[My favorite segment.]
Reb Yechiel Michel, a humble and holy rebbe, a Talmud of the Baal Shem Tov was approached by a man for a blessing. ‘Rebbe, I can’t even afford to give charity.’ The rebbe blessed him, and his fortune changed. Each year, he became wealthier and wealthier. At first, he did give charity, but the richer he became, the more his heart hardened until it closed altogether.
‘This is too much. I didn't build this house to be continually bothered. Out, out!’ So the man put a guard at the gate and turned the beggars and the poor away. When Reb Yechiel heard this, he immediately made plans to visit the man.
‘But rebbe, he has turned away from the Torah. He will never let you in.’ ‘He has a guard at the gate.’
‘Order me the suit of a rich man, and hire the finest coach and horses money can buy.’ And so they did. Arriving at the gate, he was stopped by the guard. Handing the man a gold coin, the rebbe spoke to him with authority. ‘Open up, I'm here to do business with your master.’ Taking the gold coin, the guard opened the gates.
Instantly, as the rebbe was ushered in, the wealthy man recognized him. ‘How dare you enter my house under false pretenses‽’
‘I am pleased [that] you recognize me. It is a pity [that] you have forgotten yourself.’
‘What do you want from me?’
‘What a fine mirror you have. Wrought in gold and silver.’ Turning to the wealthy man, he raised the mirror in front of him. ‘What do you see?’
‘Myself.’
The rebbe stepped to the window. Outside, knowing the rebbe was visiting the wealthy man, people had begun to gather. ‘Now what do you see?’
‘People.’
[Turning the mirror to him again.] ‘And now?’
‘Myself.’
Then turning the mirror over, the rebbe peeled away the silver backing. Lifting the silver in the palm of his hand, the rebbe asked, ‘What is the Hebrew name for this?’
‘Keseph.’
‘Silver, what is the other meaning of keseph?’
‘Money.’
‘Money misused can be like a mirror. You see only yourself.’ Stepping again to the window, the rebbe held the mirror up in front of it. ‘Now what do you see?’
‘People.’
‘Wealth well used is a blessing. The problem is, we forget it. You asked me what I want from you. The real question is, what do you truly want of yourself? You're a good man, that's why G‐d blessed you. Don't let silver make you forget it.’ With that, the rebbe left. Repentant for the rest of his life, the wealthy man became a beloved man of charity, even changing his family name to Rehe El, which means ‘the mirror that belongs to G‐d.’