Rav Avrohom Moshe Der Groisse Reb Moshe of Pshevorsk (Cheshvan 9)
A LESSON LEARNED FROM THIEVES
Rav Moshe of Pshevorsk was once traveling in the forest and lost his way. After wandering about some three hours with no sense of direction he happened upon a small cottage, from where he saw a light shining. As he reached the window and peered inside, he was seized by great fear, for he saw a band of robbers and highwaymen plotting theft and murder.
Unfortunately, the band of thieves spotted him, grabbed him and tied him up. As he awaited his fate, he began to recite the Viduy (confessional prayer) and Shema Yisrael over and over, as one prepares himself to take leave of this world. Just then, among the thieves, a Jewish robber spotted and recognized the Tzaddik.
“Wait, my friends! Do not harm this man, for he is a Tzaddik and has the power to bless us.”
Thus he convinced his friends not to harm or touch Rav Moshe. The ringleaders approached him and said, “Honorable Rav, please bless us and then please offer us your sage advice.”
Rav Moshe agreed. “Here is a young lad who is in training. We wish you to observe our initiation and offer your sage advice as to whether he is fit to join us or not.”
So saying, they asked the lad to fetch a candle, but he returned with a loaf of bread. When they challenged his mistake, the brazen youth stood his ground, arguing. He endured a beating but would not admit his error. This scenario repeated itself over and over again: the robbers requested he fetch an object and he would return with something else, and each time, rather than admit any mistake or wrongdoing, he accepted a beating that grew harsher and harsher. After the last beating of one hundred blows, almost enough to kill a man, the robbers turned to the Tzaddik and asked his advice. “You see, Rav, we are training the lad; by these blows, he learns never to admit his mistake. That way, if he is caught he learns that in the end all beatings cease, and if he never admits and confesses, he will go free and we will never be discovered.”
“I have learned a valuable mussar lesson,” remarked Rav Moshe Pshevorsker. “Even if someone is beaten and downtrodden by yissurim (suffering), it must always come to an end, for He is merciful.” (Ben Beisi on Avos – Komarna p. 280)
Rav Dov Berish Weidenfeld Tchebiner Rav, Dovev Meishorim (Cheshvan 10)
NO SHALOM, NO DERASHA
At age seven, he was already giving a public derashah in shul every Shabbos on the weekly parshah, which his father taught him. One week, a dispute broke out in Herimilov, and Rav Dov Berish’s father, Rav Yekele, being the Rav of Hrimlov, was naturally involved in trying to help both sides come to some resolution. The Rav was so busy with the machlokes that he had no time that week to review the parshah or teach young Dov Berish any novel insight or derush to share in his upcoming weekly Shabbos derasha. That week, a totally unprepared Dov Beirish got up in shul and in front of the entire kehillah delivered the following message: “It says in the Chumash that Moshe spoke to all of the congregation saying, “Va’yomer Moshe el kol adas Bnei Yisrael.” (Shemos 35:4) Why does it say kol – all of them? This teaches us that Moshe Rabbeinu was only able to speak words of Torah when all of them, kol adas bnei Yisrael, were united and there was no dispute among them. As long as the dispute in Hrimlov continues,” explained Dov Beirish, “and as long as there is no peace or shalom among the Jews in this kehillah, I will be unable to say any new novel insights on the parshah either!”
THE LITTLE GADOL
In his youth, Dov Beirish’s father brought him to the tisch of the Husyatiner Rebbe, Rav Mordechai Feivish. The chassidim were amazed to see how the child was carried straight over the heads of the crowd and seated at the head of the table where all around him sat the elders, gaonim and tzaddikim. The rebbe, uncharacteristically explained this with the utmost simplicity: “Here sits a gadol!”
ORPHANED
Some two weeks after his bar mitzvah on 5 Shevat 5654, he was orphaned from his father in a sudden and unexpected manner. His two older brothers, Rav Yitzchak, who succeeded their father as Rav of Hrimlov, and Rav Nachum, Rav of Dombrova, helped raise and educate him.
THE SHINOVER RAV’S BRACHAH
In 5660, he married the daughter of Rav Yisrael Yosef (HaCharif) Kluger of Tchebin, one of the most ardent followers and chassidim of the Shinover Rav, author of Divrei Yechezkel. At the time of the marriage, Rav Yisrael Yosef was no longer alive, and it was his widow who went to seek the advice and approval of Rav Yechezkel of Shinava whether she should agree to the match or not. The tzaddik told her to go ahead with the shidduch, explaining, “Although I do not know the boy personally, I know his brother Rav Nachum, Av Beis Din Dombrova, and surely he is similar. If so, the shidduch will be to the satisfaction and nachas ruach of your late husband Rav Yisrael Yosef in the world of emes.”
DOROS YESHARIM
Rav Dov Beirish and his wife were blessed with six children, two sons and four daughters. Unfortunately, many of them perished, murdered in the Holocaust. Their oldest son, Rav Yekele Hy”d, named after his paternal grandfather, was one of the greatest iluyim and geniuses of Galicia.
His brother, Rav Yisrael Yosef Hy”d, named after his maternal grandfather, was chosen as son-in-law of Rav Menachem Ziemba Hy”d, for his daughter Miriam Hy”d.
Their oldest daughter Mindel married Rav Shlomo Goldstoff of Krakow.
