מֹאזְנֵי צֶדֶק אַבְנֵי־צֶדֶק אֵיפַת צֶדֶק וְהִין צֶדֶק יִהְיֶה לָכֶם אֲנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃

You shall have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest ephah (dry measure), and an honest hin (liquid measure). I the LORD am your God who freed you from the land of Egypt. (19:36)

Yalkut Me’am Lo”ez (also known as The Torah Anthology) records the story of a city suffering from drought. The Rabbi of the city decreed three days of fasting and prayer but to no avail.

One night the rabbi had a dream in which he was told, “Know that no rain will fall until Chaim the storekeeper leads the community in prayer.” He woke up in disbelief. “How is this possible? Chaim is a complete ignoramus!” The rabbi ignored the dream but it recurred night after night. He understood that this was a sign from Heaven.

The next day he announced that the community would gather to pray for rain. When asked who would be the Chazzan (the Leader) he didn’t respond knowing what the reaction would be to the answer.

The next day when all were gathered the rabbi announced that Chaim the Storekeeper should step forward to lead the prayers. The crowd was stunned. With so many prominent people amongst them , why would the simple Chaim be chosen to be the chazzan?

Chaim himself couldn’t believe his ears. “Rabbi! Are you trying to make a mockery of me? I know not one letter of Torah. I can barely read the Shema. How can I possibly be the Chazzan?”

“There’s no one else,” answered the rabbi. “Do whatever you can.”

Suddenly, Chaim pulled off his Tallit, removed his Tefillin, and ran out of the synagogue. He returned with the scale from his store in his hands and declared, “Master of the universe! The two pans on each end of the scale represent the two letters ה (Hay) of your holy name. The rod in the middle on which they hang represents the letter ו ( vav). The hook on top which holds up the scale represents the letter י (yud. The scale thus represents the name of Hashem). If I have cheated anyone with this scale and desecrated your holy name may a fire come down and burn me. But if I have never cheated anyone, please Hashem! Bring rain to those who cry out to you in merit of this Mitzvah!”

A short while later rain began to fall. The rabbi exhorted the people, “See how serious honesty in our scales and measures is! So many prominent people led us in prayer but were not answered while Chaim the storekeeper was!”

What connection is there between this kind of integrity and bringing rain?

Ha’amek Davar (Devarim 25:17) differentiates between cheating others through inaccurate weights and measures and outright stealing. Stealing can be an act of passion for something. Cheating customers is a calculated act stemming from an attitude that you do whatever it takes to make a buck. That stems from a lack of emunah (belief) that Hashem is the provider of everything and provides everyone with what they need and deserve. Therefore that person is convinced that it’s okay to utilize any means to attain prosperity.

The ability to withstand the pressure to gain through cheating comes from the knowledge that Hashem is the true provider and everything that we do is under His providence. Chaim the storekeeper saw Hashem’s name in his scale. To him Hashem was there each and every time he served a customer and the misuse of his scale would be a desecration of His name.

Tehillim (Psalms) 32:10 teaches us, וְהַבּוֹטֵחַ בַּה’ חֶסֶד יְסוֹבְבֶנּוּ – he who trusts in Hashem shall be surrounded with favor. One who lives with the belief that Hashem is the true provider has the greatest merit to be provided for and to bring prosperity to others.

Shabbat Shalom!
Yitzchak