This Bochur Smells of Lizensk
Me'oros Hatzaddikim | August 22, 2024
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This Bochur Smells of Lizensk

Me'oros Hatzaddikim | June 25, 2025

Rav Dovid Shpitz a”h, a Belzer chassid, once related a story how as a bochur, he longed to go to the tzion of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk. But in Belz, the bochurim weren’t encouraged to make special trips to kivrei tzadikim, so he planned a stop in Lizensk on his way from his home in Vienna to Belz for Rosh Hashanah. He arrived in Lizensk on Erev Shabbos, and from there he traveled straight to Belz, arriving close to the beginning of Shabbos. He raced off to the beis medrash without saying a word to anyone.

Later, the gabbai, Reb Nachman Hersh, approached him and asked “Shalom aleichem, bochur, did you just come from Lizensk?”

Caught red handed the surprised Dovid asked how he knew? It turned out that earlier when he’d greeted the Belzer Rav, Rav Aharon, the Rebbe had commented, “This bochur shmekt fin Lizhensk - he smells of Lizensk!...”

Rav Dovid Shpitz a”h, a Belzer chassid, once related a story how as a bochur, he longed to go to the tzion of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk. But in Belz, the bochurim weren’t encouraged to make special trips to kivrei tzadikim, so he planned a stop in Lizensk on his way from his home in Vienna to Belz for Rosh Hashanah. He arrived in Lizensk on Erev Shabbos, and from there he traveled straight to Belz, arriving close to the beginning of Shabbos. He raced off to the beis medrash without saying a word to anyone.

Later, the gabbai, Reb Nachman Hersh, approached him and asked “Shalom aleichem, bochur, did you just come from Lizensk?”

Caught red handed the surprised Dovid asked how he knew? It turned out that earlier when he’d greeted the Belzer Rav, Rav Aharon, the Rebbe had commented, “This bochur shmekt fin Lizhensk - he smells of Lizensk!...”

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