Rabbi Asher Anshel Halevi Yungreis l''wevf the Menuchas Asher of Czenger was born in Secze, Hungary in 5566 (Niftar 5 days in Kislav 5633) into a family of Rabbinic aristocracy. Reb Asher Anshel quickly earned a name in his own right. He studied for two years under the saintly Maharam Ash, who later described his student as “the outstanding rabbi and wonder worker.” At the tender age of 28, Rabbi Yungreis was appointed as rabbi of the city of Czenger.
The first Tosher rebbe was Harav Meshulam Feish Segal Loewy, a disciple of Rabbi David Spira of Dinov son of Rav Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dinov, and a disciple of Rabbi Yitzchok Eizik of Komarno, author of Heichal HaBrocho. These two tzaddikim forged a friendship when the Tosher Rebbe lived in a town near Czenger.
The Tosher Rebbe served Hashem in a quiet fashion and refrained away from any fanfare or honor. He was very poor, and once his fiends noticed he had no money for the Purim Seuda, and they delivered him a lavish meal for the family. Word leaked to his friend the Czenger Rav and he decided he had to help him get a better source of income. He came up with an idea. He knew that the Tosher Rebbe was a great tzaddik and could perform miracles. By helping Yidden, he would have money.
Once a village Jew came to the Czenger Rav’s home and complained that he had one cow that brought him a little income and yesterday someone stole the cow and he had no money to buy another cow, and he asked the Rebbe should tell him who the thief was? The Czenger Rav replied he did not know who the thief was! The village Jew began to cry and lament to the Rav, who thought at the time that now would be a good time for his friend to become famous, he was a miracle worker, and through this story people will come to him, and that way he will have a living.
The Czenger Rav advised the poor Jew to go to Rav Meshulam Feish and there he will find his cow! The Jew was ignorant and small-headed, and understood from the Rebbe that Rav Meshulam Feish had stolen his cow! The poor Jew went looking for a rough thick piece of wood and went to the Tosher Rebbe and knocked on the door. Rav Meshulam Feish welcomed the Yid, but pretty soon he was shocked to hear that the village Jew had just came from Czenger and the Rav told him I will find my stolen cow at your place! Now if you give it back to me, it will be good for you, and if not, this piece of wood will force you to give me my cow quickly!
The Tosher Rebbe tried to reason with the Jew that the Czenger Rav did not mean that I actually stole your cow. He certainly meant that I can help you find your cow. The village Jew did not accept this as an excuse and said sternly: I will give you one day to either return my cow or else this thick piece of wood would force you to do so! The Tosher Rebbe quickly realized who he was dealing with, and thought deeper, when he figured that if his friend the Czenger Rav sent this Yid, it is certain that he could help this Jew get his cow back.
The Tosher Rebbe thought for a moment and told the Jew to come back in two hours. The village Jew agreed, and the Rebbe began to say Tehilim and pray, and after two hours the village Jew came back. The Tosher Rebbe told the village Jew that when you wake up tomorrow morning, you would find your cow in the stable, and if it won't be there, then you can come back to me and do what you want to me! The village Jew calmed down and agreed to wait.
The village Jew actually woke up in the morning and went straight to the stable and saw the missing cow standing there and was thrilled.
He was so ignorant that he spread the story to his friends that the Czenger Rav was a miraculous Rabbi who performed a miracle by sending me to the Tosher Rebbe whom I threatened to hit him with a thick piece of wood, and the Tosher rebbe returned the cow he had stolen from me! His friends were shocked to hear these words and declared: You are crazy! The Tosher Rebbe is not a thief, and you need to beg him to forgive you. On the contrary, the Tosher Rebbe was a miraculous rabbi who performed a miracle and brought the cows back to you! The village Jew realized how stupid he was and regretted what he had done and immediately went to Rabbi Meshulam Feish to ask for his forgiveness. The Rebbe immediately forgave him. But the Czenger Rav's intention worked tremendously, and the episode spread far and wide. Everyone now knew that the Tosher Rebbe had performed a heavenly miracle to save the Jew from despair. From that day on, the Tosher Rebbe's door was opened to thousands of Yidden in need, and the Rebbe had a stable income. The Rebbe died on the 28th of Sivan in 5633..
