מן השמים השמיעך את קולו ליסרך ועל הארץ הראך את אשו הגדולה ... (ד-לו)
Jewish life in the city of Nikolsburg reached a peak in the early 19th century, outshining other towns in Moravia. Jews benefited from the relatively benign regime of the Prince von Dietrichstein family, and a thriving community developed on the western slopes of the imposing hill on which stood the princely palace. Nikolsburg, the seat of the Moravian Chief Rabbi, had a well-known Yeshivah, many shuls and a large graveyard in which many of the famous rabbis of Moravia are buried.
Around the turn of the century, the Jewish community of Nikolsburg decided to set up an eruv in the city, to accommodate the Shabbos needs of the people. Of course, this was easier said than done. The boundaries of the eruv were very specific and detailed, as the streets of the Jewish section of Nikolsburg were narrow and winding. After much deliberation, it was decided that it was going to be necessary to run the wire past the large house on the corner of Quergasse. There was just one problem which had the potential to ruin the entire plan: the owner of the house, a Christian butcher named Topolanski, stubbornly refused to allow the wire to be set up near his premises. This was not so much due to any scruples of his own, as much as acquiescing to the objections of his neighbors, who absolutely refused to allow the presence of this symbol of an alien belief - the eruv wire - in their proximity. The governor of the town, to whom both parties appealed for arbitration, not surprisingly, decided in favor of the house owner and the idea seemed to be dead on arrival.
After that, there was only one person who could possibly accomplish anything, and that was the Chief Rabbi, R’ Mordechai Banet zt”l, who was the object of great veneration by both Jews and Christians alike, and whose judgment was accepted unconditionally by all. A deputation of the community elders went to see the Rav and explained to him the problem in great deal. In return, R’ Modche, as he was known, answered them in his short and taciturn way, assuring his listeners that he would attend to the problem. And indeed, the very next day, R’ Modche was seen making his lonely way through the streets and alleys of Jewish Nikolsburg, towards the Quergasse.
Topolanski was sitting in front of his house relaxing and smoking his pipe. As he saw the Rabbi coming, he rose and walked a few steps towards him. After all, it was a great distinction when this famous man paid him the honor of a visit.
R’ Modche, explained the reason for his visit. Topolanski responded with a bewildered shaking of his head and a torrent of objections. He insisted that he himself was not an enemy of the Jewish people, but the neighbors will complain and that is why he was unable to accede to the Jewish community. And anyway, he said for good measure, the authorities had decided against the whole thing so there was no point.
The Rabbi listened quietly and then replied, “As the authorities have decided in your favor, no one can make any complaint against you or force you to comply with any wish of mine. But pay heed to my words: All the different religious confessions which divide humans and fill them with blind hatred for one another, are G-d’s children, and are all equally valued in His fatherly heart. Thus, you need not be afraid of complying with my request and allowing the eruv. Furthermore, you and your descendants will be richly rewarded. I shall bless your house, which will for all time, protect it from fire.”
Topolanski was speechless and in awe. He had heard too many wondrous things about the Rabbi, not to believe him now. After a moment's silence he agreed to comply with the request and some days later the eruv was set up.
And what R’ Modche had promised came true. Huge fires engulfed the city during the 18th century, but when a terrible fire destroyed almost the entire city of Nikolsburg in the 1830’s, one house was protected from the flames. Time and again, as was common in the olden days of the nineteenth century, and once again during the last fire, the biggest ever in Nikolsburg, in the confusion of flames, smoke and rubble that so often fell upon the city, the Topolanski house always remained unaffected. The flames seemed to be brought to a halt before they reached that house - thanks to the rabbi’s blessing.
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