7. The Neschizer rebbe told that his father was very strict in regard to the laws of Passover.
His son, the Kavler rebbe, wanted to be lenient regarding a Passover matter, and said, “What is the source for being so incredibly strict?”
But his father responded, “My son, do you intend to be wiser than our latter sages, who were very strict regarding the laws of Passover?”
And from then on, the Kavler was very strict regarding the laws of Passover.
And the Neschizer rebbe told that the Berditchever was even more strict in regard to the laws of the Sabbath.
8. Following the Sabbath of the parshah, B’haalotchah 5627 (1867).
The Neschizer rebbe told that the holy R. Gershon Kitiver saw R. Chaim Attar, the holy author of the Ohr Hachaim, in the land of Israel, and told him of his brother-in-law, the Baal Shem Tov.
R. Chaim Attar replied, “I know him, and Israel is his name.”
The Neschizer rebbe also told that the holy Gershon Kitiver asked R. Chaim Attar about a certain student in his yeshiva who, he saw, was at that time unworthy. And R. Chaim Attar responded to him, “It is our way to attract those who are far.”
The Neschizer rebbe also spoke at that time of the statement in the Ohr Hachaim that perhaps Hashem will lengthen time in the days of the messiah so that the length of the days will be extended to better implement the statement, “our joy will like the days of our suffering,” etc.
And the Neschizer rebbe told that a certain publisher whose name was Asher removed in his edition of Ohr Hachaim the words “and his name is Chaim” that are written regarding the messiah. Afterwards, this publisher made a mistake, and in place of the phrase “amen from another man” he put “amen from the man Asher.”
The Neschizer rebbe also told that the holy rebbe of Ishpala once stretched out his hand and said, “Master of the world, I give You my word that the Jewish people will not repent because they are under such pressure, may God have mercy. So why delay sending our righteous messiah?”
9. On Friday night, the Sabbath of the parshah Tavo 5627 (1867), the Neschizer rebbe told that his holy father once said to the departed R. Ber Tirosker in the mother of Elul, “Do you know what today is? Fish in yamim tzittern—fish in the seas are trembling.”
When the Neschizer rebbe told this, one of the people standing there replied, “People say it this way: fish in vasser tzittert—fish in water tremble.”
But the Neschizer rebbe responded that his father had in mind with that specific wording a holy unification.
10. Tuesday night of the parshah of Vayishlach, 14 of Kislev 5628 (1867-8).
The Neschizer rebbe told that the Lubliner rebbe traveled to Mezhibozh to the holy rebbe, R. Boruch.
That Sabbath there was a woman who was having trouble giving birth, and her husband came to the Lubliner, for it is common that when a tzaddik comes from another town there is a great deal of publicity about him.
The Lubliner asked him, “Will you give me the honor of being sandek—of holding the baby on my lap at the circumcision—when you have a boy?”
And he told him, “Yes.”
But the husband went as well to R. Boruch Mezhibozher, who also asked him “Will you give me the honor of being sandek?” And he answered “yes” to him as well.
His wife gave birth to a boy, and on the following Sabbath, the day of the circumcision he hid, because he did not know whom to ask to be sandek.
Finally he went to R. Boruch Mezhibozher and told him what had happened and asked him to advise him what to do.
The Mezhibozher said that he would be sandek, and he added, “No doubt the Lubliner will be here another Sabbath and everything will be fine.”
At the end of the holy Sabbath, when the Lubliner came to take leave of R. Boruch to go home, R. Boruch told him, “Why are you in such a hurry to go home?”
The Lubliner replied, “Because it is so far and I want to be home in time for the holy Sabbath.”
But R. Boruch replied, “Isn’t it not possible for you to have kefitzat haderech, a miraculous shortening of the road? If Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, experienced that miracle, how much more should tzaddikim.” And he pleaded with him to remain with him longer.
The Lubliner said, “Since it is your holy desire that I do so, I will.”
He stayed there for a second Sabbath, and it so happened that there was another circumcision, and R. Boruch honored the Lubliner with the post of being sandek.
Zichron Tov
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Life Within Life
by Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook
As long as a person thinks of nothing but the life within life—within the life that he sees, hears and feels—everything is alive for him. As a result, he comes to a state of the perfection of life within himself.
But if he isolates the Life of all worlds in a separate locus, then the radiance of the life of the entire world leaves him. And it does not return to him until he at last learns that in order to find the Life of the worlds he does not need to seek any particular spot.
Then, as before, he can without any weakness find the life within life inside life itself, within the life before him, in the reality that extends in its beauty and all of its hues before his eyes.
This is true in regard to a person’s soul, which only needs to soar in the breadths of spirituality, to rejoice and take pleasure.
But in our limited life, which is filled with many obstacles, confusions and realms of darkness, the Life of worlds is not revealed to our eyes of flesh.
And so when we wish to draw life into the pathways of this world, which are so difficult and filled with anger, we must raise our eye to the heavens and find Hashem above our world, sitting in the heavens.
But a person who comes to seek God sitting in the heavens in answer to the demand of his soul is making a mistake, because “Hashem God is in the heavens above and upon the earth below—there is no other.” Even in the midst of the world, God embraces and surrounds all, and fills all.
A person who is unaware of the One Who dwells in heaven as being here upon the pathways of actual life is in danger of sinking into the depths of wickedness and he will find no peace, because the pathways of the world require Torah from heaven.
Pinkas Hadapim 1:24
As long as a person thinks of nothing but the life within life—within the life that he sees, hears and feels—everything is alive for him. As a result, he comes to a state of the perfection of life within himself.
But if he isolates the Life of all worlds in a separate locus, then the radiance of the life of the entire world leaves him. And it does not return to him until he at last learns that in order to find the Life of the worlds he does not need to seek any particular spot.
Then, as before, he can without any weakness find the life within life inside life itself, within the life before him, in the reality that extends in its beauty and all of its hues before his eyes.
This is true in regard to a person’s soul, which only needs to soar in the breadths of spirituality, to rejoice and take pleasure.
But in our limited life, which is filled with many obstacles, confusions and realms of darkness, the Life of worlds is not revealed to our eyes of flesh.
And so when we wish to draw life into the pathways of this world, which are so difficult and filled with anger, we must raise our eye to the heavens and find Hashem above our world, sitting in the heavens.
But a person who comes to seek God sitting in the heavens in answer to the demand of his soul is making a mistake, because “Hashem God is in the heavens above and upon the earth below—there is no other.” Even in the midst of the world, God embraces and surrounds all, and fills all.
A person who is unaware of the One Who dwells in heaven as being here upon the pathways of actual life is in danger of sinking into the depths of wickedness and he will find no peace, because the pathways of the world require Torah from heaven.
Pinkas Hadapim 1:24
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