Many years ago, one day before Yom Kippur, a Jewish innkeeper near the Polish town of Berdichev was arrested by his landowner and thrown into jail.

His crime? The poor Jew was behind in his rent, as business had dwindled and he had no money. The landowner sent word to the Jewish community that unless he got the sum of 300 rubles, the family would rot in the dungeon for the rest of their lives.

A good Jew in town, let's call him Yankel, undertook to raise the funds. The sum was way beyond his means, but unless he collected the ransom, the family would remain in jail.

Being it was the day before Yom Kippur, the townspeople were very charitable and gave generously. But they were not exactly rich, so, the man was able to raise only fifty rubles.

He needed three hundred, and realized that at this pace he would never raise the money before Yom Kippur, - maybe never at all. In desperation, Yankel headed to a nearby casino frequented by the wealthier set. The players surely had lots of money, but very little concern for the plight of a fellow Jew. But now, before Yom Kippur, was the best time to approach them.

Never having been in a casino, Yankel was overwhelmed to see a hall filled with people playing cards. The fact that in only a few hours, Jews all over the world will say Kol Nidrei, did not seem to interest them. They were only interested in drinking and gambling.

Yankel was amazed to see that each of those tables was stacked with enough money to redeem the family. He approached the players at one table and said, "Tonight is Yom Kippur. Why not prepare yourselves for the Holy Day?

I have something positive for you to do with your money. I know a family in terrible need. Give money for a good purpose."

The people just ignored him, but Yankel was persistent. Finally, one of them said: "You see this bottle of vodka here on the table?" The man filled a drinking glass and made a wager, "If you drink a full glass of this stuff, our table will donate 100 rubles to your cause."

Yankel's gut reaction was,"How can I drink whiskey when tonight is the holiest moment of Kol Nidrei. After a glass of this, I won't be able to concentrate on my prayers."

But then he thought, "If they give me a hundred rubles, I will have a third of the money to save this family. What is more important? My own personal Yom Kippur or saving the family? Who knows how long it will take me to collect one hundred rubles in any other way?"

Reluctantly, he downed the glass. The gamblers kept their word and gave him the money.

Yankel wobbled over to the next table and said to them, "Your friends gave me a 100 rubles to help a poor family. Why don't you do the same?"

But the people said, "If you drink another glass of vodka, we'll give you 100 rubles too."

Yankel pleaded with them, "Please, tonight we will say Kol Nidrei. As it is, I am dizzy, but if I drink another glass, I will pass out. Just give to charity, why make me do this?"

But the people demanded their entertainment. "Listen, either drink it, or good-bye." Again Yankel thought, "What is more important: my own Yom Kippur feelings, or to get this family out of jail?"

He did not think long. The family's need was certainly greater than his own, so he drank the vodka. They gave him 100 rubles, and everyone was happy.

Afterwards, he wobbled over to a third table and asked them, too, to contribute to the cause. It was just hours before Yom Kippur, and they could free a poor family from prison.

They were not interested in his explanations, but were prepared to continue the fun. So they made him the same offer: 100 rubles for a full glass of vodka. He did not have to think much at all. After two glasses of vodka, it was all very clear to him: "Forget about my spiritual Yom Kippur; think about the family. This glass can get them out today." Yankel drank the third glass and they gave him 100 rubles. Now he had all he needed to redeem the family.

He asked the gamblers a favor, "Please, can someone here help me get to the landowner so I can give him the money?" The Yom Kippur spirit must have been in the air, for one gambler did excuse himself from his company and drove Yankel to the landowner's home in his carriage.

Delighted to get his 300 rubles, he landowner counted the money and released the family.

The freed innkeeper ran over to Yankel and hugged and thanked him profusely. Yankel asked the innkeeper. "In my present situation, I can't go to the Shul by myself. Please help me get there?"

Of course the innkeeper obliged and brought Yankel to Shul. Inebriated and exhausted, he lay down on a bench. He knew that he was not in the proper position to pray, but he wanted to at least sleep in a Yom Kippur atmosphere.

People soon began to arrive in shul for Kol Nidrei. Everyone solemnly took a book in hand and prayed sincerely. As the din of their prayers began to rise, Yankel awoke just as they opened the holy Ark to start Kol Nidrei.

Yankel looked up and saw the Ark open and people taking out the Torah scrolls. In Yankel's mind, the service was now up to Simchat Torah before the Hakafot dancing!

Yankel immediately jumped up from the bench, ran up to the platform where the cantor stood, and cheerfully proclaimed aloud the Atah Horeisa! verses recited on Simchat Torah.

The people were aghast: "It is Yom Kippur, and we are about to recite the Kol Nidrei prayer. What kind of silly joke is this? Is this man drunk? How dare he desecrate the services?!" The enraged worshippers were about to grab Yankel and throw him out of the shul!

But the Berdichever Rebbe stopped them. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was a wise and righteous man who knew of Yankel's self sacrifice that led to his present condition.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak explained to his congregation that Yankel's Simchat Torah feeling on Yom Kippur eve was not mistaken. "It actually helps us put the holidays in proper perspective. It is not mere coincidence that Rosh Hashanah is followed by Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and finally, Simchat Torah. The High Holidays rise in an ascending order.

"We begin our spiritual odyssey on Rosh Hashanah. That is our first step. We then intensify our service during the Ten days of Repentance until we reach Yom Kippur.

"Yom Kippur's solemnity is not an end in itself. Fasting and self-nullification prepare us for the higher level of serving G-d though joy during Sukkot. That joy, in turn, builds up to a crescendo on Shmini Azeret, and ultimately Simchat Torah – the very climax of it all.

"This person's great sacrifice" he said pointing to the drunken Yankel, "allowed him to reach the Simchat Torah level on the Eve of Yom Kippur. Rather than miss out on Yom Kippur's solemnity, Yankel's devotion enabled him to bypass the intermediate steps and rise directly into Simchat Torah."