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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Gershon Chanoch Leiner of Radzin (1839-1891) is commemorated on the 4th of Tevet. The following praise of his works appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

Gedolim Among Endorsers for “Sidrei Taharot”

Rabbi Yosef Saul Nathanson of Lvov:

“Truth will out, a thing of truth, that it was in my winter days and, just as with the author, so there arose in my heart something as the author has accomplished and the idea left its mark on me, impressions about all the lost gemara of Masechet Keilim. To truly attest, many troubles  surrounded my attempts and also I had seen in stories in praise of my ancestor the Gaon Maharal of Prague z’l that he also established a reconstruction like this; but his was lost in a fire, a setback. However in my heart the teachings were inaccessible, who would would give them back? And it was a man of valour who knew to arrange a great collection of related material like this — good will come forth from this for Beit Yisrael and, all of Israel will be blessed by it. Now it has happened and I see that the aforementioned Rav the Gaon has made  his heart ready and worked and did this great collection.”

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Gedalia of Linitz z‘l (d. 1784) is commemorated on the 29th of Kislev. The following praise of his works appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev on His Writings

When the son of the Rav, the author, (i.e., he, who brings into view the hidden light, renowned elder, religious authority and righteous teacher of our community, the holy congregation of Linitz, may his Rock preserve him), showed these writings, to our teacher the Rav Levi Yitzchak, (ztzvk’l, the holy Rav, the Gaon, the renowned one, luminary of the exile, the religious authority and righteous teacher of the holy congregation of Berditchev, may his Rock  preserve him), Reb Levi Yitzchak said:

“Many people will not be able to discern the intent of the Rav, the author (z’l), because of his profundity. And if after the careful reading of all this, it seems that something was incorrect in its section, in all the cases it will have been justified by the Rav, the author, in another place and he will have suspended the doubt with his explanation, for while his intent might have been stated briefly, containing little, it was so that the words would receive exactly that which the Rav intended to place in them.”

(In the introduction of Reb Yehudah Leib of Linitz on “Yields of Grace”)

Dear Friends: The following is transcribed from Reb Zalman’s talk last week at Nevei Kodesh, which was also broadcast on the internet (and is still available for download). In it, Reb Zalman references the updating of liturgy which has happened as part of Jewish Renewal in our time:

“Very soon we are going to have Thanksgiving and when you sit after you eat a wonderful meal, you really need to do THANKS-giving and do birkhat hamazon and bentsch afterwards.

“In Birkat Hamazon, we include on special holidays Yaaleh v’yavo to say, ‘And we thank you,’ for Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, for Rosh Chodesh; sometimes we say we thank you for Hanukkah, for Purim.

“So, I wrote one, ‘I thank You’ for Thanksgiving and it would be good to have it when you have a Thanksgiving dinner so you can really do the bentschen including that which has become for us a source of THANKSgiving.”

And here are links to the updates Reb Zalman has provided:

For Hanukkah: על הניסים / Al Hanissim and מעוז צור / Maoz Tzur

For Thanksgiving: a Birkhat Hamazon insert and an Amidah Insert

In addition, here is a transcription of a portion of Reb Zalman’s talk from last week, (good yom tov!):

Thank you, Nevei Kodesh! You give me an opportunity to witness:

It was last week that I was able to give you the witness of how I understand where we came from. At the end of the time I didn’t have a chance to speak enough about where we are today so I need to begin with where we are today, what is our achievement and what do we look forward to.

So many of the things that we have engendered are already being emulated, copied, redone, (as it were), by other people.

I have to begin with a witness about davenology:

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Chayyim Tirar of Chernowitz z‘l (1760-1817) is commemorated on the 27th of Kislev. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

The Besh’t Arrives to Heal Rabbi Chayyim

Once, the Rav, the holy Gaon, Rabbi Chayyim Ztz‘l, head of the Court of Chernowitz was very sick.

For a long while, he was bed-ridden with his sickness until, finally, the doctors gave up all hope for him.

After three days of just laying there without opening his eyes or making a sound, all of a sudden, he lifted his head, sat up in bed and shouted aloud: “Oy, oy!” startling the people in the house.

One approached him and asked: “Rabbi, what are you shouting about?”

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The Yahrzeit of Reb Meshullam Feibush Heller of Zbarazh z‘l (d. 1794) is commemorated on the 20th of Kislev. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

He Checked Himself

One time, he was fascinated and gripped by a thought that arose in his mind to lay Shimusha Rabba Tefillin.

However, it was his way in holiness to be extremely deliberate with every single thing and to get himself really clear about it, so that he might take hold of it and separate for himself the evil from the good before reaching his decision whether to do it.

After a time ruminating, he had smoothed out the rough spots of the matter, assessed the pros and cons and, he made up his mind that he would not lay Shimusha Rabba Tefillin, for he said:

“Why does the thought of laying these Tefillin burn in my kishkas like a fire? Is it merely due to the holiness of the commandment?

“But were it only the holiness of the commandment itself that moved me so, then the question arises: Why do I not also feel such a burning about laying Tefillin of Rashi or Rabbeinu Tam which is an important commandment about which all authorities agree?

“But I did not feel the burning with these.

“So then, this must, rather, surely be a strange fire.”

And so he checked himself and did not lay Shimusha Rabba Tefillin.

(New Order of the Generations)

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Dov Ber “Maggid” of Mezeritch z‘l (1710?-1772) is commemorated on the 19th of Kislev. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

He Is Serving Hashem

Rabbi Dov Ber was destitute; his house lacked everything. His well-learned wife kvetched about it but, he did not pay heed to her words.

There was one time when she especially bugged him — and the Maggid groaned a heart-rending sigh.

A Bat Kol came forth from the heavens and declared:

“Dov Ber, because you have groaned regarding your severe circumstances, you have lost your portion in Olam Haba.”

Rabbi Dov Ber was happy to hear this, and he called out:

“Henceforth my serving of Hashem will not be in order to receive a reward.”

A Bat Kol again came forth from the heavens and declared:

“Dov Ber, you’ve restored for yourself your portion in Olam Haba.”

(From the mouth of Chasidim.)

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Baruch of Medzhibozh z‘l (1753-1811) is commemorated on the 18th of Kislev. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

The Baba Kama Acrostic

It was a Simchat Torah celebration, and the close inner circle of disciples of our master, the Baal Shem Tov, (may his merit shield us), were making merry and dancing in a circle. The energy of Shechinah glowed all around them.

In the middle of the circle, the shoe of one of the Chevrah tore, and because of this, it was just not possible for him to dance with the Chevrah; to revel in the joy of this mitzvah and, he regretted this greatly.

A voice called to him. It was the righteous Udel, daughter of the Besh‘t (a‘h) for, she had been watching their rejoicing and their holy passion from the side. She said to him that if he gave his word that she would, with surety, give birth that very year to a male child, without hesitation, she would give him a good pair of shoes. He gave her his word that, without a doubt, she would give birth that very year to a male child.

And so it came to pass: In that year our holy Rabbi, the Rabbi Reb Baruch (may his merit shield us) was born.

During the time when he was still in his youth, it was truly clear that he had been made for greatness.

When he reached the age to begin to study gemara, his grandfather, the Besht, asked him which Masechta he is studying, he answered him that he is studying Baba Kama. The Baal Shem Tov asked further from what commentary of Baba Kama are you learning, he answered: Baba Kama acrostic:

ב’רוך ב’ן א’דיל ק’דוש מ’בטן א’מו / B‘aruch B‘en U‘del K‘adosh M‘ibeten I‘mo / Baruch son of Udel holy from birth! (Lit., from the womb of his mother)

(The Total Enlightener, page 8).

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The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham Dov of Avrutch z‘l (1760-1840) is commemorated on the 12th of Kislev. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

Montefiore’s Secretary Visits him in Safed

“On Shabbos, I was summoned to the table of the Rav Rabbi Avraham Dov. This man is one of the most precious sages I have ever seen in my days.

“He wasn’t satisfied to just serve as ministering Rav of the Congregation (with no thought of being paid through the community’s coffers); it was more important in his eyes to distribute everything that he had in his possession to the poor of his people.

“From ten to fifteen people are eating at his table every day..

“The passion that burned in these people in singing Shabbos songs was, on their parts, a testimony that from the depths of their hearts, the music flowed forth with conviction and with purity.”

— From Reb Eliezer Halevi in his letter from 13 Tammuz 5598 (1838).

(“Holy of Holies” of M.A. Ginsberg)

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The Yahrzeit of Reb DovBer of Lubavitch (“Mittler”) z‘l (1773-1827) is commemorated on the 9th of Kislev. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

He Saw It Coming From the Start

Rabbeinu Hagadol, Rabbi Schneur Zalman was yet alive and, it was the time when his son Rabbi Dov Ber was still great friends with Rabbi Aaron HaLevi, each one appreciating the other. They once came walking tightly bonded, hugging, pressed together on the other side of a window with Rabbeinu and one of the hasidim standing in a room where they could witness this affection, and the Hasid said to Rabbeinu: “Like Chochmah and Binah, they are two lovers who will not be separated.”  Rabbeinu said to him, “Halevay that they will not be separated, would it were so that they will not.”

(Beit Rabbi section 2.)

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The Yahrzeit of Rebbe Zvi Hirsh of Riminov z‘l (1778-1846) is commemorated on the 30th of Cheshvan. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

When He Was Insulted

As it happened, our teacher, Menachem Mendel of Riminov used to send inspectors each erev Rosh Chodesh to all the businesses in their town to examine the measures and scales to ensure whether they were fair as we are so commanded in the Torah.

It happened that one time when he sent his servant, the holy master Rabbi Zvi Hirsh Hakohen along with one other to inspect the measures and the scales,  in the store of one wealthy merchant, (a man who we might describe as a well-educated “scoundrel”), there was a defective measure and, they chastised him over this.

But he answered them that, as he understood the law, although the measures may have been off, he was still in compliance with the law because no measure was needed in this particular case.

Rabbi Zvi Hirsh said to him,

“As illustrated by the example which deals with a basket of grapes, doesn’t the law explain that accurate measurement is so critical that, even if there is just the possibility of being slightly off, one may not leave it in the store but rather, one must place the grapes under the heels of his feet and trample them?”

The rich man answered him in insolence:

“‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’

“Is Tzvi Hersh also known as an authority of Torah law?”

And they went away.

When they returned to our teacher the Rav Menachem Mendel, he asked the Rav, Rabbi Zvi Hirsh whether the scales had been found proper from a Torah perspective. Rabbi Zvi Hirsh replied, “Yes, everything proper,” for, in his sense of propriety he did not want to report on the particular rich person that he had not been treated with respect, because his master had a characteristic of severe harshness when it came to handing out punishments.

Of course, his plan didn’t work because shortly thereafter, our teacher, Reb Menachem Mendel, asked the one who had accompanied Rabbi Zvi Hirsh: “How did it go with the inspection of the weights,” and he told him of the whole business.

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