A distraught young woman came to
Rabbi Israel, the Maggid of Kozhnitz. "Rebbe, help me," she said. "My
husband has deserted me!"
"Why did he leave you?" asked
Rabbi Israel.
"He says that I'm ugly," said the
woman.
"And what do you say to that?"
asked Rabbi Israel.
"Rebbe!" cried the woman. "Under
the wedding canopy I was beautiful in his eyes. Suddenly I'm ugly?"
Rabbi Israel lifted his eyes to the
heavens: "Master of the Universe! When you wed us at Mount Sinai we were
beautiful in Your eyes. So what happened? Why have You turned Your face from
us?"