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| - Before Rabbi Zusha and his brother Rabbi Elimelech were born, their parents were childless for 10 years. Both their parents descended from Torah scholars, but because they became orphans at a very early age, both remained unlearned, simple but G-d-fearing Jews. The father was a water-carrier. Although he could have become a merchant, he preferred to live by the toil of his own hands. At first he had some rich customers, but then he ecxchanged them with another water-carrier in order to be able to supply the local Synagogues with water. This meant a financial loss for him and he became poor. But as a reward for his good deed G-d blessed Reb Eliezer Lipa(e) and his wife, who always readily supported her husband, with two sons, later to become great Tzaddikim. At first the children were physi
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| - Before Rabbi Zusha and his brother Rabbi Elimelech were born, their parents were childless for 10 years. Both their parents descended from Torah scholars, but because they became orphans at a very early age, both remained unlearned, simple but G-d-fearing Jews. The father was a water-carrier. Although he could have become a merchant, he preferred to live by the toil of his own hands. At first he had some rich customers, but then he ecxchanged them with another water-carrier in order to be able to supply the local Synagogues with water. This meant a financial loss for him and he became poor. But as a reward for his good deed G-d blessed Reb Eliezer Lipa(e) and his wife, who always readily supported her husband, with two sons, later to become great Tzaddikim. At first the children were physically weak and although Reb Eliezer Lipa(e) and his wife hired the best Torah teachers to teach them, they weren't making much progress. That grieved the parents, so they increased their prayers to G-d, often fasted and gave their meals to poor people as Tzedakah. G-d answered their sincere prayers and when the boys expressed their desire to go to an Yeshiva to continue their studies, they readily agreed. After their parents sent their sons to an yeshiva in another city, they took two poor Torah-students from Tarnow in their house in order to take care of them and support their studies. Reb Eliezer continued to earn his living as a water-carrier. One Friday he found a fish by the river and brought it home and as his wife was preparig the fish to be eaten on Shabbat, she found a precious stone in its stomach. She and her husband, knowing about a similar story which occurred centuries earlier with a Jew in France named Yitzhak, later to become the father of Rashi, they were upset that this could be a test from Heaven and decided not to change their live-style, to sell the stone (after consulting the local Rabbi in order to be sure that they are permitted according to Halakha to keep the stone) and to distribute the money for Tzedakah, thus remaining poor. Soon good news came- their older son, Rabbi Elimelech had married the daughter of a wealthy man, who was ready to support his Torah study and both Rabbi Elimelech and Rabbi Zusha were making great progress and had become scholars. Strange enough afterwards Reb Eliezer Lipa(e) found another treasure by the river, but once again he and his wife decided to give the gold coins he found as a Tzedakah. Some time later a wealthy relative of Reb Eliezer passed away and Reb Eliezer and his wife inherited his estate thus becoming wealthy themselves. By this time their sons had become both prominent Tzaddikim and great scholars. Reb Eliezer Lipa(e) and his wife lived many long and happy years continuing to support poor Jews and Torah scholars until the end of their days. Various stories are being told about the long journeys of the two brothers Rabbi Zusha and Rabbi Elimelech. Rabbi Noach of Kobryn once heard, that Chassidus managed to spread only in those areas through which the both travelled. "Where Rabbi Zusha and Rabbi Elimelech haven't been, there are no chassidim." A man once came to the holy Maggid of Mezeritch and said he had great difficulties to apply the Talmudic saying that "A person is supposed to bless G-d for the bad just as he blesses Him for the good". The holy Maggid said to him to go and find the Maggid's disciple Reb Zusha of Hanipoli and ask him. The man went and found Rabbi Zusha. The Tzaddik received him friendly and invited him to his home. When the guest came in, he saw how poor the family was, there was almost nothing to eat, they were beset with afflictions and illnesses. Nevertheless Rabbi Zusha was always happy and cheerful. The guest was astonished at this picture. He said: "I went to the Holy Maggid to ask him how is it possible to bless G-d for the bad He send us the same way as we bless Him for the good, and The Maggid told me only you can help me in this matter." Rabbi Zusha said: "This is indeed a very interesting question. But why did our holy Rebbe sent you to me? How would I know? He should have sent you to someone, who has experienced suffering."
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