The Redeemer Is Coming

Click here for Hebrew text.

The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Abraham Of Ciechanow (1789-1875) is commemorated on the 5th of Adar (I). The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)

Newly Composed Lament

For Rabbi Abraham of Tchechnov, on Tisha B’Av, it was usual to come to the synagogue holding a newly composed Kinah / Lament. He would recite the Kinnot (and also the new one) and after he finished, he would toss the new “Kinah” into a box under the Bimah. When asked to explain this practice of his, he said:

“Behold, I am confident that in the course of the year the Goel / redeemer should be coming and so it will no longer be necessary to say Kinnot.”

(Jewish Customs, “Annals” Volume 1)

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