Moishe House Great Neck spent this past Shabbat in Brooklyn at the house of Rabbi Vaknin, our Moishe House Monthly Rabbi. Over Shabbat, Rabbi Vaknin told us the story about Moishe the Maizer.
Over a hundred years ago in Cracow, Moishe the Maizer was one of the few wealthy Jews in the city, but he was also known for being very cheap. Moishe the Maizer would always invite less fortunate people to his house. Whenever his guests came, he would treat them like kings, give them tea, and would sit and talk with them. However, when his guest would ask him for some money to help, he would get mad, kick them out of the house, and tell them "don't you know who I am. I am Moishe the Maizer I don't give anything." And his guests would leave in disgust. Yet Moishe the Maizer would continue to invite the less fortunate, and the same story repeated itself over and over. Moishe the Maizer would always kick his guests out.
Many years later on his deathbed, the Chevre Kadisha (The holy people who handle the dead) begged Moishe the Maizer to donate his money. but Moishe the Maizer refused. After he died, the Chevred Kadisha were so disgusted they punished him buy burying Moishe the Maizer outside the cemetary.
A few months later, it was brought to the attention of the Chief Rabbi, that for many years hundreds of poor families in Cracow have been able to buy food at the local markets and butchers free of charge. The families were appreciative, but did not know who was paying for their food. After some investigation, the Chief Rabbi discovered that for all these years the poor families' bills at the markets and butchers were paid in full by Moishe the Maizer. Whenever Moishe the Maizer would invite people, he would write down their name, and told the owners of these stores that he would pay for their food. He kicked out all of his guests , because he didn't want the poor families to know that he was paying for their food. Moishe the Maizer did not want the recognition. The Rabbi was so touched that he told the town that when he died he wanted to be buried next to "Moishe the Holy Maizer" outside of the cemetary.
Being from Denver, I am an avid Denver Nuggets fan. If you didn't know, they are playing pretty well right now. You would think people in Denver are going crazy about the stars of the team like Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony, but no, everyone in Denver is going crazy about the Nuggets' bench players; the people who are out of the main spotlight and usually get the least recognition.
That is why I am glad to be a part of the MOISHE House organization. It is full of dedicated people who help out our fellow Jews in their specific area because they care, and not because they want any recognition.
I wish you all the best, and GO NUGGETS!
Joey Yadgar
Moishe House Great Neck
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