The following tradition was related by Rav Avigdor, the Av Beis Din of Novo Sanz, who heard it from his grandfather, the Divrei Chaim:
When the two Tzaddikim, Rebbe Reb Melech of Lizhensk, and his brother, Rebbe Reb Zusha of Hanipoli, were wandering together in self-imposed exile, they suffered extreme deprivation, going from place to place like beggars, sleeping on benches in the Bais Medrash, often fasting for lack of food, simultaneously loving and drawing their fellow Yidden to teshuva, Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Yisrael wherever their holy feet led them. This journey served as a kappora for all Klal Yisrael, as well as to perfect themselves, and lasted some nine years. Toward the end of their travels they ended up in Linsk for Shabbos.
The Rav of Linsk was the renowned Gaon, Rav Mendel Linsker, the father of Rav Naftoli Ropshitzer. The two holy brothers came dressed in rags and tatters, and this is how they appeared in the Bais Medrash of the Linsker Rav. No one took any notice of them all Shabbos long. No one invited them to partake of a Friday night meal and they were reduced to eating whatever crumbs of bread they carried in their packs. The same scenario repeated itself Shabbos day and at Sholosh Seudos, when they drew close to hear the Divrei Torah. They thought it was strange that no one took any notice or invited them at all and wondered at this fact even as they drew close on Motzo’ei Shabbos to hear the berocha of Havdola and recite borei me’orei ho’aish on the candle.
It was then that the young lad Naftoli laughed at them and poked fun, calling them silly names. “Ha! Ha!! Meleich – Freilich, and Zisha – Kishya!!!”
His father, Rav Mendel Linsker, turned to the two holy brothers and remarked, “You think I don’t recognize you or know who you are? If I had wandered in self-imposed exile as long as you two, my face would look better and more radiant than yours! You would do better to rectify the world by eating more than by fasting!”
He gave them three coins for charity and sent them on their way. When they examined the coins, they discovered them to be three silver francs, a princely sum indeed. They were worried that this was a mistake, but Rebbe Reb Zusha exclaimed, “Wait, the Rav told us to serve Hashem by eating. Let’s see if this money is enough to purchase all the food we need, then we can give back the change; if not, we will know it’s no mistake.” They spent an additional year this way in golus and when they again stopped in Linsk, the Rav snapped his fingers and said, “Now you have succeeded in fulfilling my intentions!”
Later, the Rebbe Elimelech became well known as a great Tzaddik and Rebbe. When the Linsker Rav passed away, his son Rav Naftoli wanted to travel to Rebbe Reb Elimelech and study under him and become his talmid. He was deterred, however, by the memory of how he had poked fun at the Tzaddikim as a young boy. Nonetheless, after some hesitation, Rav Naftoli decided to approach Rebbe Reb Elimelech, ask his forgiveness and to ask the Rebbe to accept him as a talmid.
The Rebbe Reb Elimelech had the ability to know from Wednesday on who would be his upcoming guests for Shabbos. As soon as Rebbe Reb Melech felt that Rav Naftoli was traveling to Lizhensk for Shabbos he warned his gabbo’im and his shamash, “When the Ropshitzer arrives, do not let him into my rooms without my express permission!”
When Rav Naftoli arrived in Lizhensk, the shamash came straight to Rebbe Reb Elimelech to report on his arrival. When Rav Naftoli approached the threshold, Rebbe Reb Elimelech stopped him from entering through the doorway, and declared, “Here comes the son of that murderer!” and he slammed the door in his face, barring his entry. At that moment the Ropshitzer fainted.
Rebbe Reb Elimelech gave him some brandy to revive him and sent him on his way. The Ropshitzer took the remaining brandy with him and went to the Bais Medrash. There he found a throng of Chassidim in heated discussion about an upcoming simcha, a wedding to take place that evening between two orphans. The problem was that the chosson lacked a tallis as his gift and there were no drinks or food to be had! The chasuna was in danger of being canceled.
When Rav Naftoli heard this news, he went into town and, since he was from a wealthy family, he had no trouble borrowing some money and purchasing other goods on credit. Quickly he bought all the missing items: a new tallis for the chosson and food and drinks for the wedding feast! Soon the chosson and kalla were brought in and the Ropshitzer set a lavish banquet before them. Then he got up and stood himself on the table in front of all assembled and he began to recite badchonus – grammen, rhymes, jokes and all manner of witty and clever songs and dances to bring cheer to the crowd and a smile to the lips of the chosson and kalla! Everyone was overjoyed and there was great simcha!
(The sefer Ayala Shelucha describes one of the gematrias that Rav Naftoli employed during his badchonus, how he blessed the couple that their union should be beautiful and good – der zivug zol oleh yafeh.)
Meanwhile, Rebbe Reb Elimelech was expecting Rav Naftoli to come back, but after waiting he told his shamash that he had no choice but to daven Maariv, even though he could see it would not be successful. He then said that he would eat supper, but delayed in favor of reciting Tikkun Chatzos, mourning the destruction of the Bais HaMikdosh. However, this tefilla too was unsuccessful and Rebbe Reb Elimelech was left dissatisfied with his unsuccessful attempts at Maariv and Tikkun Chatzos. The Rebbe was downcast and he reasoned that if both his Maariv and Chatzos had failed, perhaps he was guilty of some wrongdoing.
“There is a chasuna tonight; perhaps boys and girls are engaged in mixed dancing or some other sinful behavior and I need to protest,” he reasoned. “Please go and see if anything improper is going on and report back to me,” asked the Rebbe of his shamash.
Meanwhile, the Ropshitzer had dressed up as a hunchback and used flax to make himself a long, silly beard, and he stood disguised on the table engaged in badchonus, rhymes, jokes, dancing, and playacting. The shamash did not recognize him, but Rav Naftoli recognized the shamash all right! He jumped off the table, grabbed the shamash and began to dance with him until the shamash felt all his bones mending and straightening out. The shamash felt a great spiritual bliss and was drawn in, mesmerized by the performance, standing transfixed with no desire to go back.
Seeing that the shamash had left and not returned, Rebbe Reb Elimelech decided, “I must go myself and see what needs to be done!” When the shamash saw Rebbe Reb Elimelech approaching from afar, he quickly ran out to him and said, “Please, Rebbe, don’t go in there. It’s not honorable for your stature – there is some crazy lunatic in there who grabs random newcomers and dances with them on and on. Surely he will grab you too, Rebbe! Also, there is no improper behavior at the chasuna itself. Hearing these words, the Rebbe turned to go back home.
In the morning, the Ropshitzer barged through Rebbe Reb Elimelech’s door and asked, “So, Rebbe, how was your Chatzos last night?”
“Naftultshe, how do you know about my chatzos?” countered Rebbe Reb Elimelech.
The Ropshitzer answered, “We were together on high; they forbade Your Honor to enter, yet I was allowed access. The reason I was given a pass to enter is because I made everyone happy at the chasuna and in shomayim they did not want your mournful Chatzos to disrupt the simcha of the wedding.” (Gan Hadasim p. 7–10)
