Rabbi Shalom Eliezer Halberstam HY”D
Grand Rabbi of Ratzport
Auschwitz 16 Sivan 5704
Rav Shalom Leizer, as he was known, was only fourteen when his great father Rabbi Chaim Halberstam of Sanz passed away. He held that the reason why Chassidim came to him for blessings was not in his own merit but only because he was the son of the Sanzer Rav zt”l.
Rav Shalom Leizer once sent a letter to Reb Dovid Pinkes who lived in Temeshvyer and he wrote that he would like to come for Shabbos and only wants to stay in his house.
Reb Dovid welcomed him warmly and gave away his whole house for the Rebbe during his stay in Temeshvyer.
Reb Dovid noticed that the Rebbe looked disturbed and asked him what was bothering him?
Rav Shalom Leizer replied that he didn’t see much chance of being able to raise funds as it was a small town without many wealthy people.
Reb Dovid asked the Rebbe how much money he was hoping to get together. The Rebbe told him how much, and Reb Dovid himself gave the Rebbe the full amount. He added that in addition all the local townspeople who come for a Beracha and leave a donation will be an extra bonus.
Reb Dovid had some connections with some wealthy people. He went and got together some large sums of money for the Rebbe.
Rav Shalom Leizer left after Shabbos very happily after having such success.
That night Reb Dovid had a dream. The Sanzer Rav came to him in a dream and said, “Dovid, you honored my son. I came to thank you and give you a Beracha.”
After that Reb Dovid had great success in his business.
Once Rav Shalom Leizer came to Klausenberg for Shabbos. He stayed by a wealthy man who was a strong Chassid of his father, the Sanzer Rav.
However, due to some personal issues at home, the man couldn’t honor Rav Shalom Leizer the way he deserved. He gave him a room next to his house. The room was full of things and it wasn’t very respectful for such a great Tzaddik. The Rebbe left after Shabbos and from that day on the wheel turned for the man.
Within a few months he lost all his money and became a pauper. Whatever he tried to do, was unsuccessful.
The man used to daven by the Klausenberger Rav. He regularly came to ask him for a Beracha and mentioned that he is positive that his misfortune came after Rav Shalom Leizer had stayed in his house and he hadn’t treated him with the respect he deserved. But he added that it wasn’t his fault.
After a while, Rav Shalom Leizer came again to Klausenberg and traveled on from there to Siget for a Chassuna. The Klausenberger Rav accompanied him on the trip. He decide to use the opportunity to ask his uncle about that man who lost all his money.
In a roundabout way the Klausenberger Rav brought it up and said, “everyone knows that because of the upset which was caused to the Uncle (as the Klausenberger Rav referred to his uncle Rav Shalom Leizer) the Uncle made him lose his money.””
Rav Shalom Leizer replied very seriously, “how can you say that. Do you think I punished him? I have never punished another Jew. Hashem stood up for my honor, but I would never punish another Jew.”
During the Second World War, Rav Shalom Leizer was davening Shachris with a Minyan. In the middle a Hungarian soldier walked in and demanded that everyone gives him their Tefillin. Reb Zushele went up to his father and told him what the soldier said.
Rav Shalom Leizer held his Tefillin close to himself and said, “I received these Tefillin from my father and I will not give them to anyone.”
Whilst they were talking an officer walked in and asked what is going on?
Reb Zushele told the officer that a soldier had demanded they all give him their Tefillin.
The officer called the soldier and ripped off all his badges and stripes and told him that he isn’t a soldier anymore, and after that the Officer disappeared.
Rav Shalom Leizer told some of his grandchildren who would survive the holocaust. When one of them asked him, “what about Zeidy?”
He replied that he wouldn’t survive.
May Hashem avenge his blood.
