Rav Yisroel Zalman Shlovsky zt”l related that he heard from the Divrei Shmuel of Slonim zy”a that Rav Nochum Shochet of Slonim zt”l, a chasid of the Lechovicher Rebbe, told the Yesod Ha’avodah of Slonim zy”a that he was once in the middle of reciting Nishmas when he was told from Shomayim that all of the Torah and mystical secrets of the Arizal could now be revealed to him. However, Rav Nochum did not agree and said, “If that would be a help to my avodas Hashem, that is fine. But if it won’t, I don’t need it.”
The Slonimer Rebbe told him that his father, Rav Yehuda Leib zt”l, had told him that Rav Nochum Shub had given the same answer. He said, “I didn’t come to Lechovitch for this. I came here to learn how to say one true word to Hashem.”
The Greatness of the Teacher is Evident in His Students:
Rav Mordechai had another talmid named Rav Yeshaya Tamim who once came to the Rov of his city in the middle of the night. The Rov was very frightened to see him because a war was raging at the time between Russia and Poland and the city was right near the battlefield, making it very dangerous to walk outside. Additionally, Rav Yeshaya’s hat fell off on the way, and he covered his head with his coat. He entered the room dressed like that, which gave the Rov a fright.
The Rav asked, “What happened to you?”
Rav Yeshaya replied, “Nothing happened to me. I just walked over because I had a question on a Rashi and I wanted to ask you to explain it to me.”
The Rov said in amazement, “At a time like this and in the middle of the night, you came to ask me a question on a Rashi?”
Rav Yeshaya answered, “Just because the Russians and Pollacks are fighting, I shouldn’t understand a Rashi?”
I Believe:
The Kobriner Rebbe zy”a (quoted in Sefer M’Zekeinim Esbonen) related that Rav Mordechai would go over the words of Ami Ma’amin with the local innkeepers. The Kobriner Rebbe said that he witnessed this one time and saw Rav Mordechai repeat the words “Ani Ma’amin” three times. The third time that Rav Mordechai said the words, he had to leave the room because the fire of his emunah was so strong.
He Could Not Enjoy Gan Eden If Jews are in Gehenim:
Rav Mordechai once said, “After 120 years, if I am sent to Gan Eden, I won’t be able to enjoy it as long as even one Jew is in Gehenim. How can it be a ‘Gan Eden’ for me if I know that there is a Jew in Gehenim?”
Chazal say (Tana D’Bei Eliyahu 3) that reshaim will be dust under the feet of tzadikim. It is related that Rav Mordechai said, “I can’t imagine that any real tzadikim would tread upon the reshaim.”
Praying With Joy:
He once said, “If a Jew is in trouble, he can daven to Hashem to save him in the name of Mordechai ben Aidel (his name) as long as he davens with joy and not with sadness.”
Torah Pursued Him:
Sefer Sipurei Maran Haramach relates that a misnaged was once learning Gemara when he had a question on a Tosafos. He toiled over this Tosafos for several days but could not come up with an answer to his question. He then asked Rav Mordechai if he could help him understand Tosafos and was given an answer immediately.
He said, “I don’t understand why I had to work for days to try to find a p’shat and still couldn’t do it, but you were able to think of one right away.”
The Rebbe replied, “I am busy with my shiurim and my tefillos. The Torah begs me to learn, so, if I have time, I learn. Therefore, the Torah comes to me. On the other hand, the Torah does not want you to learn it. Therefore, it runs away from you.”
With The Power of Emunah, One Can Perform Wonders:
The Ramach of Slonim further relates that Rav Mordechai was once asked how he is able to provide yeshuos for people who come to him. He answered, “I don’t do miracles. What I do is I instill the person with emunah until he becomes so saturated with emunah that he becomes a miracle worker and he can bring about his own salvation.”
The Ramach writes that Rav Mordechai would say that anyone who passes through the door of his house will not die without doing teshuva. The Ramach added, “His door is still open for all generations.”
He Would Not Reveal The Secret:
The Ramach also relates that Rav Mordechai said in regards to the importance of giving tzedakah to the poor of Eretz Yisroel, “I don’t want to reveal the secret of giving money to Eretz Yisroel because if Yidden would know the secret of how great it is to donate funds to Eretz Yisroel, wealthy people would send all their money there and it would be very bad for the poor people in chutz la’aretz.”
There is Some Truth to The Words of The Misnagdim:
Sefer M’Zekeinim Esbonen (Chelek 2, page 231) writes: It is well-known that Rav Mordechai suffered greatly from the persecutions of the misnagdim. He once asked those around him, “What are the misnagdim saying about me?”
They answered that they were saying three things about him – that he was a “mechashef” (engaged in sorcery), that he was an ignoramus, and that he ate like a glutton.
Rav Mordechai responded, “There is some truth to their words. Although I am not a mechashef, I am a mechashev (one who thinks), in fulfillment of the Mishnah (Avos 20:1) that says that one should think about the loss he sustains in fulfilment of a mitzvah in relation to the reward he will receive.
“It is also somewhat true that I am an am ha’aretz, as Chazal say that an am ha’aretz is afraid of Shabbos and I am, in fact, afraid of the holiness of Shabbos.
“However, it is not true that I eat a lot because I do not have such a big appetite. If only I was able to eat, I would be able to save the ‘small hats’ of Germany.” (In his time, the Jews of Germany had begun wearing small hats, with a big breach in traditional Jewish garb.)
He Could Only Sleep After Giving Away All He Owned to Charity:
The Ramach of Slonim zy”a (Maamar Mordechai, Chelek 2, page 248) relates the following statement in the name of Rav Mordechai:
“When I get ready to go to sleep, if I know that there is still some money in the house, it pokes me in the side. But if there is nothing in house, I can sleep well, knowing that in the morning I will need to once again rely on Hashem.”
May the memory of the tzadik be a blessing for all of Klal Yisroel.
