In honor of his Yahrzeit, here are some of his sayings and anecdotes:
Force Them Open and Learn
When one of the Chassidim, Reb Mendek Ostover, once complained that he simply could not stay awake and kept falling asleep when he tried to learn Torah, the Sefas Emes did not accept this excuse and told him, “Rip upon your eyelids! Force your eyes open and learn!” This powerful statement made such an impression on the Chassid that through its influence, that year Reb Mendel completed all four parts of the entire Shulchon Aruch!”
You Can Still Be a Jew
On another occasion the Sefas Emes told the same Chassid, Reb Mendel, “You can still be a Jew...” meaning, “You still have the opportunity to make something of yourself one day!” His sharp words of rebuke entered the Chassid like an elixir and in that year he completely left all worldly pursuits and desires behind, immersing himself in Torah and tefilla!
The Key to a Jewish Heart
On one Shavuos night at the tisch he conducted, the Sefas Emes told the Chassidim, “It says in davening (Shacharis in Uva LeTzion Goel) ‘Hu yiftach libenu besoroso – He, Hashem shall open our hearts through His Torah.’ You hear?! It says the key to open our hearts is the Torah itself! Only through Torah can a Jew open his heart up for Torah. In the Torah itself is hidden the key to opening up a Jewish heart!!”
These words caused such a storm that that night, every sefer was grabbed off the shelf, every bench and shtender was occupied, all the Gemoras, volumes of Shulchon Aruch and sifrei Chassidus were snatched off the shelves till they were bare, and the Chassidim studied all night, trembling and in awe like at Har Sinai!
Never Alone
Once, Rav Arye Leib Kotshitzky, the chief Rav of Vlachlovik, came before the Sefas Emes, complaining how he suffered in that he presided over a kehilla with no Chassidim. “I feel lonely!” was his complaint. The Sefas Emes answered him, “Avrohom Avinu was also alone in his time! And besides, whoever holds himself up and steadies himself with a blatt Gemora is never alone!”
(Marbitzei Torah BeOlam HaChassidus, Vol. II p. 103)
