When the Munkaczer Rav, Rav Chaim Elozor Shapira, came to Eretz Yisrael, he traveled to Yerushalayim especially to meet with the Saba Kadisha, Rav Alfandri, who had now exceeded one hundred and ten years and who, after leaving the chief rabbinate of Tzefas, was living in the holy city.
During the visit, the Munkaczer conversed in Loshon Kodesh with a Sefardi accent so that the Saba Kadisha could understand him; the Rav had been practicing and he made of the elder Tzaddik and holy Rav a unique and wondrous request. He revealed that he had brought a holy, secret letter, an epistle, an igeres sesorim that he had inherited from the holy Komarna Tzaddik, Rav Yaakov Moshe Safrin, foretelling that the way to bring the Geula closer depended on the decree of the Tzaddik HaDor. If the Tzaddik HaDor would decree that Moshiach must come, then this would hasten the Geula. The Munkaczer Rav held that Rav Alfandri was worthy and on the level of someone who could make this decree! He then asked the Saba Kadisha to do so. However, Rav Alfandri refused, stating in his humility, “I am not a Tzaddik.” This conversation took place eight days before the Saba Kadisha left this world on the 22nd of Iyar. (Oros Mimizrach, page 153)
