On the 19th of Iyar, 5584 "Rabbi Mordechai Leifer", a holy Neshama descended into the world. He was born to Rav Yissachar Bertzi, the founder of the Nadvorna Chassidic dynasty. Rav Yissachar Bertzi was a son of Rav Yitzchak of Kalish, who was the son of Rav Aaron Aryeh Leib of Premishlan.
The Nadvorna Rebbe would travel frequently from town to town, dedicated to drawing the hearts of his fellow Jews closer to Hashem. One Thursday, the Rebbe planned to spend the upcoming Shabbat in the town of Tertzal. To ensure everything was ready in time, he sent his Chassidim ahead with the carriage containing all of his food, and personal belongings. The Rebbe himself set out on Friday morning, traveling through "Czenger" a city populated by Oberlander Hungarian Jews.
As the Rebbe’s carriage rolled into Czenger, a local Jewish man ran out to meet him. "Rebbe!" the man cried. "I am overjoyed that you are here! Tomorrow morning, I am making a Bris for my son. It would be the honor of my lifetime if the Rebbe would serve as the Sandek."
To Rav Mordechai, this mitzvah was precious and he rarely turned it down. He paused, and agreed to accept the honor. He ordered his attendants to halt the carriage, and the grateful father immediately set off to secure a proper lodging place for the Rebbe's unexpected Shabbat stay. However, a heavy heart washed over the Rebbe. He had sent all of his luggage ahead to Tertzal—and inside those bags was his "shtreimel”! While he was perfectly willing to sacrifice his personal comforts, a "shtreimel" was different. He could not compromise on that.
He became deeply distressed. Czenger was an Oberland community and there was absolutely nowhere to find a "shtreimel" in the entire town. The Rebbe was staying as a guest in the home of a distinguished Torah scholar, "Rabbi Yonasan Binyamin Katz". His son would become the renowned Rav Asher Anshel Katz, the Rav of Serdahely.
Noticing the dark cloud of worry on his holy guest's face, Rabbi Yonasan Binyamin asked what was wrong. When the Rebbe confided in him about the missing "shtreimel", he sprang into action. He ran through the streets of Czenger to a local tailor, carrying 13 bunches of black sheep's wool. He instructed the tailor to sew the pieces together in a circular crown, doing his best to mimic the appearance of a shtriemel. When the hat was completed, Rabbi Yonasan Binyamin proudly presented it to the Nadvorna Rebbe. The Rebbe's face lit up with pure joy. It wasn't a real shtreimel, but it bore the resemblance of one, and that was enough.
Throughout that Shabbos, the Rebbe walked through the streets of Czenger wearing the odd, homemade creation. Years later, the Rebbe recalled that Shabbos with a smile, saying: "You can only imagine how I felt with everyone staring at me. But it never once entered my mind that a Yid could walk on Shabbos without a shtreimel!" In fact, the Rebbe treasured that shtrimel, that he kept it for the rest of his life. Years later, at the wedding of his son, Rav Bertzi of Satmar, the Rebbe proudly wore that shtreimel!
On Shabbos morning, after davening, Rabbi Yonasan Binyamin, the host, served as the Mohel at the Bris, while the Nadvorna Rebbe sat regally as the Sandek. Deeply moved by his host's ingenuity and kindness regarding the hat, the Rebbe wished to repay the favor with a spiritual gift. He turned to Rabbi Yonasan Binyamin and said: "The world says that Eliyahu Hanavi attends every single Bris. However, the truth is that he only reveals himself if both the mohel and the Sandek are perfectly righteous, G-d-fearing men. But I will tell you a secret: whenever I am the Sandek, Eliyahu never fails to come." The Rebbe smiled warmly at his host. "Because you brought joy to my Shabbos with your resourcefulness, I bless you that you shall merit to see Eliyahu Hanavi standing right here at this Bris!"
The Rebbe then explained why he held such a unique bond with Eliyahu Hanavi: "When I was a young, married man, I was desperately poor," the Rebbe shared. "But when Pesach approached, I wanted nothing more than to have the finest possible wine for the Four Cups and for the Cup of Eliyahu. I scraped together every spare penny, penny by penny, denying myself food, until I had saved enough to buy a bottle of expensive Tokay wine. I did it solely to honor Eliyahu with the most beautiful wine for his arrival at my Seder. In the merit of that sacrifice, Eliyahu promised to accompany me whenever I serve as a Sandek."
Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna passed away on the first day of Chol HaMoed Sukkos, the 15th of Tishrei, 5655 (1894). He was buried in the town of Bishhtina, leaving behind a legacy of profound love for his fellow Yidden.
