In Ropshitz, the city where Rabbi Naftali lived, it was the custom for those wealthy people whose houses stood alone or on the outskirts of the city to hire a person to look after their property at night.
Late in the evening, when Rabbi Naftali was wandering along the edge of the forest, he met such a watchman walking back and forth.
- Who do you work for? - asked the rabbi.
The watchman answered him and in turn asked:
- Who do you work for?
These words struck the tzaddik like lightning.
“I don’t work for anyone yet,” he answered embarrassedly.
Then he walked for a long time next to the watchman and finally asked:
“Won’t you enter into my service?”
- Willingly, but what should I do?
“Remind me,” said Rabbi Naftali.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru