A wealthy person in a distant city opened up his house to feed the poor. All were welcome. There were no time restraints for how long one can stay, nor were there any requirements to deserve such meals-such as work.
A poor man heard about that benevolence and decided he “needed a break” from his poverty and traveled there. Arriving in the city, he asked where the wealthy man lived and was shown a large, luxurious house. He entered and asked for a meal. The owner said, “If you want to get your meal?” and put him to work chopping wood and other back-breaking labors which the poor man worked at the whole day. When night finally fell, the homeowner directed the poor man to a house across the street and told him that he can eat his meal there.
The poor man entered the home and was seated at the table. While waiting for the meal to be served, he didn’t mince his words and expressed his wrath at having to work so hard just for the meal. When asked what happened, he told how he came to the house across the street and was immediately put to work at hard labor for the day. The host smiled and told him, “If you had come straight here, you would not have had to work at all!”
As Rebbe Nachman said, “Arbeten, arbet men fahr di avonos. Essen! Est men im zist!” We [must] work. This is for our sins. We eat. This is free! [i.e., a gift from God].
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