He Forgave the Thief: Years Later, It Saved His Life

If you caught a babysitter or housekeeper stealing from you, would you forgive them? For most people, the answer is no. Yet Rabbi Gedaliah Dessler z"l made a very different choice, one that would later save his life in an extraordinary way.

Rabbi Dessler, a respected Torah scholar living under Communist rule in Russia, earned his livelihood in the lumber trade. His business was successful, and he was considered a major dealer. One evening, after completing a large transaction, he returned home with a significant amount of cash. By morning, most of it had disappeared.

An Unthinkable Response

After checking who had entered the house, it became clear that no outsider had been there. Suspicion fell on a young, poor non-Jewish servant. When Rabbi Dessler asked him directly, the servant admitted the truth.

“I took the money,” he said. “I was under great pressure and could not control myself.”

Rabbi Dessler asked him to return what he could. The servant replied that most of the money had already been given to creditors, and only a small portion remained.

At that moment, many people would have reacted with anger, dismissed him immediately, and cut all ties. Instead, Rabbi Dessler made a surprising decision.

“You may continue working here,” he told him.

The servant was stunned. “How can you keep me after what I did?”

Rabbi Dessler explained that he understood the theft came from desperation, not malice. At the same time, he took practical steps, asking his household to be more careful and not leave money within easy reach.

A Quiet Impact

The servant continued working for some time, deeply affected by the unexpected kindness shown to him. Eventually, he left to seek work in a larger city, thanking Rabbi Dessler before they parted ways.

Years passed, and the world changed dramatically. The Communist regime tightened its grip, and life became increasingly difficult.

One evening, KGB agents burst into Rabbi Dessler’s home. After a brief search, they found a typewriter, which at the time was considered suspicious.

“You must be a spy,” they accused. “This is how you send secret messages.”

Despite his protests, Rabbi Dessler was quickly tried and sentenced to fifteen years of hard labor in Siberia.

An Unexpected Turn

His wife, desperate to save him, was told that only one person might be able to intervene: the KGB commander in Petersburg.

With little hope but no other option, she went to plead her case. When she entered the office, she was shocked to see a familiar face. Sitting behind the desk was the very servant who had once worked in their home.

After leaving their house years earlier, he had risen through the ranks and become a powerful official.

He recognized her immediately. When she explained the situation, he did not hesitate.

“He showed me mercy when I stole,” he said. “Now I will show mercy to him.”

A Decision That Changed Everything

The commander took Rabbi Dessler’s file, noted that the sentence had already been carried out, and used his authority to arrange his release. He then gave the family urgent instructions and provided train tickets.

“You must leave immediately,” he told them. “Travel to Lithuania, and from there continue to England. Do not delay.”

They followed his guidance and eventually arrived in London, escaping just before the outbreak of World War II. In this way, the entire family was saved.

The Power of Restraint

Later, Rabbi Dessler reflected on what had happened.

“If I had reacted with anger when I discovered the theft, what would I have gained?” he said. “In that case, he could have sent not only me, but my entire family to Siberia.”

Instead, by overcoming his natural reaction and choosing compassion, he set in motion a chain of events that led to their salvation, with siyata d’shamaya.

This story offers a powerful reminder. Sometimes, the way we respond in a difficult moment carries consequences far beyond what we can see.