Novardokers Are Not Fazed
On Rosh Hashanah, R’ Avrohom Yoffen Zatzal would speak for fifteen minutes before Tekiyas Shofar, and then he would have everyone stand and say together in a loud voice one of these (or similar) Pesukim:
- אָ בִ ינוּ מַ לְ כֵנוּ הַ חֲ זִ ירֵ נוּ בִּ תְ שוּבָ ה שְ לֵ מָ ה לְ פָ נ יךָ
- אָ בִ ינוּ מַ לְ כֵנוּ אֵ ין לָ נוּ מ ל ךְ א לָ א אָ תָ ה
- לֵ ב טָ הוֹר בְּ רָ א לִ י אֱ לֹקִ ים
On Simchas Torah, about 100 people would accompany the Sefer Torah from R’ Yoffen’s house, to the Bais Yosef Bais Medrash on 49th St. with singing and dancing.
In those days, this was almost the only shul in Boro Park, and the Goyim were amazed; but Novardokers aren’t fazed.
When R’ Galinsky Zatzal was in Lakewood, I was schmoozing with him in the home of a very Chashuva Yungerman. It had been during the Yom Kippur War, and R’ Galinsky mentioned that he had been called to speak for the troops who were stationed at the front lines. They were quite depressed, and R’ Galinsky did a great job cheering them. He was in a dangerous area, and I believe he was flown there by helicopter.
Someone asked him why he wasn’t afraid. He said: “How can I be afraid? Hashem is everywhere!” I was told that R’ Galinsky was sent on a secret mission by a Gadol HaDor. He had to go to an extremely hostile Arab country, and give a message to someone. He did this twice, and he wasn’t wearing any disguises!
I heard the same type of story about R’ Gershon Zatzal. He was sent by a Gadol HaDor through Nazi controlled territory in order to rescue this person’s Rebbetzin. They say that she was afraid to go with him, and he came back empty-handed. When he was asked if he could make a second attempt, he said that he couldn’t. Even the greatest Baalei Bitachon know their limitations.
R’ Gershon Liebman Zatzal asked an American visitor why he came. He replied: “Because I heard there are: עוֹבְ דִ ים Ovdim here.” R’ Gershon quipped back: עוֹבְ דִ ים “Ovdim” (“servants” of Hashem) or: אוֹבְ דִ ים “Ovdim” (“lost” ones)?? R’ Galinsky Zatzal once commented that the Ma'ala of a rabbinic frock is that it can cover up your torn pants! These people were A-1 Geshmak, and full of humor.
I know two Novardokers who needed a cane in their later years, and suddenly the cane disappeared. R’ Wainkrantz Zatzal was once using his cane in the morning, and at that very same night it disappeared and he didn’t need it anymore! He explained that he told Hashem that he’d rather not need it, and his Tefila was answered immediately.
Another Novardoker who was about eighty years old would suddenly lose his balance while he was walking, and he’d end up falling on the ground without any control of his balance. He complained to me about the fact that it bothered him, and he asked me to daven for him. About half a year later I was on the phone with him, and he sounded super happy (as usual).
His wife hadn’t been well. Her whole body had literally shut down; she couldn’t move and she was in excruciating pain (she had some condition). Two months later, I was on the phone with her, and this seventy-five-year-old woman sounded like a vibrant twenty-year-old. Her husband told me that her entire condition disappeared with unbelievable Nissim!
I asked him about his cane. He told me: “My cane has fallen asleep”, it’s over! These Novardokers have spent a lifetime learning Mussar for hours daily, and Bitachon is a major Mussar project in Novardok. People like this have an entirely different relationship with Hashem.
They tell themselves: “You know in back of your mind that you have Who to turn to. If you really believe that He can do anything, He’ll give you what you want”. I heard this Nusach from an old Novardoker. He told me that people have no idea how much unending goodness Hashem wants to give us, and the A Baal Bitachon is an easy-going person, who doesn’t worry or get excited when things don’t go his way.
