By Rabbi Baruch Lederman
SAN DIEG0 — The local baker was plotting to poison the Jews of Prague. His fiendish plan was to use our own holiday against us. He knew that the Jews did not eat bread during that holiday of Pesach, and that the day after the holiday, they came in droves to buy bread from the bakery. In this case, it would be poisoned bread.
One of the workers learned of the plot. He felt that the Jewish people were the kindest, most honest people he ever dealt with, and didn’t deserve such a cruel fate. He secretly informed the Chief Rabbi of Prague, Rav Yechezkel Landau ztl (renowned 18th century
author of the Noda Biyehudah).
On the last day of Pesach, Rav Landau announced in shul that a mistake had been made in the Jewish calendar, and that Pesach actually ended one day later than originally thought. This way, no one would go to the bakery the next day.
The next day, which was actually the day AFTER Pesach, the Rabbi led the Prague police to the bakery to arrest the heinous baker. Since all the Jews of the town were still observing Pesach, there was plenty of evidence left in the bakery to incriminate the villainous baker. The baker landed behind bars, and the Jews rejoiced, having never suffered the bullet they had collectively dodged.
Dedicated anonymously on the occasion of the Yahrtzeit of the Rabbi’s father Mr. Irving I. Lederman, Ozer Yisroel ben Shlomo Zalman.
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Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah in San Diego. He may be contacted via baruch.lederman@sdjewishworld.com