Four Cups of Milk: A Passover Miracle in the Snow

As Pesach approached one bitter winter, a poor woodcutter named Chaim faced a test of faith that would change his life. With no income, no savings, and no way to provide even the basics for the Seder night, he clung to one thing alone: trust in Hashem.

This is a powerful story of emunah, dignity, and the unexpected blessings that can come when a Jew refuses to give up hope.

A Winter That Would Not End

That year, winter was brutally cold. For months, fierce blizzards swept through the streets and blocked every road. Chaim, a poor woodcutter, was forced to sit at home with nothing to do.

Winter was usually his busiest season. He would cut branches in the forest, haul them into town on his small snow sled, and sell them. The few coins he earned during these months supported his family for the rest of the year. But now, stepping outside was life threatening.

Day after day, Chaim stared out the window and sighed. He recited Tehillim with a broken heart. From time to time, his wife Rivka would ask, “What will be, Chaim?”

He would spread his hands and answer, “What can we do? This is our lot. Hashem will help.”

Pesach Is Coming

As Pesach drew closer and the weather did not improve, Rivka’s worry grew.

“Chaim, Pesach is coming. We do not have money for matzah and wine, let alone meat and fish. How will we celebrate?”

“Let us trust that Hashem will not abandon us,” Chaim answered, though the pain was visible in his eyes.

Three days before the holiday, Rivka made a suggestion.

“Why do you not go to the charity gabbai? Every year you donate to the Maot Chitim fund for the needy. This year, with nothing left at home, you deserve to receive.”

Chaim shook his head. All his life he had worked hard to support his family without relying on others. “Come what may, I will not take from the charity fund. Hashem can help us another way.”

Rivka insisted. “The fund exists for families like ours. Better to feel a little embarrassed and celebrate Pesach properly than to have no matzah or wine. Think of our children.”

Tears filled the room.

The Silver Cup

“Is there anything left we can sell?” Chaim finally asked.

Rivka let out a bitter laugh. They had already pawned her silver candlesticks and even sold pillows and quilts to feed their children.

Then she spoke quietly. “There is one thing. The silver goblet we use for the Cup of Eliyahu. We could pawn it and buy what we need.”

Chaim recoiled as if stung. “Unthinkable.”

The Cup of Eliyahu was more than silver. It symbolized hope and redemption.

A Difficult Question

On the night before Pesach, Chaim performed bedikat chametz in his small apartment. There was little chance he would find anything.

He then went to the rabbi to arrange the sale of chametz.

“What do you have at home?” the rabbi asked.

“Actually… nothing,” Chaim admitted quietly.

“Any flour? Any chametz foods? Any chametz utensils?”

“We have a few pots and plates,” Chaim said with relief.

The rabbi added his name to the list and wished him a happy holiday.

But Chaim did not leave. “Rabbi,” he asked hesitantly, “is it possible to fulfill the Four Cups with milk instead of wine?”

The rabbi understood immediately. If Chaim was asking such a question, he likely had no wine, perhaps no meat, maybe even no matzah. He was too embarrassed to ask for help.

“My dear Reb Chaim,” the rabbi said gently, “you have asked a complex question. It is the eve of Pesach, and I do not have time to research it properly. Do me a favor. Wait until after Pesach, and I will look into it.”

Then he added, “In the meantime, take a loan from me. Buy wine and everything you need. The money is just sitting in my drawer. Pay me back whenever you can. I know you are an honest man.”

Chaim’s heart overflowed with gratitude. He hurried to buy matzah, wine, meat, fish, and everything required for a proper Seder.

“I told you Hashem would not abandon us,” he called out joyfully to Rivka.

An Unforgettable Seder

That night, the family celebrated Pesach with joy and uplifted spirits. They thanked Hashem for their personal salvation.

When the children opened the door for Eliyahu HaNavi, as is customary, they were startled to see an elderly Jew standing outside, asking to come in. There was a special glow on his face.

He said he had already been invited elsewhere but wished to warm himself briefly. He sat at the table and gazed at the polished Cup of Eliyahu.

“What a beautiful goblet,” he said. “May your good fortune shine as brightly as this cup.”

Then he rose and quietly left.

The next day, Chaim searched for the man in the synagogue. No one had seen him. It was as if he had never been there.

A Treasure in the Mud

After Pesach, the snow finally melted. Chaim returned to the forest with his wheelbarrow.

On his way back, the heavy load became stuck in the mud. After great effort, he freed it. As the wheel came loose, something caught his eye. A gold coin gleamed in the dirt.

He began digging and uncovered a jug filled with shining gold coins. It was a treasure beyond imagination.

From that day on, his fortune shone brightly, just like the gleaming Cup of Eliyahu.

A Lesson in Emunah

This inspiring Pesach story reminds us that faith is never wasted. Chaim refused to surrender his dignity and his trust in Hashem. He believed that help would come, even when the situation seemed hopeless.

And in the end, salvation arrived in a way he could never have imagined.

Sometimes, the greatest miracles begin with a simple declaration: Hashem will help.