When Rav Naphtali Ropshitzer first came before the Rebbe Reb Melech of Lizensk author of Noam Elimelech, the rebbe sent him away and said he wasn’t looking for meyuchasim, those of illustrious lineage. Rav Naphtali was very brokenhearted and he cried as he left. Just then his ears caught notes of joy and music. He inquired after the songs and merriment and found himself at a Yiddishe Chassunah. As was the custom the wedding needed a badchan to tell jokes and make everyone happy. Rav Naphtali used his wit and clever ways to use joke and rhyme to compose grammen and to delight and enrapture the audience and bring joy to Chosson and Kallah with words as Rashi on Berachos 6b explains.
Meanwhile the holy Rebbe Reb Melech was trying to recite the lamentations of Tikkun Chatzos and something was preventing him. Something was holding him back. He sent his shamash to seek out the disturbance, perhaps somewhere in the vicinity there was a sinner and a criminal whose tainted deeds were holding his prayers back? The shamash searched to no avail. He back empty handed. The rebbe was undeterred and he sent him forth again to seek and search, this time he came upon the wedding and in the midst of the celebrations he spotted the same yungerman who his holy rebbe had cast out. This must be the cause of the rebbe’s disturbance. He went back and reported to the Rebbe Elimelech that surely the yungerman’s jokes and frivolous banter was what was obstructing his prayers. “No, you and I have it all wrong,” explained the Rebbe Elimelech as realization dawned on him, “this yungerman has caused all the entire heavenly hosts on high to delight and rejoice in the simcha of Chosson and Kallah. Therefore that is why my sad lamentations are unacceptable on high. This is why I cannot recite Tikkun Chatzos for making them happy is like rebuilding one of the ruins, the very same ruin mentioned in Berachos 3a, there it says that in the ruins a voice like a dove calls out and cries Woe to My children, because of their sins I destroyed My house, burned My sanctuary and dispersed them to be exiled among the nations! And now though when there is such joy, who can cry and lament at a time like this!” ended the Rebbe Elimelech. (as heard from R’ Moshe Weinbach shlit'a, Mashpia Ruchani of Clevelander Shul – Beitar Elite)
