THE CHOZEH'S BED
Rav Pinchos of Ostila told how his father Rav Yosef of Ostila once learned that the Chozeh of Lublin would be passing through Ostila.
Rav Yosef greatly wished that the Chozeh would choose his home to visit during this rest stop and so he began advance preparations in order to host this important guest. He knew that the Chozeh’s custom was that as soon as he arrived, he would lie down to recover from his journey. So, Rav Yosef hired a G-d fearing carpenter to build a new bed expressly for this purpose. He explained his intentions to the carpenter: “When the holy Chozeh lies down on another’s bed, his holy senses are attuned to the spiritual vibrations of the bed. If he finds fault with the impression left by the bed’s previous occupants, he will complain that the bed is painfully pricking him as if with spikes. Therefore, I ask you, please immerse yourself daily in the mikvah before you begin your work and as you work think clean pure thoughts.” At first, the carpenter was afraid to undertake such a delicate task and concerned that he was not up to par. Eventually, Rav Yosef convinced him to carry through with the job and the carpenter began work on the Chozeh of Lublin’s new bed.
Still feeling unworthy, the carpenter nevertheless carried out the task. But as he worked, he was constantly disturbed by thinking, “What a holy tzaddik will be resting on this bed!”
Finally, the new bed was completed and the carpenter brought it before Rav Yosef. Rav Yosef was ecstatic. He made up the bed with brand new linens, pillows, and blankets and locked the room so that no one should enter to touch the bed or lie upon it even by accident.
After a few days, the long-awaited moment of the Chozeh of Lublin’s visit arrived. The tzaddik was invited to rest in Rav Yosef of Ostila’s home. “Please rebbe, come; I have prepared a room and bed for you to rest up from the long tiresome trip.” To the delight of
