The Rebbe's Baal Teshuvah

Reaching out to someone in a bad place can sometimes cost you your own well-being and integrity. Whether it's in kiruv, counseling or just listening to a friend's fears and worries, one has to know to what extent he is willing to put himself at risk. In this shiur, the Rebbe, shlit"a, speaks about this question, and in the process, recounts two stories, one from the Baal Hatanya and one from the Rebbe Reb Motele.

What Simcha Can Achieve

A scene from present-day Mezritch.

Yesterday between Mincha and Maariv, the Rebbe told the following story:

The Baal Hatanya once wrote a letter to Reb Zish of Anipoli, addressing him as "HaGaon", meaning the "Torah genius". The Baal Hatanya's chassidim wondered: While Reb Zisha was a great tzadik and servant of the Almighty, he was hardly known for his great genius in learning. In fact, Reb Zisha rarely said divrei Torah at all. Why would the Baal Hatanya write a title like that regarding Reb Zisha?

Shabbos Shira: Sing During the Galus

For Parshas B'Shalach, here is a story and vort that I have heard numerous times from the Rebbe about his father-in-law, HaRav Yisroel Avrohom Stein, Rav of Faltichan, Romania:

Kever Rochel and One-of-a-kind Necklaces

For illustrative purposes only.

On Erev Rosh Chodesh, the Rebbe, shlit"a, and a few chevra went to Kever Rochel. After reciting Tehilim, the Rebbe told a beautiful and inspiring story about a girl's reunion with her father after many years.

 Each one of us has a special necklace, a jewel, that Hashem gave to us - there is none other like it in the world. Our neshama, no matter how far we may be, is proof that we are our Father's children. In the Rebbe's words, "It is time for Him to bring us back home." You will not regret the next six minutes.

Vach Nacht Story and Maamer

Last night, Reb Shulem Horowitz (Rav Bentzion's son-in-law) made a Vach Nacht and tonight is the Vach Nacht for Reb Shloime Schapira's new yingaleh in Eretz Yisroel. Seeing as how it is inyanei d'yoma, here is a story that the Rebbe Reb Motele used to tell on a Vach Nacht. It is printed in a sefer called Zechus Avos. There it is related that the heiliger Rizhiner used this story to help a woman in a difficult labor and Reb Motele held it as a segulah for the night before the bris. VIEW PDF

And while we're at it, here is a maamer from Reb Motele, said at a Vach Nacht seudah. VIEW PDF

Chanukah: A Time for Prayer

Rebbe Shloime Bobover (I)

That one should take advantage of the auspicious time of Chanukah lighting to daven for one's children, is aptly illustrated by the following story (as heard from Rav Bentzion Twerski):

Once, when the Rebbetzin Devorah Leah was a young child of five, she came in to the room where her saintly grandfather, the first Rebbe Shloimeh of Bobov, was lighting the Chanukah menorah.

"Zeide, why are you crying?"

"I'm davening that you should have a good husband."

The next night she came in and found her grandfather crying by the menorah again.

"Zeide, why are crying tonight?"

"I'm davening that you should have good children."

Such were the kavannos of the great tzadikim - always thinking of the future generations.

Yom Kippur with the Rebbe, ztz"l

Below is another excerpt from Generation to Generation describing Yom Kippur with the Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Yisroel, ztz"l.

The day before Yom Kippur, at the morning meal, Father would sing the ‘portion of the Selichot (prayer for forgiveness) services for that day. The melody penetrated every crevice in one’s soul, and brought one to a profound state of atonement.

A Lesson in Exchange

Here is an excerpt from Reb Sheya's book, Generation to Generation:

Before Yom Kippur, there is a traditional ritual of "kapporos," or "exchange." Essentially, the person seeking forgiveness is given to understand that in his defying Divine will by committing transgressions, he has forfeited his right to life. However, he is permitted to offer an "exchange" for his life by having a chicken slaughtered in his stead. The apparent rationale for this is that rather than the concept of capital punishment being a total abstraction, the penitent sees his penalty carried out in actuality on a lower form of life, and this should help him recognize the gravity of his transgression. The chicken is then given away to the needy.

One of the disciples of Rebbe Elimelich came to the Master before Yom Kippur, asking for a more profound understanding of the “kapporos” ritual. “I cannot help you," Rebbe Elimelich said, ”but if you will go to the inn in the nearby village, the innkeeper may be able to instruct you in the concept of ‘exchange.’

Yahrtzeit Highlights (Elul 22 5771)

The Rebbe Reb Motele Hornosteipeler, zy"a

The oilam got together at the home of Rav Bentzion for a seudah in honor of the yahrtzeit of the Rebbe Reb Motele, zy"a. (Pictures in the extended article.)

The Rebbe Stronger Than a Cossack

(from Ascent of Safed)

R' Mordechai Dov of Hornsteipel fell ill with a violent cough. He went to consult doctors in the city of Kiev, and was told that it would be necessary to sear one spot on his body with a burning-hot lance. The doctors told him in advance that the treatment was extremely painful; so painful, in fact, that the patient had to be tied to a chair in order not to move during the process.

Saved at the Mikveh (from Heichal Hanegina)

Story number three (see the other two in the two most previous posts), culled from the vast archives of stories on Heichal Hanegina. Adapted from "Not Just Stories" and "HaAdmorim L'Beit Sanz" by "yitz" of Heichal Hanegina.

SAVED AT THE MIKVA

Young Mordechai Dov seems to have been fascinated with mikvaot. Already thoroughly learned in the entire Talmud, at the tender age of eighteen he wrote his first sefer, "Chibur LeTahara" ["Connection / Author's Work of Purity"] on the Laws of Mikvaot and Netilat Yadayim, ritual immersion and washing of the hands. Even earlier, on the evening of his wedding [at age 15!], the Mechutanim, Rebbe Chaim of Sanz and Rebbe Yaakov Yisrael of Cherkasse, accompanied young Mordechai Dov to the mikva to watch him tovel [immerse in the water], remarking, "A tevila like this we've never seen!" However, the following event happened even earlier, but first we need an introduction, from Rabbi Avraham Twerski [a descendant of the Hornesteipel Rebbe]:

A Bracha for...a Theif? (from Heichal Hanegina)

In honor of the great yahrtzeit, here is a second story, adapted by the wonderful blog, Heichal Hanegina, from Rabbi Abraham J. (Reb Sheya) Twerski, M.D.'s book, The Zeide Reb Motele.

"I learned from all my teachers," David HaMelech says in Tehillim [119:99]. Our Sages tell us in Pirkei Avos [4:1] that a truly wise person is he who learns from everyone. Indeed, the Maggid of Mezritch taught the Rebbe Reb Zusia [of Anipoli] that one can learn three things from a baby, and seven from a thief. Among those seven is that "a thief never gives up. If he fails the first time, he keeps on trying until he succeeds." Sometimes, however, his success is not in what he thinks it should be, as our story teaches us…

A Look of Teshuva (from Heichal Hanegina)

Again, in lieu of my own posts and my fear of misrepresenting this great tzadik's message, I bring you a few posts from Heichal Hanegina.

A LOOK OF TESHUVA

(from The Zeide Reb Motele, by Rabbi A.J. Twerski, MD)

Yahrtzeit: Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkass (Elul 13)

The New Matzeiva for the Cherkasser, zy"a

Believe it or not, I did not have time to translate or write anything original for the Cherkasser's yahrtzeit. Quickly, Rebbe Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkass was the third of eight sons of the Chernobyler Maggid, Reb Mordechai, who was the son of the Maor Einayim, Reb Nochum Chernobyler. His grandson was the Rebbe Reb Motele of Hornosteipel, and thereby the originator of the Hornosteipeler dynasty we all know and love. Here are a few stories that I have heard from the Rebbe, shlit"a, but never had the chance to commit to writing. They are all borrowed from Heichal Hanegina.

"Kiruv, Rebuke and Tefila" and The Rebbe/Chassid Dynamic (audio)

In this morning's shiur, the Rebbe spoke about the three responses we must have to fellow Jews who are not yet Torah observant. The discussion turned towards the nature of the Rebbe/Chassid relationship and ended with a particularly moving story from the Belzer Rav whose yahrtzeit is today.

Rav Aaron Rokeach of Belz in Marienbad

"He is the Rebbe's Son!"

Last night by Melava Malka, the Rebbe, shlit"a, told of the esteem in which the Satmar Rebbe held the Rebbe Reb Motele.

The Satmar Rebbe was once in Chicago and he took the opportunity to bring a kvittel to the Rebbe Reb Leibele. Upon learning the Satmar Rebbe's plan, his gabbai expressed his bewilderment that his Rebbe felt a need to go to Reb Leibele "as a Rebbe". The Satmar Rebbe replied, "Reb Leibele is no "rebbisheh einikel". He is "the Rebbe's son!"

Yahrtzeit: Reb Meir Nosson (Av 15)

On the 15th of Av was the yahrtzeit of Reb Meir Nosson, son of the Divrei Chaim and the father of the first Rebbe of Bobov, Reb Shloime. As we are told, the hashpaos of a yahrtzeit extend for three days so it is still relevant. In my humble opinion, this is not to be missed!

From One Room To Another

Reb Yaakov Yisroel, ztz"l, told the Rebbe, shlit”a, that one morning when he woke up and while still laying in bed, he saw, standing in front of the bed, his father [Reb Leibele], the Zeide, Reb Motele and another man, whom he did not recognize. They just stood there. Finally, [Reb Leibele] said, “Don’t worry. It will be like going from one room to the next.” With that they faded away.

Reb Yaakov Yisroel said that at that time he did not yet know he was sick but was convinced that his time was approaching. Shortly thereafter he became ill, went to the hospital, and that’s when he was diagnosed with the liver cancer that ultimately brought him to Gan Eden.

The Rebbe concluded, “Divrei emes nikarin.” True words are recognizable as such.

(Thanks to Ely Weisz for pointing out some missing details to this story.)

"I Love Yidden!"

In addition to the previous vertlach in preparation of the upcoming yahrtzeit of the Rebbe Reb Yaakov Yisroel, here is a tidbit about his exceptional ahavas Yisroel.

Last year (5770), Reb Aharon Twerski, shlit"a, said that Reb Yaakov Yisroel's "ahavas Yisroel was indescribable. If ten portions of ahavas Yisroel were sent down to the world, my father took nine." Reb Aharon described how when the Rebbe, ztz"l, came to Milwaukee there was a certain Rav who "really had it in for my father, [but] my father never responded with any hate. They turned out to be the closest of friends because my father could only show people love. The fact that somebody else hated him, that was [the other person's] problem."

Yahrtzeit of Rebbe Shulem Leizer'l of Ratzfert

Rav Shulem Leizer of Ratzfert

The 16th of Sivan is the yahrtzeit of Rebbe Shulem Leizer Halberstam of Ratzfert. Born in 1862, he was a son of the saintly Divrei Chaim of Sanz and hence a brother-in-law to the Rebbe Reb Motele. He was a son-in-law as well as Reb Shulem Leizer married Reb Motele's daughter, Sarah Mariam.