Impeccable Logic

A wealthy Jew had been a long time financial supporter of the chassidic master Reb Zushe of Anipoli. He used to provide the Rebbe's running household expenses and was content to receive regular blessings and advice in return. Once he showed up in Anipoli, only to find Reb Zushe's wife home alone.

"Where is the Rebbe?"

"He's gone to visit his Rebbe."

"My Rebbe has a Rebbe?"

"I've been doing so well by receiving the blessings of Reb Zushe, imagine the jackpot that awaits me were I to transfer my support to his Rebbe..."The rich man was no fool. "If my Rebbe has a Rebbe, why am I wasting time with the disciple? I've been doing so well by receiving the blessings of Reb Zushe, imagine the jackpot that awaits me were I to transfer my support to his Rebbe..."

He abandoned Reb Zushe and became a follower of Rabbi DovBer the Maggid of Mezritch, Reb Zushe's Rebbe.

A few months later, after a series of calamitous business failures, he was back in Anipoli, totally bankrupt.

"I accept that my business failure is punishment for deserting you," he cried to Reb Zushe, "but why? What was wrong with my logic?"

"There was nothing wrong with your logic per se," Reb Zushe answered, "just in the application. Till now, when you gave charity without assessing the worthiness of the recipient, G‑d responded in kind, looking after you, irrespective of whether you truly deserved it. Once you started cost-benefit analyzing where you could get the best value for your money, G‑d had a good look at how deserving you are, and you obviously came up short."