Reb Betzalel Azaritzer was a talmid of Reb Hillel Paritcher and was of those yungeleit who were guided in Chassidus by the Mitteler Rebbe. He was of the great chassidim of the Tzemach Tzedek, and served as a Shadar for him. The Frierdiker Rebbe praised Reb Betzalel for his ability to learn from any person.
Reb Hillel Paritcher and Reb Betzalel were very close friends. They would visit one-another every week, alternating between Reb Hillel travelling to Reb Betzalel and vice versa. Once, Reb Betzalel was not well and did not visit Reb Hillel. Reb Hillel sensed there was something wrong and decided to travel to see Reb Betzalel. The travel fare was a hefty six ruble, and Reb Hillel’s wife protested. “Why are you wasting six ruble for a wagon?!” she said, “This is anyways not your week to visit him! We will not have the money that we need for our needs!” Reb Hillel was insistent and went on his way.
This was Thursday. Reb Hillel traveled with a minyan of chassidim and when they arrived at the house, Reb Hillel saw that his intuition was justified; Reb Betzalel was seriously ill. The visitors spent Shabbos there, staying in one room, while Reb Betzalel lay in the adjacent room. At Seudah Shelishis, as was his custom, Reb Hillel said Chassidus three times, each prefaced by three niggunim. At that time, they heard that Reb Betzalel was nearing death. Reb Hillel went in to Reb Betzalel’s room and said, “Tzalkeh! What’s happening with you?” He placed the sefer Kesser Shem Tov on Reb Betzalel’s heart and said, “Look at the oisyos of the Baal Shem Tov”. With that, Reb Betzalel’s neshama left his body.
Reb Betzalel used to say that he does not understand why people think it is hard to be a chossid. “The first thing is ‘taporu da plachu’ (lit. ‘the ax on the wood’) – which means action. Then one can become an oved Hashem through davening, learning, Torah and mitzvos.”
