He would go to mikva with a towel but he would never return with it. He always found a Jew who needed one and gave it to him.
His son-in-law once came back from Chutz La'aretz with a brand new beautiful winter coat for him. After a few days his grandchildren noticed that he was wearing his old coat. They were debating who was going to have the guts to ask him what happened. Finally one of the grandchildren approached him and asked "Zeide, what happened to your new coat". Very simple, he replied. I saw a poor man shivering in the winter cold and he didn't have a coat so I gave it to him.
Or how about this one [the Rebbe Shlita just related it this past motzei shabbos at the Tolna melave malka]: The Rebbe ztz"l brought 12 sifrei Torah over from Montreal when he moved to Israel. One day - they were gone. GANOVIM!! People were going ballistic. Finally the Rebbe's wife called over her grandson [Mori V'Rabbi Shlita] and told him to ask Zeide if he gave them away. When he approached his grandfather he explained that he overhead that a chosson was told that the kallas side would not go ahead with the wedding unless the chossons side buys an apartment for the couple. So the Rebbe said "I'll buy the apartment". Problem is that he had no money. So he said, I'll give you the sifrei Torah [which are worth quite a bit].
Mori VRabbi Shlita then returned to his grandmother and said "Bubby, from where do you have ruach hakodesh? How did you know??"
She said "No ruach hakodesh. I just know your zeide. If it were up to him there would be nothing left in this house. Not food, not clothing, not furniture. He would give EVERYTHING away."
That's the way he lived. If someone needed a shtreimel he would take it his off his head and give it to him. Anything and everything.
[All stories heard from the Rebbe Shlita]
No sweet friends - You are not expected to be on such a level. But at least we should know what heights a human being can attain.
זכות הצדיקים יעזור ויגן ויושיע!!
Love and blessings!!
