(By Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
The Imrei Yosef of Spinka studied Gemarra with a Yid, and he experienced his Yeshua.
Reb Moshe Rosenthal lived in Sighet, and he told what happened to him many years ago: He was a Chassidishe young man who was a chosid of the Kossover Rebbe. However, he received a blessing from the Imrei Yosef, the Spinka Rebbe. This is what happened:
He sat, studied, and served Hashem without any hindrance after his wedding. When the time came and his family grew, his father-in-law put aside a nice amount of money so that he could do some business with it, and he would have a nice income, and able to continue his studies. Reb Moshe had a good head, got involved in a few business deals, and caught on to the idea of how to make money. He invested in a small business venture which brought him a bit of income, and he was able to study further. His wife also held a small job and helped him with money.
Some time passed, and he met a smart merchant who was very successful. They forged a close friendship, and that friend brought him some deals so that he would be able to earn more money, and to continue his studies. Reb Moshe approached his father-in-law and explained the situation, and he asked his father-in-law to give him the money, and be able to invest the money into a large business deal. My father-in-law was also a smart merchant, and after reviewing the deal, he gave me the money. I gave it to my friend, and the money was invested in the business. Everything went smoothly, and I prayed for further success. I went back to studying Torah and hoped that shortly I would become rich and be able to study for a long time. But unfortunately, something happened, and I received news that my business had gone sour. God forbid, my whole life savings will go to waste! This put me in a strong state of depression, and from minute to minute, it touched me so much that I lost my courage. I didn't tell anything to my wife or my mother-in-law and kept it to myself, but it almost got on my nerves. My wife noticed it and immediately asked me what happened. But I didn't want to answer. She got very scared and told her parents, who tried to get me out of this situation, but I didn't want to talk about it. My parents were Kassover Chassiddim, and I had to go to Kassov to meet the Rebbe, but since it was a long journey and there was no train running at that time to Kossov, I would have to travel with a wagon, and I did not dare to go on such a long journey alone because I had no one to travel with. I also knew that to write a letter to the Kassuver Rebbe would take too long, and I had no where to turn for advice.
My mother-in-law was a warm and wise woman; she understood what was bothering me, and she said we live not far from the city of Spinka, and I will provide you with a nice car and give you money for the way, and you will also be able to see the Rebbe. I will write a letter on your behalf to the Imrei Yosef, who was famous for delivering Yeshuos. Please go there for a Shabbos, and when Shabbos is over, the Rebbe receives people, and you will be able to talk to the Rebbe, and he will surely bring you salvation.
This did not go well with me being a Kassover Chosid, and I was not comfortable going to another Rebbe. However, my mother-in-law did not let me go, and with her mother's soft speech, she told me who the Spinka Rebbe was. In the end, she felt sorry, and she gave me a nice amount of money and wished me to be successful in Spinka. I buckled and agreed to go since I was under a lot of pressure, and couldn't get to my Rebbe in Kossov anyway, and the time was short to be able to get an answer from the Rebbe. I agreed to go to Spinka for Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sara. I arrived on Friday afternoon, and I had never seen the Rebbe before, so I went to give him Shalom Aleichem. When I came to the Rebbe, the Rebbe looked at me sternly, shook his hand, gave Shalom, and said "Young man, don't be so scared"! This was a shock to me, and it should have lit a fire in me, but I shrugged it off and thought it was just a coincidence that the Rebbe had just happened to notice my plight. However, when saying Good Shabbos and during the Lechayim at the Tish Friday night, I felt that every Dvar Torah the Rebbe said at the Tish, the Rebbe was talking to me and knew what was going on within my soul, and I connected strongly with him.
Immediately after Havdalah, I went to the Gabbay, Reb Yochanan Bash, and asked that I be able to go in first to the Rebbe and that no one should be in the room when I talk to him. The Gabbay agreed on the condition that I give him a silver coin. I went to the Rebbe and felt then and there that I would be helped here, and I told the Rebbe everything that was on my heart. The Rebbe looked and listened to everything but didn't answer anything; instead, he stood up and took a Gemarra Pesachim from the bookcase and opened it to the beginning, and the Rebbe asked me to sit down. We began to learn, and I suddenly felt elevated and tranquil. We didn’t learn much, but the Rebbe did the job right. My mood was upbeat, and I felt great. The Rebbe felt my tranquility, closed the Gemarra, and wished me success. He shook my hand and held it for a minute, which strengthened me strongly, and we said goodbye. I came home to a delighted wife, and my in-laws. I went back to do some deals, and was very successful in the Zchus of the Spinka Rebbe.
