World War One.
Europe was at war, and the world was in disarray. War is not limited to the battlefield, but impacts every realm of life, robbing families of their men and wealth and drastically limiting national food supplies.
Food was scarce, and there was a huge shortage of potatoes.
Throughout the year, people managed, but as Pesach rapidly approached, the Jews of Hungary absorbed that they were in trouble. How would they make Pesach without potatoes?
In the home of Rav Yeshaya’le of Kerestir, the anxiety was keenly felt. Where would they procure a quantity of potatoes necessary to feed not only their immediate family, but the dozens of guests who flocked to the Rebbe’s Court and legendary soup kitchen on Yom Tov and Chol Hamoed?
Several days before Pesach, three horse-drawn wagons bearing giant crates of potatoes drove down the narrow streets of Kerestir. When they reached Rav Shaya’le’s house, the horses came to a full stop and despite the wagon-drivers’ repeated urging and furious slapping of the reins, they could not get their horses to budge.
Rav Shaya’le dispatched a message to the wagon-drivers with a request to purchase several giant sacks of potatoes. The drivers refused, explaining that the delivery was intended for the soldiers on the battlefield, and that the produce was not theirs to buy or sell without express permission from the military generals who had ordered the supplies.
The wagon-drivers tried spurring their horses along, to no avail. Rav Shaya’le sent another missive and invited them to rest their horses in his spacious yard. Seeing that the horses had no intention of continuing farther, the weary wagon drivers gratefully accepted the invitation.
The horses proceeded entered Rav Shaya’le’s yard, but refused to move any farther! Recognizing the miracle, the wagon-drivers agreed to sell giant sacks of potatoes to Rav Shaya’le which was enough to suffice for the entire Pesach!
