Seeing All the Way to Safed
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak HaLevi Horovitz, known as the Choizeh, or the Seer of Lublin, was born in Poland in 5505 (1745). He was the disciple of the holy Rebbe Shmuel Shmelkeh of Nikolsburg (Mikulov) and the holy Maggid of Mezritch. After they passed away, he became the primary disciple of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk (Leżajsk). He established his chasidic court in the large city of Lublin and the masses flocked to learn Torah from him. The Choizeh was known as a holy genius who had the gift of special spiritual sight. It is told that he received this gift from his Rebbe, Rebbe Elimelech.
The Choizeh was deeply engaged in efforts to bring the redemption. He sent his senior students to spread the teachings of Chasidut throughout Poland and Galicia. Among those students were “The Holy Jew” of Parshischa, Rebbe Uri “the Saraf” of Sterlisk, Rebbe Naftali of Ropschitz and many more. On Simchat Torah 5575 (1814) the Choizeh fell from the window of his home under wondrous and mysterious circumstances while he was engaging in spiritual endeavors to bring the redemption. He was severely injured and bedridden for close to a year and passed away on the ninth of Av, 5575 (1815). He was laid to rest in Lublin.
Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller, the father of Rabbi Shmuel Heller of Safed, was closely associated with the Seer of Lublin. The father, son, and grandfather were all esteemed chasidim and rabbis in the Holy Land, and from time to time, they would travel back to Europe to visit the courts of the tzaddikim, especially in Lublin.
On one of these journeys, Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman stayed in Lublin for an extended period. During this time, he did not receive any letters from his family in the Holy Land, and he became very worried. One day, the Choizeh called him, seated him on a chair beside him, and spoke to him as if seeing a vivid vision: “Right now, your wife is leaving the market with a basket of vegetables. In her basket, she has such and such a number of onions and such and such a number of cucumbers, and she is walking home from the market. Your daughter is sitting by the table and drinking a cup of coffee.” The Choizeh continued to describe what each family member in...
