He Seriously Prays
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The Yahrzeit of Reb Dovid Moshe of Tchortkov z‘l (1827-1903) is commemorated on the 21st of Tishrei. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)
Of His Ways
Three things that have brought something about with the Master of the Universe:
- That one moves not even a limb unless he keeps in his awareness the intention to bring about unifications [of higher and lower worlds and the letters YH and VH] whenever he undertakes any action with any limb.
- That one loves one’s fellow Jews.
- That everyone to whom God has given wealth is sympathetic to those who suffer, (though the latter may be from the ends of the earth) and immediately takes actions [to support the latter through his funds].
One time he said that he had been freed from the confines of his body and, he had been able to bring something about with God, “That whether we are speaking of eating or not eating, whether we are speaking of sleeping or not sleeping, that with him, they were exactly the same”.
Oftentimes, he would rapidly pace about in his room for uninterrupted, continuous hours in prayer on behalf of those who loved him and who relied upon his counsel.
One time it happened that several sleepless nights passed by in which he hadn’t stopped to rest even for a single moment. Eventually, the people of his house reached a point of extreme concerned for his health.
One friend pushed himself through the door and entered his room although, our master didn’t sense his presence. And with sighs, the Rabbi just kept pacing from corner to corner continuously.
When the dawn began to break, the friend turned to him and said:
“Our master! Already, several nights have passed without your sleeping. Perhaps our master might want a short rest?”
Our master, our teacher stood just a few seconds to answer:
“For you, it is an easy thing to say to rest a short while, but for me, what should I do, after it happened that a person came to me who didn’t know [what to do], and with his having taken counsel in my soul, what is there to do for him [other than my taking it up with God?] How can I find rest [and also take care of this one]?”
(The Tiferet of man)