Rav Meilich Biderman related a story. When Rav Meir Shapiro, zt”l, was younger, he was a Rav in Sanik. One Shabbos, Rav Meir was visiting his Rebbe, Rebbe Yisroel of Chortkov, zt”l, and the Rebbe honored him to be the Chazan for Musaf, and also to Bentch Rosh Chodesh, as it was Shabbos Mevorchim.
The Chortkover Rebbe and Rav Meir Shapiro
After Davening, the Rebbe invited Rav Meir to eat the Shabbos Seudah together with him. Later, Rav Meir Shapiro related what happened at that Seudah:
As soon as I came in, the Rebbe said to me, “Ah! Reb Meir! Your Tefilah! Your Rosh Chodesh Bentching! They were so beautiful!” The Rebbe repeated this several times during the Seudah.
I said to the Rebbe, “If the Rebbe enjoys my Davening so much, perhaps I should leave Sanik, and become the Chazan here?”
The Rebbe became serious, and told me a story of Rav Zusha of Anipoli, zt”l. Rav Zusha would occasionally go into Galus, and travel from one place to another. One time, he came upon the city where the Gaon Rav Yusfa, zt”l, lived. Rav Yusfa was a great Talmid Chacham, and he was an expert in all parts of the Torah.
Rav Zusha went to hear his Shiur. After the Shiur Rav Zusha went over to Rav Yusfa to tell him how much he enjoyed the Shiur. He said, “It was worth traveling the long distance from my home to come here, just to listen to this sweet Shiur!”
Rav Yusfa said to Rav Zusha, “I understand why you were happy with my Shiur, but I can’t figure out why I’m so impressed by you! At first impression, you look like a typical pauper, who goes from city to city to collect money. But I perceive that the spirit of Hashem rests on you. You are certainly a great Talmid Chacham.”
Rav Zusha answered, “Rebbe, I’m not a Talmid Chacham at all. I’m an Am Ha’aretz. But perhaps the Rebbe is picking up on something because I know how to Daven.”
The Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin that existed from 1930-1939
Rav Yusfa was surprised, “Who doesn’t know how to Daven? The people who live here don’t know how to Daven?”
Rav Zusha replied, “They know how to Daven, but I know how to Daven before the Ribon HaOlamim, the Master of the World.”
Rav Yusfa asked, “Maybe you can teach me how one Davens ‘before the Ribon HaOlamim’?”
Rav Zusha said, “I can teach you, but not in front of everyone else. Let’s go into a private room and I’ll teach you.” Rav Zusha taught the Rav the secrets of Tefilah, and how to Daven properly before Hashem.
Rav Yusfa was very inspired, “Perhaps I should leave my position as a Rav and leave my Yeshivah, just so I can always Daven properly!”
Rav Zusha told Rav Yusfa, “HaKadosh Baruch Hu created so many people in the world, and although everyone was created with the same two eyes, two ears, a nose, and a mouth, everyone still appears differently. Chazal tell us, that just as their faces are different, so are their minds different. Why did Hashem do this? It is because Hashem wants each person to serve Him according to his own way, according to who he is, and in accordance with his strengths and talents. Therefore, you should continue in your path of Avodas Hashem, to teach Torah to Yidden, and I will continue along my path, the path of Tefilah.”
The Chortkover Rebbe finished this story and said to Rav Meir Shapiro, “Hashem wants you to teach Torah to Yidden. That’s what Hashem has chosen for you. Therefore, He gave you the talents, the motivation, the intelligence, and all the other traits that are needed to succeed in that area. You should do your Avodah and teach Torah to Yidden, and I will do my Avodah, which is to Daven to Hashem.”
After this conversation with the Chortkover Rebbe, Rav Meir Shapiro decided to open Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, where he could channel all of his abilities to teach Torah to Yidden. He understood that this was his mission, and therefore, he invested all of his energy to succeed on his own individual path!
Reprinted from the Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
