrating the Sabbath according to his own calculation.