Divrei Chaim's Avodah in D'zikov

Once, Reb Chaim Halberstam, the Divrei Chaim, traveled to see Reb Eliezer of D'zikov. On the way, as he was passing through a certain village, he was recognized, and called into a house to be sandak (G-d-father) at a bris, right there on the spot. He accepted, and was led into the house. The father was very excited by his guest, and during the course of the seudah (celebratory meal), he went down to the cellar to fetch one of his best bottles of aged wine in Reb Chaim's honor. He poured a small cup for Reb Chaim, warning him that it was particularly potent and strong, but Reb Chaim drank cup after cup, after cup. All of the householder's protestations that he cease drinking for his own good went unheeded until Reb Chaim finished the entire bottle of wine. He begged Reb Chaim not to travel to D'zikov in his condition, but rather to sleep off some of the wine at his home. Reb Chaim payed his words no heed, and immediately resumed his journey.

When he reached D'zikov he decided to stop by his achsanya (host) before meeting Reb Eliezer. He was at least able to recognize that in his inebriated state he would not be able to meet with Reb Eliezer in holiness and purity, and so he sent his shamash (attendant) to the home of Reb Eliezer to explain that he had been to a seudas bris, had drank too much wine and so on, and that it was now difficult for him to come right away upon entering the city. When Reb Eliezer heard these words he immediately got up, and went out to greet Reb Chaim at the home of his achsanya. After a cordial meeting, Reb Chaim offered to accompany Reb Eliezer back to his home. He would not have it any other way. Reb Chaim's shamash then went back to sleep by the achsanya. But it occurred to him that it may have not been the best idea to leave him alone with Reb Eliezer in this situation. After all, Reb Eliezer was old and weak, as well. He hurried to the house, but before he got to the door, he saw Reb Eliezer hanging out of the window, gesturing to him to go back to the achsanya.

It was morning, and as the shamash returned to the home, he caught eye of Reb Chaim reciting krias shema (prayer proclaiming the name of G-d as One) by the mezuzah. Said Reb Eliezer to the shamash: "certainly, you think that he's reciting krias shema of shacharis (morning prayer). That's not the case. Rather, last night he began reciting krias shema al hamitah (the shema before bed), and he's still on the pasuk Shema Yisrael (the initial verse)." Reb Eliezer - or anyone else hearing this story presumably - could not believe that after drinking an entire bottle of strong wine, he had the strength to stand six hours on the first pasuk of krias shema!

Bobov Purim Night Tish 2011

I taped this on Purim night at Bobov. The tish during the day is about ten times as big as this.

This Week's Funeral of the Fogel Family - Stabbed to Death by Terrorists

Dveikus Niggun of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech

Groping in the Light

This morning we read: "Lo seva'aru eish b'chol moshvoseichem b'yom haShabbas. You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath (Vayikra 35:3)." And so, the following mai'sah of Reb Nachum of Chernobyl.

Reb Nachum was a guest of the father of Reb Moshe of Savran for shabbos. It was the custom of the household to light a long candle before sunset so that if anyone wanted to learn before daybreak he could do so by light. A little after midnight, those in the house were awoken by a noise. They got out of their beds to see Reb Nachum groping as if it were pitch dark. Afraid that he was going to hurt himself, they asked if there was any trouble. He asked why the overnight candle had not been lit. Those around him were astonished, but later found out that the candle had gone out at some point, and had been re-lit by the non-Jewish maid. And since the candle had been lit on shabbos the tzaddik was not able to see its light.

Rav Shimon Shkop in Montreal

Rav Shimon Shkop (1860-1939) was the outstanding Rosh Yeshiva of yeshivos Telz and Grodno. Based on the talmudic methods of his mentors, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik and the Netziv, he synthesized his own method resulting in the deep and penetrating analysis of Rav Chaim with the straightforwardness and clarity of the Netziv. He embarked on fund-raising assignments for the yeshivos in England, Canada (as we shall see), and the United States. While in the States he stopped by Yeshiva University to deliver a lecture. He was so well received that he was asked to come onto the faculty as Rosh Yeshiva. After repeated attempts to get him to relocate to the States he finally acceded in 1928, and did in fact become Rosh Yeshiva of YU Rav Isaac Elchonon Theological Seminary (this is what they don't want you to know!). He did though return to Europe after heavy criticism from leading Rabbonim. Rav Zelig Epstein, a grandson-in-law, later succeeded him as Rosh Yeshiva Grodno in the American branch of the yeshiva (which happens to be right around the block from where I am sitting and typing these words). Rav Zelig Epstien was niftar two years ago.

Rav Shimon Shkop (L) with Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (R)

Rav Shimon Shkop had traveled to Montreal to raise money for the yeshiva. He stayed at the home of a certain wealthy man, who was known for his generous contributions to worthwhile causes. When he arrived on this particular occasion he found his usually magnanimous host in joylessness and frustration. He had conveyed to Rav Shkop that great trouble had loomed for him and his family. As his family grew it became apparent that more room was needed for the children and more space was also needed for a larger meeting hall for community activities which the man hosted on a weekly basis. An addition was built onto the side of the house, but it was found out later that the addition extended a total of one foot onto the neighbor's property, a very petty amount considering that both him and his neighbor had ample property to begin with. The problem was that a malcontent kvetcher lived next door, and demanded that something be done about the extension. But it wasn't just "something" that she was after. Under Canadian law at the time, if an extension had been built onto another person's property, purposely or inadvertently, the law said that the encroached-upon property's owner had the right to tear down the entire house of the neighbor, and not merely the addition. And this was the case with the kvetcher. She demanded that the entire house be demolished. Rav Shkop's host and his lawyer first fought with the old woman. They screamed and they yelled. He then tried entreating her, but she was not moved. He brought her flowers, then chocolates, and increasingly lavish gifts. And then their was more yelling.

Finally, upon Rav Shkop's visit, he asked him for an eitza (advice). Surely, Rav Shkop could think up some sort of solution. And this is what Rav Shkop had to say: "Go to shul. Go as quickly as possible the next time the Torah will be taken out. Make sure you're called up for an aliyah (to be called up to the Torah to make a blessing). Afterward, go with your lawyer to speak with the woman one more time." Was that all? Would getting an aliyah save his house from being demolished? The next morning, Monday, he went to shul, and requested an aliyah from the gabbai. He called his lawyer after minyan, and the two rushed to the stubborn woman's house next door. And the man said to her, pleadingly, "this is the last time; I promise you that this is the last time I will bother you about the house. Please, PLEASE don't let the city tear down my home. It's only one foot of land. I'll cut away at the extension if you would like, but please not the entire home." The woman, now confused, looked him in the eye, and said, "tear down your house? Why would I want to tear down your house? Who would be such a miserable person to tear down a neighbor's entire home over a disputed foot of land? Please do as you like. It's all right by me." The man and his lawyer were flabbergasted. They offered the woman a polite "thank you" and practically tip-toed out of the house in fear that she might regain her senses and retract her words.

The two, elated, went back to Rav Shko Rav Shkop for some clarity. After all, the woman had been adamant for months about tearing down the house. It just didn't make any sense. Rav Shkop explained, "it is brought down in the mishna berurah that the person getting an aliyah should follow along with the ba'al koreh (Torah reader) by actually looking down onto the claf (parchment). One should also look into the Torah, close enough that he sees the osiyos (letters) during hagbah (the lifting of the Torah). During an aliyah, however, he sees the osiyos up close, and this brings him a special zechus. In addition, there is a special light that emanates from the Torah, and when one looks into the Torah he becomes infused with this light. You went to the woman's house almost directly after becoming infused with this light, and when she looked into your face, the radiance of the light touched her soul, and this woman who was formerly irrational, unreasonable, foolish and absurd, now became levelheaded, sensible, reasonable and decent. And this is how she came to change her mind."

This story became famous throughout the Jewish community of Montreal, and also among the family of Rav Shkop. The story is still told today by members of the family of Rav Zelig Epstein and other grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Rav Shkop.

Bobov Wedding 45 st. 1/24/11