Known as Reb Herschel Riminover
Author: Be’eros Mayim
30 Cheshvan 5607 (1846)
Once a month, on the eve of Rosh Chodesh, it was the custom of Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Riminov to send out two supervisors to all the shops in town to see whether the weights and measures being used were correct. One of those sent on a certain occasion was Reb Zvi Hirsch, his faithful attendant and disciple, who was later to succeed his Rebbe. Arriving with his partner at the store of a certain wealthy businessman, he found an undersized liquid measure. When Reb Zvi Hirsch rebuked him for his carelessness, the shopkeeper answered that it was not used for measuring.
"But there is an explicit law on the subject," said Reb Zvi Hirsch. "Our Sages teach us that a man is forbidden to have an oversized or undersized measure in his house, even if it is used as a pail for garbage."
The storekeeper's retort was brazen. Borrowing a phrase remembered from Nach, from the Book of Shmuel, he asked: "Is Shaul also one of the prophets?! Does our Reb Zvi Hirsch too go about laying down the Law?"
In reaction to this, Reb Zvi Hirsch took the measure in hand and trampled on it.
When he returned from his day's rounds and was asked by the Rebbe if everything was in order, Reb Zvi Hirsch concealed that incident, being afraid that the wrath of the Rebbe would be kindled against the arrogant offender. But Reb Menachem Mendel got to hear of the story from the man who accompanied him.
He immediately instructed his Gabbai to announce that the townsmen should all assemble in the Synagogue to hear a sermon, but though he was to knock with his cane on all the shutters according to custom, he was to ignore the house of that offender.
The shopkeeper heard that the Rebbe was speaking on the subject of weights and measures, and realized that this whole tempest was brought about on his account. He went to the Synagogue of his own accord, and as a sign of contriteness removed his shoes in preparation for begging forgiveness of the Tzaddik. Reb Menachem Mendel promised to forgive him on condition that by way of a fine he undertakes to donate fifty gold coins to charity.
He also said to the storekeeper, “you say that my Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch doesn’t know to study? Who could say whether the Rosh Yeshivah of your heavenly academy would know to study as well as him?”
But why, then, had the man gotten off with such a light fine?
Before the storekeeper had yet come in for his punishment, the people in the synagogue noticed the lips of Rav Tzvi Hirsh whispering. So they asked him, “What are you saying?”
He said that he was praying for the storekeeper, that he should not be punished on his account, and so, already, before the man arrived, the story of the prayers of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch had reached Reb Menachem Mendel, and so he was appeased.
A Widow's Audience with the Rebbe of Riminov
A widow sought an audience with the Rebbe of Riminov, Reb Zvi Hirsch; she desperately sought the blessing of the Tzaddik that she would succeed in meeting someone to remarry soon. The Rebbe asked her some questions about her deceased husband and his family, and also about her family, where was she from, from which family, and so forth.
Upon hearing the family name and the name of the town, the Rebbe's eyes widened. He asked for the specific address of her childhood home, and he himself even provided a description of the house, which she confirmed. The Rebbe then rested his head in his hands, appearing to be lost in deep thought. Finally, he raised his eyes and said to her, "All right, I have for you a suggestion for a match. I recommend that you should marry...me!"
The woman turned pale. The eyes of the Rebbe's attendant nearly popped out of his head. It was difficult to say who was more shocked. The woman, totally flustered, remained silent.
"Please don't be afraid, or embarrassed" the Rebbe said to her gently. “If you say 'No' I won't hold it against you. I'll still try and help you."
Now the woman was blushing slightly. She opened and closed her mouth several times, hesitating, until finally she was able to speak. "Rebbe, if you are in favor of this proposal, then certainly I am too."
The Tzaddik smiled. He turned to his attendant and told him to fetch drinks, cakes and call some of the elder Chassidim; they would celebrate the engagement right then.
After the formal arrangements were completed, the Rebbe addressed the assembled group. "I know you are wondering about the suddenness of this engagement and the strangeness of the whole procedure. Let me explain.”
"My parents died when I was very young, and the community arranged for me to be apprenticed to a tailor. One of my jobs was to make all his deliveries of new and mended clothes, which were always done on Fridays. Of all the families I regularly delivered to, there was only one that always paid promptly, instead of deferring it. This was a family with many children, so they often had items to be repaired. Whenever I would arrive there past midday, the house would already be completely prepared for Shabbos, right down to the flask of wine on the white-covered table. And the father of the home would be sitting serenely, reviewing the weekly Parsha in the traditional manner. Even if it was just past noon, the spirit of Shabbos was already pervasive in that house. I was always amazed and impressed.
"I used to pray that when my time came, that I should have the good fortune to marry someone from that family or in another such family where the Shabbos was honored in such exemplary fashion. When this good woman revealed to me her background, I realized that she had grown up in that very house! Indeed she is the daughter of that man whom I admired so much. I understood that her presence before me was an indication, that all the way back then my prayers had been accepted. Now I can merit marrying a wife who truly knows how to prepare for and honor the holy Shabbos."
Although Rebbe Zvi Hirsh was well into his sixties at the time of the wedding, the couple had two children. It is also known that the Riminover acted towards his much younger wife with great honor and respect. When he passed away, his widow subsequently remarried Rebbe Yisroel of Ruzin, also a widower, who acted as a father for her young children.
