Reb Pinchas Reizes, one of the greatest chasidim of the Alter Rebbe, was an incredible gaon. The Rebbeim trusted him fully, often involving him in private and clandestine activities involving themselves or chasidim at large. Reb Pinchas was also a wealthy and influential resident of Shklov and did a great deal for the Alter Rebbe in that respect. While in the Rebbe’s court, Reb Pinchas served as a chozer, renowned for the precision of his hanachos (transcriptions). The Mitteler Rebbe called Reb Pinchas the “field marshal” of chasidei Chabad.
Though Reb Pinchas’s father was a great gaon in Shklov, his last name, Reizes, was taken after his mother-in-law Reizah. This came about after the following story:
His mother-in-law, an especially wealthy woman, was greatly impressed by the Alter Rebbe after his visit to Shklov. “Look,” she said, “A maggid hailing from Vitebsk shows up riding a horse with no entourage, and yet, when he discussed Torah issues with the geonim of Shklov, he could respond to everything they asked, while they couldn’t answer three of his four questions.”
She had three sons-in-law and promised that whoever would spend time learning by the “Magid of Liozna” would inherit all her wealth, and Reb Pinchas agreed. When he arrived in Liozna he discovered that the Alter Rebbe was traveling through various towns to speak before the simpletons. He waited four months for the Alter Rebbe to return and then spent three months learning under the Rebbe. He brought his mother-in-law a letter affirming that he had learned by the Rebbe and true to her word, she gave him all her wealth.
Reb Pinchas took the money and gave it to the Alter Rebbe for public matters. The Alter Rebbe blessed him with Torah and riches.
(סה"ש תרצ"ו ע' 126)
The Alter Rebbe once complained to Reb Pinchas, “Pinchas, Pinchas! You say that I am a tzaddik, but if so, why do I feel so ‘cold’?”
(למען ידעו ע' 253)
