By R’ Yoni Schwartz
In the 1920’s, Rav Chaim Yokel Avraham Sova, ZT”L, was the leader of the massive Tuchin community in Ukraine. The custom was that at every wedding the Rav would officiate, and if he did not do so, it was a big red flag. There was a wealthy family making a wedding for their only daughter and wanted Rav Sova to attend.
However, when the Rav heard that their daughter would not be covering her hair at the wedding he refused. A few weeks later, people told him that his gabbai was paid a hefty sum to officiate at their wedding and pretend to be the community Rav. Despite being betrayed, the Rav would not get angry, and even push back against his followers who wanted to reprimand the gabbai, saying, "It's not a big deal."
A Dispute that Tore the Town Apart
A couple of months later, the girl unfortunately passed away. The family was infuriated at the Rav because they thought he put a curse on their daughter after somebody told them Lashon Hara. Other people were mad at the family, “How can you accuse the Rav of intentionally trying to harm another Jew?”
The conflict was ripping the town apart. At sixty-two, after leading the town for over thirty years, Rav Sova decided he could not be the cause of a dispute and that peace was of paramount importance. He packed his bags and left with his family to a much smaller town.
Shortly after, when the Nazis came and decimated Tuchin, killing over 99,000 of the original 100,000 Jews, the Rav and his family were spared, all because he removed himself from a conflict.
Reprinted from the Parshas Nasso 5784 email of Torah Sweets.
