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Issue # 37

A Tzaddik, or righteous person makes everyone else appear righteous before Hashem by advocating for them and finding their merits. (Kedushas Levi, Parshas Noach; Sefer Bereishis 7:1)

Parshas Shabbos Shelach

Kedushas Ha'Levi'im

DIVEST AND CONQUER

Send for yourself men to spy out the land... (Bamidbar 13:2)

he holy Berditchever tells us in Kedushas Levi that the episode of the spies can be explained based on ’s commentary to the verse “And she hid him” (Yehoshua T 2:4). Rashi explains: “She hid only Kalev.” Generally, in a place where the sparks that are found there can be elevated, that place is easy to conquer. And a place where it is not possible to elevate the sparks, it cannot be conquered unless one divests himself completely of all physicality.

The truth is that it was not possible to elevate the sparks of Canaan, which is why it is written regarding the Canaanites, “Let not a soul live” (Devarim 20:16). Therefore it would be necessary for the spies to divest themselves of all physicality in order to do so. But for Kalev, who succeeded in elevating the spark of Rachav, this was not necessary, and so it says that “she hid him.” [By hiding him, she was performing an act of kindness for him, and therefore her sparks could be elevated — because she found the kindness within herself and utilized it.]

Therefore, when Moshe sent the twelve spies to the land in which no spark could be elevated, he told them first, “Divest yourselves of all physicality.” This is the meaning of shelach, “send,” which also connotes “divest,” since they were to divest themselves of all physicality. This then is the meaning of our verse: “Divest yourselves, men...”

Defeat of the Cossacks

av Yisroel of related that when he was a child, he was in the Berditchever’s beis when all of a sudden, in the midst of prayers, an unruly group of R Cossack soldiers entered (this was during wartime). All of the congregants ran for their lives — all except for the Rav. Rav Levi Yitzchak remained there, engrossed in his prayers, completely oblivious to what was happening around him — totally divested of his physicality.

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The young Yisroel hid beneath one of the benches, and from his hiding place, this is what he saw:

The Cossacks approached the Berditchever, who was oblivious of them, immersed as he was in his devotions, and they attempted to engage him in conversation. When the Berditchever did not respond, they dealt him several harsh blows. When Rav Levi Yitzchak still did not respond, they realized they were dealing with no ordinary man. “This man is not human!” they said. They left him there and fled in awe.

When Rav Levi Yitzchak finished praying, he went home and said that he felt weak and sick. When they later tried to remove his clothing, they found that his body was covered in bruises and his clothes had stuck to him with dried blood. He exclaimed in wonder, not knowing how this had happened. It was only when the young Rav Yisroel Ruzhiner, the boy who had remained hidden in the shul, revealed everything that they realized that the Cossacks had beaten Rav Levi Yitzchak. The Rav had failed to notice any of it.

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Refuah Sheleima

Mordechai Tzvi Ben Mindel Esther Leah זיסל בת אידל סומא | Zisel Bas Aidel Sima Rivka Bas Malka Gittel Bas Devora Besoch She'ar Cholei Yisroel

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In Loving Memory of Our Dear Father and Teacher ל״ז ,HaRav HaChassid Avraham Chaim ben Sholom and Frumit Goldenberg of Micula, ל״צז ,A beloved talmid of HaRav Yechezkel Shraga Schonfeld ע״יז ,”and of the Holy Satmar Rav, Ba’al “Divrei Yoel

לעילוי נשמת הרה''ח ר' אברהם חיים ב''ר שלום ז''ל ▪ נפטר מוצש''ק כ''א שבט תשס''ו ▪ ת. נ. צ. ב. ה.

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16 Sivan ~ Starts Friday evening – Shabbos Kodesh ~ June 14th

 Rav Yeshuah Heschel ben Rav Moshe Dov Landau Zt”l HY”D, the Vitka Rav.

17 Sivan ~ Starts Saturday evening – Motza’ei Shabbos ~ June 15th

 Rav Tzvi Hirsh Broide, Rosh Kelm. His wife was Rebbetzen Nechamah Leba Broide, the daughter of the Alter of Kelm. He became very close to his talmid Rav , the future mashgiach of Mir and Ponevezh.

 Rav Aharon of Karlin, the Beis Aharon (1802-1872). The son of Rav Asher of Stolin. He was named for his illustrious grandfather - Rav Aharon of Karlin, the first Karliner , and thus he is also known as Rav Aharon the Second Perlov of Karlin. He was also known as the Mlynover Rebbe and the Freilicher Rebbe (the latter a term describing his disposition). Later in his life, he was forced to move to Stolin, several miles away from Karlin, and the dynasty has been known as Karlin-Stolin since then. His insights were anthologized in the sefer Beis Aharon.

 Rav Moshe Vorhand of Makava (or Makó) (Hungary), the Moshe (1862-1944). His descendants include Rav Zeev Vorhand, the “Prague Rav” from Manhattan, and the Lemberger boys, Simon, Mendel, Ephraim, Avram, Shlomo and Asher, all rabbonim like their father, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather.

18 Sivan ~ Starts Sunday evening ~ June 16th

 Rav Avraham Hakohen Rappaort Shrentzel, Chevron (1584-1651). As a youth, he learned under Rav Meshulam Feivush, the Rav of Cracow. He married the daughter of Rav Mordechai Shrentzel of Lemberg and continued his studies under Rav Yehoshua Falk in that city. He founded a yeshiva and taught there for 42 years. He authored Shailos U’teshuvas Eissan HaEzrachi.

 Rav Yissacher Dov Ber, the “Saba Kadisha” of Radushitcz (Radoszyce; Radoshitz), (1765-1843). A disciple of Rav Yaakov Yitzchak, the Chozeh of , and Rav Yaakov Yitzchak of P’shischa.

 Rav Yerucham Levovitz, mashgiach Yeshiva Mir (1936). first began to settle in the town of Mir early in the 17th century, but the town itself is mentioned in records for 1345. There were over 800 Jews in Mir by 1806. By the end of the 19th century, there were more than 3,000 Jews in Mir (62% of the town population). The was founded in 1815. During WWI the Mir Yeshiva headed by Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, moved to Poltava, in the Ukraine and did not return until 1921. Rav Yerucham was born around the year 1874 in Luban, Belarus. In his teens, he went to learn in Slabodka, becoming one of the top students of the Alter, Rav . In his early 20s, he attended Kelm, under Rav . After Rav Yerucham's marriage, he learned in seclusion for eight years, covering the entire . Then he became the mashgiach of the Chofetz Chaim's yeshiva in Radin. He became mashgiach at Mir in 1910, a position he kept for 26 years. Among his talmidim were Rav and Rav , who later became Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh. His shmuessen were published posthumously by his students, in Daas Chochma U'mussar, Daas and other sefarim.

 Rav Yaakov Elimelech and Rav Chaim Menachem Mendel Paneth of Dezsh (1944). Page 3 of 24

 Rav Moshe Mordechai Shteger, author of Meged Shamayim, a peyrush on Pri Megadim on Yoreh Deah (1944).

 Rav Avraham Yosef Pesachovitz, author of Be’er Mayim (1953).

 Rav Aharon Cohen (1905-1961). Born in a small village near Kovno, - his father, Rav Avraham Mordechai HaCohen, was a rebbe of small children, and his grandfather, Rav Yosef HaCohen, was known as the Masmid of Eishishok. When Germany conquered Lithuania, his family moved to the Ukarine and Rav Aaron learned at Lomza. After the war, he returned to Kovna and learned at Slabodka. In 1925, he joined the first group of talmidim sent by the Alter of Slabodka to Chevron. The Rosh Yeshiva at Chevron, Rav , took him as a son-in-law. He served as Rosh for 30 years. Childless themselves, his rebbetzen and he raised several orphans. His monumental work was called Beis Aaron.

 Rav Moshe Leib Shapiro, author of Taba’os Hachoshen (1972).

19 Sivan ~ Starts Monday evening ~ June 17th

 Rav Shmuel Hominer of Yerushalayim, author of Eved HaMelech on the , and Ikarai Dinim, a summary of the laws of loshon hora with analysis.

 Rav Yehuda ibn Atar (1656-1733). He was a student of Rav Vidal HaTzorfati and Rav Menachem Serero. He was the Rav, the Av Beis Din and the Rosh Yeshiva in Fez for 40 years. His book Minchas Yehuda is his commentary on the Torah.

 Rav Menachem Nachum of -Boro Park (1946).

20 Sivan ~ Starts Tuesday evening ~ June 18th

 Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Nadvorna, the Tzemach Hasehm Letzvi (1801).

 Rav Chaim Mordechai Labaton (1780-1869). The son of Luna and Helfon Labaton, he became Chief Rav and Av Beis Din of Aleppo. Rav Chaim Mordechai married Morhava and had three sons, Helphon, Eliezer and Joseph Labaton, all of whom became rabbonim. At age 70, Rav Chaim Mordecai was disturbed that he did not have a daughter. After much discussion, he decided to marry a younger woman, who could bear him daughters. Sure enough, his wife bore him a daughter, Luna, who was wed to Rav Ezra Suede.

 Rav Elazar Flecklesh, author of Teshuva M'Ahava.

 Rav Feivish Shneelbalg of (2000).

 Rav Yisroel Dan Taub, the Modziter Rebbe (1928-2006). He was born in Warsaw, and made with his family at the age of seven. In 1950, he married Rochel, the daughter of Rav Shmuel Aharon Shadrovitzki from Bialistok. He became Rebbe upon the passing of his father, the Imrei Eish. He led his Chassidim for many years from his beis midrash in Tel Aviv, and in 1995, he moved to a new location in . He was also a member of the Agudas Yisroel Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah. He was buried next to the kever of his father at Har HaZeisim. The dynasty descends from Rav Page 4 of 24

Yechezkel of , , who was a talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin. Rav Yisroel Dan, was Rav Yechezkel’s grandson’s great-grandson. The tradition of composing and singing niggunim was started by the second Modzitzer Rebbe, known as the Zvoliner Rebbe, Rav Shmuel Eliyahu.

21 Sivan ~ Starts Wednesday evening ~ June 19th

 Rav Dovid Menachem Munish Babad, the Chavatzeles Hasharon of Tarnopol. Born to Rav Yeshuah Heschel of Podvolotchisk, he married Leah the daughter of Rav Yoel Moshe Segal Landau of Yavrov (near Lvov). He and his rebbetzen had 5 daughters. Rav Dovid Munish was a staunch chassid of . In 1892, he succeeded his father as Rav in Strisov, when his father became Rav in Podvolotchisk. Two years later, he succeeded his father-in-law in Yavrov and served there for 17 years. In 1909, after the petira of Rav Shimon Badad, son of the Minchas Chinuch, Rav Shimon’s son – Yeshuah Heschel – became Rav of Tarnapol, but was too frail to handle the responsibilities. Thus, two years later, the community welcomed Rav Dovid Munish as de facto Rav, a position that was formalized in 1919, with the petira of Rav Yeshuah Heschel. He also became the head of the Agudas Harabbanim of . (1865-1937)

 Rav Shlomo Shapiro, the Shem Shlomo (1832-1894), grandson of Rav Zvi Elimelech of (the Bnei Yissoscher), and son of Rav Elazar of Dinov (author of Yode’ei Binah; niftar 1865). His mother, Tauba Chavah, was a descendant of the Pnei Yehoshua and the Maginei Shlomo. He was born in Ribatitch, Galicia, and in 1838, his father moved the family to Strizhov, a Central Galician town on the banks of the Wisloka River, settled by Jews since the sixteenth century. At the age of fourteen, Rav Shlomo married Frima Rivkah, a grand-daughter of Rav Moshe Leib of . After a few years in Sassov, Rav Shlomo rejoined his father in Strizhov, and he took over his father's position there, in about 857, after his father moved to Lancut. In about 1866, he became a devoted follower of Rav Chaim of ; the two eventually became mechutanim. In 1880, the Jews of Munkatch, a large and influential kehillah in Hungary, (now in the Ukraine), appealed to Rav Shlomo to come and serve as their Rav. After the passing of the Yitav Lev of Satmar, Rav Shlomo was designated as one of the leading rabbonim of Hungary. He authored Beis Shlomo on Chumash. His son, Tzvi Hirsh (author of Darchei Teshuvah, Beer Lechai Ro'I, and Tzvi Tiferes), succeeded him as Rav of Munkatch. He, in turn, was succeeded by his son, Rav Chaim Elazar Shapiro, the Minchas Elazar.

 Rav Shimon Sofer, the Hisorerus Teshuva (1944).

 Rav Moshe Sofer of , ben Rav Shimon Sofer (1944).

22 Sivan ~ Starts Thursday evening ~ June 20th

 Rav Isamar Rosenbaum, Nadvorna Rebbe (1973). Son of Rav Meir of Kretchnif - a descendent of the Premishlaner dynasty, Rav Isamar was appointed Rebbe at the age of 15. He established a beis midrash in Tchernowitz. He escaped to America during WW II. In 1969, he emigrated to Eretz Yisroel and established the Be’er Mayim Chaim beis midrash in the Yad Eliyahu section of Tel Aviv.

 Rav Yosef Leib Sofer of Paksh, author of Yalkut Sofer (1915).

 Rav Dovid Deutsch, author of Ohel Dovid (1831)

 Rav Moshe Yeruchem of (1865).

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 Rav Baruch Asher of Chernobyl (1905).

 Rav Eliyahu Bechor Chazan, author of Ta’alumos Lev (1908).

 Rav Chaim Dov Halperin, the Vasloier Rebbe (1957).

 Rav Yitzchak Shlomo Ungar (1925-2004). Born to Rav Avraham Tzvi, a 6th generation descendant of Rav Meir Eisenstadt, the Panim Meiros, and a descendant of the Arizal. The Nazis deported the Ungar family to the Shopron ghetto near the Hungarian border. There, the father and 5 younger children were murdered. All five elder brothers survived. After the war, Rav Yitzchak Shlomo moved to Eretz Yisroel and became a Rav in Bnei Brak. In 1950, he founded the Chug Chasam Sofer kashrus organization. He also served as dayan in Rav Shmuel Wosner’s Beis Din of Zichron Meir. He established the yeshiva Machaneh Avraham in 1962.

 Rav Yisroel Mordechai of Rachmistrivka (1929-2004). Born in Yerushalayim, the son of Rav Yochanon, grandson of Rav Dovid of Rachmistrivka, and great-grandson of Rav Menachem Nachum of Rachmistrivka. As a bachur, he learned in Yeshiva Sfas Emes. In 5711 (1951), the young Yisroel Mordechai married the daughter of Rav Zalman Uri, one of the distinguished Chassidim in Yerushalayim. He became Rebbe in 1982 after the passing of his father.

 Rav Ephraim Fishel Rabinowitz (1924-2005). Born in Yerushalayim, he learned in the Chayei Olam yeshiva and . After his marriage, he took a position as Rosh Mesvita in Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel. After holding positions in Toronto and New York, he became Rosh Yeshiva of Tiferes Yisroel after the passing of the yeshiva’s previous leader, Rav Yehushua Brim in 1986. He was also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.

23 Sivan ~ Starts Friday evening – Shabbos Kodesh ~ June 21th

 Rav Eliezer Yosef ben Rav Yitzchak HaLevi Ledenberg, Belzer Rebbe (1954). He learned Beitza and Rosh Hashanah over 4000 times (memorized over 6 months when he was threatened by blindness).

 Rav Yehuda Assad (1796-1866), author of Responsa Mahari Assad and Yehuda Yaaleh. Born in Assad, north of , Rav Yehuda learned under Rav Mordechai Banet in Nikolsburg. He served as Rav of Szerdahely from 1853 to 1866. After the petira of the Chasam Sofer, Rav Yehuda was regarded as the head of Hungarian Jewry.

 Rav Yaakov Pollak, Rav of Prague, then Krakow and then Lublin (1455-1530 or 1525, per Yated 2007). He is considered the father or Torah scholarship and rabbinic authority in Poland. His main disciple was Rav Shalom Shachna (1490-1558), who headed the yeshiva in Lublin for over 40 years.

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Hillula De'Tzaddika

WHAT’S BEHIND YAHRZEIT MEANINGS & CUSTOMS

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It is a well-known fact that on the day of a tzaddik’s hillulah, the and tzaddikim awaken great Heavenly mercy and kindness over their chassidim, students, disciples and followers; over their wives and their children - this however is a general awakening. However, for those specific individuals who make it their business to establish the day of the hillulah as a day of studying Torah especially the Torah of the tzaddik and having a farbrengen - a Chassidic gathering, this is the pidyon nefesh - the monetary offering the chassid gives to his rebbe, this study and farbrengen is the pidyon which the chassid can give the ba’al hillulah. (Sefer HaMinhagim of , page 86)

Segulos Yisroel

Segulos Sources & Meanings

This Week's Segulah

The 18th of Sivan, is the yahrzeit of the Saba Kadisha of Radoshitz, Rav Yissachor Dov Ber ben Rav Yitzchok zy”a. The following is a segulah nifla’ah badok u’menusah – a wonderful segulah, tested, tried and true from him. If someone is in an "eis tzorah" a difficult or dangerous situation, they should give no less than 19 perutas to tzedaka and כי גוי אבד עצות המה ואין בהם תבונה :light a candle for his neshama, and say the possuk (Devarim, Ha'azinu 32:28) and you will be saved from all any danger or damage. This can be done anytime, not just on the yahrzeit. (See additional segulah below – at related story).

May His Holy Merit Shield and Protect Us, Amen - Zechuso Yagen Aleinu!

Weekly Stories

Yahrzeit 16 Sivan

Rav Yeshuah Heschel Landau HY”D Zt”l Vitka Rav

(Editor: This yahrzeit was omitted in error from last week’s gilyon – and behooves this week’s mention. The Satmer Rebbe – Rav Yoel personally bestowed the title of “Ish Kadosh V’Tahor.)

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His Yichus and Derech HaLimud

Son of Rav Moshe Dov Landau, Av Beis Din of Veretzkiya, and grandson of Rav Shlomo Zalman, Av Beis Din Dobreh, the Vitka Rav, Rav Yeshuah Heschel Landau was related to the Rav and also to Rav Yissachar Dov of Belz. His grandfather’s mother was the Apta Rav’s sister, Breindel, and Rav Yissacher Dov’s father - Rav Yehoshua Rokeach, was Rav Yitzchok Meir Zinkover’s [the Apta Rav’s son] son-in-law. So when the Vitka Rav visited Belz and passed by Rav Yissacher Dov to greet him with a “Shalom Aleichem,” after davening, the Belzer Rav asked him who he was and who was his father, the Belzer Rav replied, that they were related and did the Vitka Rav know how? The Vitka Rav did not know and he was invited to Rav Yissacher Dov’s study before Kiddush. When he entered, he found the Belzer Rebbe studying perek HaZahav in mesechta Bava Metzia with the commentary of the Shita Mekubetzes. “This teaches you,” the Vitka Rav would explain to his talmidim, “take advantage of your time and study and , and the early commentators rather than wasting your time studying response and likkutim.”

The Vitka Rav also chastised those who studied many seforim and said that when he visited Oberland, Hungary that their rabbonim lived in wealth and had vast libraries while they could not learn properly, whereas the Unterland rabbonim lived in abject poverty but so had less books and could learn better. Case and point he would remark that he knew that the Rav of the Hadass was a talmid chacham because he was poor and only owned Shas, Rambam, Tur and volumes and therefore he had to study these and review them over and over and it was this that led to his wisdom.

His Family

The Vitka Rav only had one daughter. When he married his wife, Esther Miriam, the daughter of Rav Shlomo Yehuda Weinberger of Bagad, they waited three years with no children. The Tomoshaver Rebbe, Rav Yeshuah was passing through Bagad and the Vitka Rav asked him for a blessing. Some say he said “a daughter will one day walk among you,” other say he remarked, “He wants a child after three years? Eh, it took me seven till I had children,” and so it was that after seven years they had their only daughter Chaya Drizel.

His Rebbes

In his youth the Vitka Rav travelled to the Divrei Yechezkel of Shinova and when he passed on, he continued to be an ardent follower and a farbrente chassid of his son the Divrei Simcha of Tsheshinov. The Tsheshinover chassidim were known to be very fiery ovdei Hashem and the Vitka rav was no exception. After the Tsheshinover Rebbe, he followed the Atzei Chaim of Sighet.

His Avodah

He was an fervent devoted and constant mikva goer. Often late into the night he would go to the mikva. The fact that Vitka was a small town with no mikva and that the closest one was some 6 kilometers away on foot did not deter him. Neither did the wicked Germans who beat him bloodily and mercilessly, nor did the sounds of wild dogs in the wilderness on the road. His talmidim who accompanied him on these nightly excursions testified that he never spoke, instead his lips constantly moved as he silently reviewed his learning by heart. One of his talmidim saved his life, when in the winter the Vitka Rav broke the ice and immersed himself and the talmid used his candle

Page 8 of 24 to find the Rav who hadn’t emerged for some time because he had lost the hole where to come back up! And still he continued to go to the mikva.

He afflicted himself, ate little, slept on the beis midrash bench all week long and only in a bed on Shabbos and fasted for forty years from one Shabbos to the next. His Rebbe, the Atzei Chaim joked that on Shabbos the only reason he slept in bed was that he could dream - and dream a nightmare so that he could fast for that on Shabbos as well!

Eventually on one of his nightly outings to the mikva, a wealthy Jewish merchant from Niederhausz - Rav Shimon Nehemeti spotted the odd pair, of Rav and talmid in the middle of the night going to the mikva, and when he inquired as to their destination and the talmid explained that they did this nightly since Vitka had none, Rav Shimon convinced the Vitka Rav to move to Niederhausz. There he had a mikva and Rav Shimon supported him financially allowing him to open a yeshiva and teach his students Torah. Rav Shimon used to say that when he returned from a long trip buying and selling at the fair, and was unable to go to sleep after realizing how much bittul Torah the trip cost him, he reminded himself of the talmid chacham, “a lone soldier and guardian of Torah, the Vitka Rav sitting in Niederhausz and his learning being supported by me, then I can lay my head down to sleep!”

His davening was fiery, loud and full of emotion and motion! He would spring up and jump as high as the ceiling, clapping his hands in passion. His talmidim said he took no notice of what he did, to the point where his loud banging on the shtender caused his hands to bleed and yet he continued with no notice. He was so moved during davening Kabbalas Shabbos that he swayed to and fro and banged his head against the wall till he bled. The Av Beis Din of Payeh once owned a Berditchever Tefillah Yeshara , which had bloodstained pages in the Kabbalas Shabbos service. When asked why, he explained that this was the very siddur the Vitka Rav had davened from and when he banged into the wall, the blood had dripped onto the siddur’s pages while he himself took no notice.

During Leining - he himself was the Baal Koreh, and as he read from the Torah, rivulets of sweat poured down his face from concentration and passion as his voice thundered the Kriyas HaTorah. The gabbai had to stand beside him with towels to constantly mop his brow lest the sweat drip onto the scrolls and wet the parchment and passul the sefer, heaven forbid.

His custom was during singing Menucha VeSimcha on Shabbos, that he would jump up over the table and begin to dance. He danced for over an hour or two and the students would take it in turns to dance because they could not keep up with him or his superhuman strength and otherworldly passion! They used to exclaim at how such a weak and emaciated form from fasting could serve Hashem aflame for hours with the strength and vigor that much younger fitter individuals lacked. (Editor: My mother lived across the street from his house and clearly remembers all the Simchas Torah chagim that while he was dancing with the Torah for hours on end – his feet barely touched the floor ~ as if the Torah literally carried him.)

Someone once entered the beis midrash and found him lying prostrate on the floor with arms and legs spread out - outstretched in supplication and prayers, crying bitterly. When he noticed that he was caught in the act he begged the individual not to tell.

Sadly, when the cursed Nazis liquidated Nierdhausz, the marched the Vitka Rav, Rav Shimon and all the Jews to the slaughterhouse and Gehinom known as Auschwitz; where on the 16th of Sivan together with Rav Shalom Eliezer’l of Ratzfurt - they returned their pure holy soul to Page 9 of 24

their Maker. Incidentally, both knew that they were going to be a korben oleh for kiddush Hashem and remarked that they are ready to meet their Maker and accepted Hashem’s decree with ahava.

May Hashem avenge their bloody murder, and may the memory of the righteous stand for us a blessing.

 

Yahrzeit 17 Sivan

Rav Aharon of Karlin Zt”l Author of the Beis Aharon

The Beis Aharon‘s Shir HaShirim versus the Sleep of the

It was Erev Shabbos and Rav Ahaon of Karlin was reciting the Song of Songs, Shir HaShirim asher liSholomo! Yeshakaynu MiNishokus Pihi, Ki Tovim Dodaycha Miyayin, Your kisses Hashem Zissa are sweeter than wine! All the family of the heavenly hosts rejoiced as the Karliner’s heavenly niggun soared on High and was abruptly interrupted by knocks on the door. “The Maggid requests that you please stop.” came the voice of one of the disciples. “Your Shir HaShirim is making such a commotion in the heavenly world above on High that it is disturbing the Maggid’s erev Shabbos nap.”

Think how holy the Shir HaShirim of Rav Aharon Karliner must have been and think just how holy the Maggid’s erev Shabbos nap was to take precedence over it!

Rav Aharon MiKarlin - If I am King...

When the Admor Rav Aharon of Karlin began davening before the Amud at Shacharis of Rosh Hashanah, he began with the customary tune. When he reached the end of the tefillah and was about to cry out the word “Hamelech,” he passed out.. His chassidim revived him, and he continued with the tefillah.

When he finished davening, the chassidim surrounded him, curiously inquiring the reason for his fainting. The Rebbe explained to his chassidim, “In Masechtas Gittin (56:1) the Gemara tells us the staory of Rav Yochanan ben Zakkai when he left Yerushalayim during the Roman siege in order to plead with Caesar Vespasian for the lives of the Jews within Yerushalayim. When Rav

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Yochanan ben Zakkai first encountered Vespasian, he said, ‘Peace upon you, King, peace upon you.’ Vespasian became angry with him and said, ‘You deserve to be killed for two reasons. First of all, you addressed me as the King, which I am not, and secondly, if you think I’m the King, why haven’t you come until now?’”

The Rebbe continued, “As I stood before the amud to say “Hamelech,” I remembered this story and the question of the Caesar, ‘If you think I’m the king, why haven’t you come until now?’” This question pierced my heart, and I thought, ‘Who knows if at this moment, at the time I’m describing Hakadosh Boruch Hu as Melech, I need to find an answer to this question. ‘If I’m really the King, why haven’t you come to me (with teshuvah and regret) until today?!" (Chayim Sheyash Bahem)

http://revach.net/stories/story-corner/Reb-Aharon-MiKarlin-If-I-am-King/2807

Biography

Rav Aharon of Karlin (1802-1872) was the son of Rav Asher of Stolin and he was called after the name of his grandfather Rav Aharon the Great, a disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch and the founder of the Karliner dynasty which still thrives today. He was known to be pure and holy from his childhood and was groomed to be a leader. When he was only 25 years old, his father passed away and the yoke of the spiritual leadership of the Karliner Chassidus was thrust upon him.

His grandfather-in-law, the Rizhner Rebbe said of him, that his desire for truth was so intense that if there were a crumb of truth under the floorboards he would rip them up with his bare hands to lay hold of it.

He followed the path of the Karliner Rebbes in prayer, that of "Splitting the Heavens". It is a style of prayer which is thunderous to the ear, a prayer which brings ones every limb into the service of Hashem.

Once, on Shabbos, when he was visiting his son-in-law, the first Sadigerer Rebbe, he was honored with leading the Mussaf service. As Rav Aharon approached the reader's stand, the Sadigerer Rebbe whispered to his chassidim, "Listen well to this Mussaf, because this you won't hear again until the coming of the Messiah."

Torah from the heart

A family in White Russia were once having trouble with their young son, Mordechai. He never wanted to study, only to play outside. He also had a tendency to get into mischief. It caused the parents tremendous anxiety.

One day they heard that the great Rav Aharon would be coming to their town. So they brought their son to meet the Rebbe. He listened to the parent’s story and responded to them very roughly. "I'll have a few words with him and set him straight. Leave him to me. I'll teach how to behave." The parents, taken aback by his stern demeanor, yet assured by his confidence, let him take their son into his private room.

The Rebbe leaned back on his couch and gently called the boy to come over. He held out his arms and motioned for Mordechai to come nearer. Then he pulled him close and held him against Page 11 of 24

his heart for a long time. They then went out together. Not revealing his special method of persuasion, Rav Aharon of Karlin again spoke roughly to the parents. "I had a word with him. He'll shape up now!"

The boy did indeed change and became a well-known tzaddik, Rav Mordechai of Lechovitz, the father of the dynasty. He always told his chassidim that he first learned Torah from Rav Aharon of Karlin, who taught him Torah from the heart. http://www.nishmas.org/stories/torahart.htm

To Pray or Not To Pray

Rav Ahron was once in Mezhibuzh, the town where the Ba’al Shem Tov lived and is buried. He wanted to go to the gravesite of the Ba’al Shem Tov to pray.

He turned to his attendant, questioning, "Nu, was sogst du? (What do you say?) How can we go to the Ba’al Shem Tov empty-handed? We haven't got mitzvos to our credit, nor good deeds. We can hardly learn properly, much less daven!"

For some 20 minutes, Rav Aharon stalled, lost in thought, searching for a strategy that would allow him to approach the Holy resting site of the Ba’al Shem Tov.

Finally he exclaimed, "Is it not true that simple people, unlearned women and children come here to pour out their hearts? If so, then we also shall go and pour out our hearts like them." http://www.nishmas.org/stories/topray.htm

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There was a chassid who used to travel a great distance to be with his rebbe, chassidic master Rav Aaron of Karlin. Once, while making his journey, he was asked why he couldn't find a rebbe that lived closer to his own town.

"Going to the Karliner gives me special powers," the chassid replied. "I can read everyone's thoughts."

"In that case," one man challenged, "can you tell me what I'm thinking of right now?"

"You're thinking about Hashem," said the chassid.

"You're wrong." said the man. "I wasn't thinking of Him at all."

"You see?" said the chassid. "That's why I travel to Karlin..."

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/342450/jewish/The-Road-to-Karlin.htm

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Yahrzeit 18 Sivan

Rav Yerucham HaLevi Levovitz Zt”l “The Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva”

Rav Yerucham was for a symbol and model of behavior for his students. Not only did he speak well, he also acted in accordance with his own teachings. He demanded more of himself than of his students, and he was a man of Mussar in every sense of the word.

Once at the end of Yom Kippur, one of the students realized that Rav Yerucham was late in leaving the yeshiva. The student then hid himself under a bench and saw that once the hall was empty, Rav Yerucham began to pace up and down the floor while pointing to himself and repeating the verse, “Perhaps my father will feel me and I shall be a mocker in his eyes” (Genesis 27:12). This happened after a long day of serving Hashem and intense prayer. It was not without reason that Rav Yerucham’s wife said to his sons on the day of his petira, “Know my children that your father was an angel of Hashem.”

Rav Yerucham was born to Rav Avraham in the year 5633 (1873) in Luban, near Slutzk. In his youth he studied in small towns near Pohost and Halusk, and in the Bobruisk yeshiva. From there he went to study in the Slobodka yeshiva. Rav Nathan Tzvi Finkel, known as the Alter of Slobodka, saw in him a bright star in the Torah heavens, and he devoted himself to his new student. Rav Nathan Tzvi passed on his great love of Mussar to him, and afterwards the Alter sent him to study in that great beis midrash, the Kelm . Unique of its kind, it had been founded by Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv, the greatest disciple of Rav Yisroel Salanter.

Rav Yerucham studied with Rav Simcha Zissel during the last year of his life. However, this short time was enough for him to absorb the Torah of his teacher, whose light Rav Yerucham walked in for the rest of his life. He himself recounted what he felt at the passing of Rav Simcha Zissel: “In my youth, when I arrived in Kelm I had the chance to hear Rav Simcha Zissel, but after a short time he left this world. In the bitterness of my heart I went behind a wall in the room, and there I stayed weeping and crying for the entire day, without eating or drinking. I thought to myself: ‘I have barely begun to understand what man is and what his duties are – I have barely begun to open my eyes by listening to your words a few times – and now you have left me!’ ”

With time, Rav Yerucham became the student of Rav Nachum Zev Ziv and Rav Tzvi Broida, the son and son-in-law respectively of Rav Simcha Zissel. Rav Tzvi Broida once said that if his father-in-law could have arisen from the grave and seen Rav Yerucham before him, he would have certainly said, “This is him – the one I had in mind.”

In 5667 (1907), Rav Yerucham was welcomed by Rav Yisroel Meir HaCohen Kagen, the Chofetz Chaim, as the Mashgiach of his yeshiva in Radin. People say that Rav Yerucham devoted his first lecture to faith, and his student Yechezkel Lewinstein said of himself that from that time on, he decided to no longer turn his thoughts away from faith, be it even for a moment, for the rest of his life.

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In 5669 (1909), Rav Yerucham went to the Mir yeshiva, where he remained until his final day some 37 years later. A new period in the life of Rav Yerucham began in Mir, as he started to give Mussar lectures four times a week, opening the eyes of yeshiva students to new worlds. “Everything about the words of the great and expansive Torah is a tremendous light on the principles of religion and faith, a light that exposes hidden things through the profound wisdom of Mussar, and which reveals the depths of the Sages’ words according to the truth of Torah” (Sefer HaTevunah). The Mir yeshiva students devoted themselves to their Rav and loved him greatly. The yeshiva grew year by year, and from near and far people came to hear the Torah from his lips. What’s extraordinary is that youngsters from America and Germany who came to study in Mir understood and followed him, thus becoming new men. Rav Dov Revel, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Rav Yitzchak Elchanan yeshiva, heard of Rav Yerucham and invited him to come to America and speak to the students of his yeshiva. However, Rav Yerucham replied, “I have an influence on young Americans who come to see me in Mir, but I highly doubt that I could have an influence on them if I were in America.”

Rav Yerucham was greatly devoted to his students. He was aware of and sensitive to each of them, knowing what upset each student, which ones truly feared Heaven, and which elevated themselves in holiness. He concerned himself with each student as if he were his very own son. When one of his acquaintances was surprised to see how gray his hair had become with age, Rav Yerucham told him, “You are the father of a few children; I am the father of hundreds.” When it happened that a student was to be drafted into the army, he ordered that tehillim be read in public to save him. When he managed to rescue a student, he was filled with joy and felt as if that day was a chag.”

Rav Yerucham served as the spiritual director of the famous Mir yeshiva for 37 years. His name became famous in all yeshivos, and his impact among them was very great. In 5696 (1936), Rav Yerucham suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and all the effort of doctors to save him proved futile. On Monday, 18th of Sivan, aged but 62 years, Rav Yerucham rendered his pure soul to his Creator. His name forever shines in the hearts of his students as one of the greatest teachers of Torah.

After Rav Yerucham’s passing, his Torah commentaries were published in the book Da’as Chochmah U’Mussar, as well as in Da’as Torah on the Torah parshios.

http://www.hevratpinto.org/tzadikim_eng/160_rabbiyerucham_halevi_levovitz.html

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A Midnight Round Trip By Rav Yeruchom's Mother

When the famous Mirrer Mashgiach, Rav Yerucham Levovitz was young, he learned in Kelm. At some point his mother did not receive any mail or news of his well-being for a few months and she began to worry. Not being a woman of means she slowly saved money for a trip to Kelm to check on her son, by skimping on her meals and borrowing money.

When finally she put together the necessary funds she ordered a wagon. The trip was difficult through the snow and mud. She arrived in Kelm in middle of the night and not a light was on in any home in the town, save for a light in the beis midrash. Without any choice she entered the beis midrash and climbed up the stairs to the ezras nashim where she sat down.

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While in the ezras nashim, she heard the sweet voice of one of the boys sitting over his gemara in the wee hours of the night. She looked down and to her delight she saw it was her son Yerucham.

At that point, she immediately went downstairs and out of the beis midrash without disturbing her son. She got back into her wagon and asked him to take her back home, as she now knew that all was well, and needed nothing more. http://revach.net/stories/gadlus/A-Midnight-Round-Trip-By-Reb-Yeruchoms-Mother/5133

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The Shabbos Mashgiach And Weekday Mashgiach Of The Mir Yeshiva

It is well known and recorded that on Shabbos many Gedolim had a special aura and their face would actually radiate and glow of kedusha to the point where their physical appearance changed.

Rav Eliyahu Lopian writes in Lev Eliyahu that when the Rav Simcha Zissel Broide, the Alter of Kelm, was sick near the end of his life, his complexion was pale and white as a ghost. However, from the moment Shabbos started his face became radiant and fiery red as if he were perfectly healthy. When Motza'ei Shabbos came, the radiance disappeared from his face and he became white and sickly looking once again.

Rav Shlomo Volbe tells a similar story about Rav Yerucham Levovitz, the famed Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva. There was talmid new to the yeshiva who thought that the yeshiva had one Mashgiach for the weekday and an even greater one for Shabbos. Only after a number of weeks went by did he finally understand that these two Mashgichim were both Rav Yerucham - only his face changed on Shabbos to the point where he was hard to recognize.

http://revach.net/shabbos/kodesh/Rav-Yeruchom-Levovitz-The-Shabbos-Mashgiach-And-Weekday- Mashgiach-Of-The-Mir-Yeshiva/3848

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Rav Yerucham Gives Rav Chatzkel Levenstein Advice In The Dark Of Night

Rav Chatzkel Levenstein z’tl was the mashgiach of the Mir yeshiva during WWII, when the entire yeshiva escaped to . Rav Chatzkel spoke constantly about emunah and bitachon, which was so necessary during that difficult and frightening time. He taught the talmidim to feel a palpable sense of emunah and bitachon at every moment.

At one point during the yeshiva’s sojourn in Shanghai, the city was being heavily bombed. It was suggested that the yeshiva leave the city and move to a town called Charvin. Rav Chatzkel opposed the move. Later, Rav Chatzkel revealed that Rav Yerucham Levovitz, his predecessor, had appeared to him in a dream, and spoke against the move.

The yeshiva stayed in Shanghai, despite the great danger, and the promise of a safer haven in Charvin. When that period of danger had passed, the yeshiva heard the news that Charvin had

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been bombed twice as much as Shanghai, and the city had suffered countless casualties. (Rav Yaakov Finklestein, former Mir talmid). http://revach.net/stories/story-corner/Reb-Yeruchom-Gives-Rav-Chatzkel-Levenstein-Advice-In-The- Dark-Of-Night/3270

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Rav Yerucham - Jews of Diamonds and Junk

Imagine a box full of gold and diamonds. Inside this box there is also straw and scraps of paper. If you were to ask someone what's in the box and he said straw and scraps of paper and then you opened it to see for yourself, what would you say about this person? Probably that he is off the wall! How can he say that the box has junk in it when it is full of priceless items? What kind of person sees only junk when there are valuable things inside. A normal person would not even relate to the junk but rather say it is a precious box of valuables, even if the junk is the overwhelming majority and only a few valuables are buried inside.

Similarly says Rav Yerucham the Mirrer Mashgiach, the gemara says (Eiruvin 19a) that every , even the worst sinners, are full of mitzvos like a pomegranate is full of seeds. If so, when talking or even thinking about another Jew, what fool can think of the bad in him? Are we completely blind to the priceless good deeds that he has done? In the face of those mitzvos, how ridiculous is it to even pay any attention the so called atrocities that he has committed? No matter what, he is still precious and we should look at him in a wise manner and stop being fools! (see LiSitcha Elyon, Parshas Vayeitzei - VaYizkor Elokin Es Rochel).

http://revach.net/avodah/ahavas-yisroel/Reb-Yeruchom-Jews-of-Diamonds-and-Junk/5173

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Yahrzeit 18 Sivan

Rav Yissacher Ber of Radoshitz Zt”l “The Saba Kadisha”

The Shameful Celebration

It takes a notable celebration indeed to override the prohibition against eating meat and drinking wine during the Nine Days (that begin the Jewish month of Av). For this period, at the end of the annual Three Weeks of Mourning which begin with the fast of the seventeenth of , culminates in the fast of the Ninth of Av, the anniversary of the destruction of both Temples. A notable celebration of this order under certain circumstances might be the festive meal that follows a circumcision or marks the conclusion of the study of an entire Talmudic tractate.

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It was the custom of Rav Yissacher Ber of Radoshitz to complete the study of a tractate in the gemara and to celebrate the occasion with a seudas complete with meat and wine every year on the fifth of Av - for this date is the anniversary of the passing of that giant among kabbalists, Rav Yitzchak Luria, the Arizal. And every year, in the midst of the gloom of the Nine Days, the Saba Kadisha ("Holy Grandfather") of Radoshitz would recount the same story to all the chassidim and students who had gathered for this festive meal. Here is the story:

In a faraway town there lived a man who used to sleep so much that he was nicknamed "the Sleeper." The month of Elul arrived in all its awe. Seeing the Days of Judgment within reach, every Jew alive trembled, and roused himself in repentance. But this fellow slept. It was already Rosh Hashanah; his wife rose early to join the congregation in prayer - but he slept on. When the morning service was underway she went home to nurse her baby. While there she tried to wake up her husband, but he neither budged nor stirred.

Several times throughout the morning she interrupted her prayers and stole away from the . Nothing helped. But when the congregation began the reading of the Torah, and time was running out before the high point of the days service, she ran home crying, and shouted at the top of her voice: "They're about to blow the shofar!"

He jumped out of bed in a flurry, grabbed some tattered garments strewn with feathers and threw it over his shoulders, bolted all the way to shul, and burst inside, puffing and panting, with slumber on his eyelids. The staid worshippers gaped at the comic spectacle. Some - and not only the children - even snickered. The poor fellow felt so disgraced and humiliated that his burning shame flew up and appeared before the Heavenly Court. The verdict was pronounced forthwith: having been seared and cleansed by his shame, this humble Jew was now to have all his sins forgiven.

"So too with us," concluded the Saba Kadisha. "Here we are, in the depths of this period of mourning over the destruction of the beis hamikdash, sitting down to a festive meal. Why, this is such a shameful thing that on its account the Merciful one should forgive the sins of the entire House of !"

And with this plea from the heart, the tzaddik wept so profusely that his tears fell into the wine goblet over which, in preparation for the Grace after Meals, he was about to recite the Psalm which laments the Exile: "By the waters of Babylon we sat, yea, we wept, when we remember Zion…."

Source: Reb Yerachmiel Tilles from "A Treasury of Chassidic Tales" (Artscroll)

Biography

Rav Yissacher Dov [1765-18 Sivan 1843], the "Sava Kadisha" (holy grandfather) of Radoshitz, was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin and of the Holy Yid of . Famed as a miracle maker, he lived in poverty as a simple tutor. http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=714-48

Ticking Closer

Tisha b'Av, 1815. The "Chozeh - Seer" of Lublin had passed away. All of his chassidim were grief-stricken, and his son, Rav Yosef ('Yossele') of Torchin, most of all. Page 17 of 24

Weeks later, the time came to apportion his worldly possessions. His silken Shabbos garments, his belt, and the clock that always hung on his wall - these fell to the lot of his son, who in his own right was known as a man of great righteousness.

More weeks went by. Finally the Torchiner was able to tear himself away from Lublin, in order to move on with his life. On his way home, such a heavy rain pelted down that his wagon could not struggle along any further. Soaked to the bone and chilled, he was forced to seek refuge at the first welcoming shelter that he could find. The villager was very hospitable and took him in, built a warm fire, offered him a warm drink, and something with which to cover himself in his discomfort. He spent the night there…and then another day and night as the storm continued in its fury.

When the weather finally cleared some days later, the host requested some payment for the lodgings and food. "I haven't got a solitary coin in my pocket," explained Rav Yosef, "but I do have a number of sacred possessions. Perhaps there is something here that would be of value to you."

He opened up his sack and displayed his treasured inheritance on the table, inviting the villager to choose an object for the value required. The man was no chassid, and none of these things meant anything to him. He turned to his wife for advice, and she replied: "The clothes are of no use to us; neither is the belt. The clock, though, could be useful: every morning it'll tell us what time to milk the cow."

So they took the clock in settlement of the debt, and the son of the "Seer" left and continued on his way.

Years later, another tzaddik passed through that village. This was Rav Yissacher Dov, the Sava Kadisha of Radoshitz, one of the Seer's esteemed chassidim, and now a Rebbe in his own right with many followers. Because of the late hour, he too spent the night at the house of the same hospitable couple, -- in fact, in the very room in which that clock hung. But he did not sleep a wink. Instead he danced and sang all the night through.

Early in the morning his host, who himself had not slept a wink because of the tumult, knocked on the door of the guest room and asked the tzaddik what had made him so joyful that he sang and danced the whole night.

The Rebbe answered with a question: "Please tell me, where did you get the clock that is in the room I stayed in?" The villager explained that he had received it in lieu of payment from a man who had no money. The Radoshitzer then asked him what this traveler looked like. "Aha! I thought so," he exclaimed after hearing the description.

"As soon as I heard this clock tick," explained the Sava Kadisha, "I could tell that it had belonged to our master, the tzaddik of Lublin. You see, with every clock in the world, each tick signifies another second of life gone, spent, never again to be claimed. Every hour chimes the message to its owner that he is one hour nearer to his passing.

"Now this is, to be sure, an important message - but the fact is that its sound is melancholy. However, the clock of our Master, the Seer of Lublin is different. I remember it well from his room. It ticks always exultantly, and tells those who listen that we are one second, one minute, one hour closer to redemption one minute nearer to the coming of the Mashiach!

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"Even though I was exhausted when I arrived and wanted to sleep, I couldn't. The tick-tock of the Rebbe's clock is marching us towards the Redemption, so of course I was too happy to sleep, and I danced all night instead."

Source: Reb Yerachmiel Tilles from "A Treasury of Chassidic Tales" (Artscroll)

http://www.ascentofsafed.com/Stories/Stories/5771/705-39.html

The Tefillah of the Noam Elimelech

The Sava Kadisha of Radoshitz, in his sefer, Niflaos (vol. 1, pp. 21–22), recorded an amazing story about the formulation of the Noam Elimelech’s “Prayer Before Praying.” The story goes like this:

When he was a child, the Sava Kadisha was once visiting Rebbe Reb . He was conversing with chassidim from the Rebbe’s inner circle in front of the Rebbe’s home when several extremely tall men came and hurried into the house. When they reached the doorway, they had to stoop down to enter since they were so unusually tall. The holy Rebbe closed the door behind them before the chassidim could catch a glimpse of their faces. They waited outside until the visitors left to see if they could recognize them. Again, the chassidim were astonished when the men left. They did so in such a hurry that they could not make out the men’s features and just saw their backs; they left so fast they almost vanished. The chassidim realized that something unusual had just taken place, and they decided to investigate and find out what had occurred.

The elder chassidim among them approached the Rebbe and asked him to explain the strange incident. This is what the Rebbe told them:

“When I realized that most people cannot concentrate properly on their prayers anymore due to the awesome burdens of earning a livelihood, and they lack the time and the understanding to concentrate fully, I decided to rewrite the standard formula for the prayers. I would write a new, short and concise version that would be equally understood and grasped by everyone.

“The holy Members of the Great Assembly, the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah (the original authors of the standard prayers from the time of the Talmud), realized what I intended. They came here to ask me not to change even one prayer from their established formula. I took their counsel and discussed the matter with them. They advised me to establish a prayer to pray before the formal prayer service. This would help anyone who lacks the concentration and proper devotions that are necessary for all formal prayers.” This “prayer before prayers” is the Yehi Ratzon prayer printed in many siddurim in the name of Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk. (MiPenieni Noam Elimelech, page 315).

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Once, a chassid came to the Sava Kadisha and complained that he’s not earning a living - no matter how hard he tries. The Radoshiter asked the chassid, “Do you say the tachnun prayers every day?” The chassid replied, “No.” Elucidated the Rebbe that this precisely was the problem. People are lax with the tachnun prayers and it is a great segulah for parnasa. He further advised that if he’ll recite the tachnun prayers for the amount of days he missed saying it – then his mazel will change and he will earn a nice living. And so it was. Page 19 of 24

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Yahrzeit 22 Sivan

Rav Isamar Rosenbaum Zt”l Nadvorna Rebbe of Czernowitz

The Violin

Rav Mordechai’leh of Nadvorna used to play the violin. He taught his descendants that they too should attempt to learn and study its secrets explaining that “When Mashiach comes, who then shall play in his honor and add music to his welcoming ceremony? Chaim’el Klezemer? Or a tzaddik such as one of ourselves - if we might have such a merit?!”

His son Rav Meir of Kretshnif said before his passing that Rav Issamar, his son, would be the best successor to inherit the violin however he would not change the family custom from drawing lots. And so when Rav Meir passed on and there was a lottery drawn among his holy sons for his holy possessions, the violin did indeed fall to Rav Issamar. Rav Issamar used to play the violin only a few times a year at auspicious times such as Lag BaOmer, Chanukah and at family simchas. On these occasions he played the well-known Nadvorna Niggunim for Echad Yachud uMeyuchad as well as Yedid Nefesh and Bar Yochai on Lag BaOmer. He was once asked if he only played a few times a year and never practiced how did he learn and know how to play, he answered that when his father Rav Meir of Kretshnif once played those niggunim to him and said, “see that’s how you play the violin,” he acquired the knowledge right then and there on the spot and never needed to practice again!

Once he had moved to Czernowitz and later when the accursed Nazis began their rampage, his home was miraculously spared their wrath from searching and pillaging. One day, the precious violin vanished. My Rebbe, the Clevelander of Raanana shlit”a was looking out the window a few days later and miraculously he spied the precious violin being hidden by an unknown thief beneath the haystack in his wagon. Immediately, upon hearing this Rav Issamar simply went outside, marched up to the amazed goy’s wagon, simply lifted the haystack pointed at the instrument and thundered “That is my violin!” So saying he took it and just marched back, the thief was too stunned to even utter a syllable!

The Miracle of the Young Czernowitzer Rebbe

There was a young Jewish woman who was married to a merchant just outside Czernowitz. Her custom was too hire a non-jewish wagon driver who would drive her wagon to and from town where she would purchase goods and wares that her husband would sell. One such day, the wagon driver she hired was too inexperienced to handle the horses properly and they began to tear down the main road in Czernowitz bearing down upon all passerby. People ran screaming for their lives as the horses hooves thundered and the wagon driver could not control them. One luckless young non- jewish boy failed to escape and he was killed.

The father realized he could scare and squeeze the Jews for their money - so he demanded day after day and week after week for money to compensate him for the loss of his child. His Page 20 of 24

demands grew and his threats were always the same, if they didn’t pay up he would go to the authorities and press charges for manslaughter; as it was the merchant’s wife’s fault since the wagon driver who lost control of the horses was her charge and she had hired him. Seeing as the extortion and ransom tactics never let up, the Jewish couple finally refused to pay the man, lest they would become destitute and penniless as his demands never let up.

He was true to his threats and he went to the authorities who drew up a case and set the court date to several weeks hence. The merchant and his wife went from lawyer to lawyer, however each one said there was no point and that the case would be surely decided in the favor of the father whose child was accidentally tragically killed and that the merchant’s wife would be imprisoned for a long sentence. The merchant went to his Rebbe, and he too could not offer help.

Finally the wife’s sister mentioned that a young man, a Rebbe, had just moved in to her apartment building and that he appeared to be a tzaddik and saintly pious individual, perhaps they should try him? Rav Issamar had only recently become a young Rebbe, at age seventeen, he had just moved to Czernowitz and had not yet built a beis midrash or home and was renting an apartment in the same building as this sister. The merchant’s wife heeded her sister’s advice and to her amazement the young Rebbe asked her all the details of the entire story, more than any lawyer had!

He then nodded his head and declared, “You have absolutely nothing to fear, this man will be dead and buried before you go to trial! Go home with a light heart.” She could not believe the good news. Next week, she came back to Czernowitz to search for one more lawyer just in case the young Rebbe’s beracha was too good to be true, but her sister told her the news, “Why are you here looking for a lawyer? Didn’t you hear that the goy died and was buried yesterday? He suddenly got a high fever, and before the doctor even arrived he was dead - the doctor had no choice but to simply establish his death!”

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Yahrzeit 23 Sivan

Rav Yehuda Assad Zt”l Head of Hungarian Jewry

The Holy Business Partner

A man once approached Rav Yehuda Assad for advice. "There is an old, run-down store in the downtown area of the city. I can get it a very reasonable price. I think that with my marketing skills I may be able to turn that location into a profitable venture. Do you think I should buy it?"

Rav Assad made a face. "I don't think that it would be prudent to enter that part of the city for a business venture." The man left somewhat dejected.

A few days later another man entered the Rav's study with the identical question about the same property. "There is an old, run-down store in the downtown area of the city. I can get it a very Page 21 of 24

reasonable price. I think that with my marketing skills, and of course with Hashem's help, I may be able to turn that location into a profitable venture. Do you think I should buy it?"

This time Rav Assad nodded in approval. "I think you should make a go of it. I have no doubts that it will be a success."

When word got out that the Rav was behind this new endeavor, the first man stormed into his study quite upset. "Why did you tell me not to buy the property and then tell my friend just the opposite?" he demanded.

"My dear student," answered the Rav, "there is a great difference. Your friend took in a partner. He said that with the help of Hashem he could make a go of it. When someone includes Hashem in his plans, I am sure that he will succeed!" http://www.torah.org/learning/drasha/5757/pekudei.html

The Five Angelic Rabbonim and their Mission

The Chasam Sofer decided that because of the changes brought about by the Reform movement, Orthodox Jews should create separate communities for themselves in Hungary. However, first it was necessary to receive royal approval for this. Therefore, the rabbonim sent a delegation of five of the most famous rabbonim and tzaddikim of Hungary to the Kaiser, Franz Josef. Among the delegation were Rav Yehudah Assad, the famous author of Yehudah Ya'aleh, Rav Akiva Yoseph, and his father-in-law, Rav Hillel of Kolomy. Rav Akiva Yoseph, in his sefer Bris Olam, relates that the night before their meeting with the Kaiser, he was lodging with his father-in- law. In the middle of the night he was awakened by Rav Hillel, who asked him, "Are you asleep?"

Rav Akiva Yoseph replied that he was awake.

"Do you see anything?" asked Rav Hillel of his son-in-law.

"No," came the answer. After a while Rav Hillel asked again, "Do you see anything?"

Again, Rav Akiva Yoseph replied, "No, I don't see anything."

After that, Rav Hillel woke him once again with the same question, and once again Rav Akiva Yoseph gave the same reply. But this time Rav Hillel explained, "I just saw the Chasam Sofer in a dream and he told me, "You have prayed well. Go to the Kaiser, and your mission will be successful."

The next morning the entire delegation went to the Kaiser's palace. They found all the gates open, with no guard or anyone else to stop them or ask them questions; so they walked right in to the palace grounds. The Kaiser was taking his morning stroll, wearing a simple house robe.

When the Kaiser saw them he exclaimed, "Five angels!"

The members of the delegation had removed their hats, as is customary when standing before a king. Rav Assad approached the king and said, "If His Majesty will allow it, I would like to

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put on my hat so that I can recite the blessing we say when we see a king." The Kaiser graciously answered, "Of course, but please wait a minute."

Then the Kaiser went into the palace and put on his crown, and afterwards Rav Assad and the others recited the beracha, "Who has imparted of His honor to flesh and blood." Afterwards the Kaiser asked them the purpose of their visit.

The rabbonim had originally planned that one of them, a student of the Chasam Sofer, would present their request; but now he found himself unable to open his mouth. The Kaiser realized that the young man was overcome with awe before him and therefore could not speak. He said, "Instead of speaking, just put your request in writing, and whatever you wish I will grant."

They immediately wrote their request, that the Kaiser give them the necessary recognition so that they could function as a separate community with due legal authority.

The Kaiser took their request and, without even reading its contents, folded it. This was the royal sign that the request had been granted.

Afterwards, the Kaiser was about to take leave of his five guests, but first he asked for a blessing from Rav Assad, who appeared to him as handsome as an angel. Rav Assad blessed him with a long life and a long and successful reign. It is known that the blessing was fulfilled, for the Kaiser was still reigning at the age of eighty-four.

When they left the Kaiser, they met the palace director, who was astonished to discover that five strangers had entered the palace without any hindrance. He asked them, "How did you enter without permission?"

They answered, "No, we are not entering. We are leaving."

Upon hearing this he was so astonished that he simply walked away.

(She’al Avicha Veyagedcha I, page 85)

https://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/feinhandler/children/archives/korach.htm

What Do You Eat, Round Matza & Square Matza?

Rav Yehuda Assad was makpid to eat only round matza - just like the matza that was eaten in Mitzrayim. "Vayofu Es Habatzek... Ugos Matzos" (Bo 12:39) means round matzos, as in Choni HaMi'agel who stood in a circle. “It was not for nothing that the Torah writes that the matzos were round”, says Rav Yehuda Assad.

He gives a number of reasons. The matza is Lechem Oni, the bread of poverty and the circle symbolizes the "Galgal HaChozer BaOlam" poverty and wealth runs in cycles. Also the Mitzrim ate bread with three or four corners to represent the multiple gods that they worshipped. Therefore bnei yisroel were commanded to bake round matzos.

http://www.revach.net/dafyomi/article.php?id=3551

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והבוטח בה' חסד יסובבנהו!!!

With blessings for a peaceful and meaningful Shabbos.

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Me'Oros Ha'Tzaddikim is a weekly publication with the same format – A vort or two from the Kedushas Levi on the weekly parsha, an interconnected story of the Berditchever Rav, upcoming yahrzeits of Tzaddikim for the following week and a related story on one of those Tzaddikim. We hope you enjoy and feel free to distribute it to others. Dedications (and free subscriptions) are available. Please email: [email protected]

Me’Oros Ha’Tzaddikim was written by Rav Tal Moshe Zwecker who has published a translation of the Noam Elimelech into English, a collection of essays on Teshuva titled Returnity, The Way Back to Eternity and a collection of essays on . He hopes to publish the Kedushas Levi in English, as well as collection of essays on Pirkei Avos with a chassidic commentary and many more projects soon. A Noam Elimelech sequel is in the works as well as several collections on Simcha, Emuna & Bitachon, Torah & Tefillah are all on the way so stay tuned. He currently resides in Ramat Bet Shemesh, Israel with his wife and children. He can be reached at [email protected]

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