He Gave It All To The Poor
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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)