KOSHER KAMEYOS
Rav Avraham of Olynov had the custom to give out kameyos and amulets for blessings, protection and salvation for those in need. There were many other tzaddikim in the generation who were very upset at him for doing so, as they assumed that the powers of those amulets to bring about refuos and yeshuos were due to Divine Names or other means they disapproved of. There were those that had epilepsy – the falling sickness, as it was once known – and had been healed by Rav Avraham’s kameyos, so the tzaddikim asked them to present the amulets for their inspection. But when the amulets were brought before them and opened, they discovered that rather than containing Divine Names or other Kabbalistic incantations, the amulets simply had scrawled the Hebrew letters such as .ארח ארש ארי The rabbanim were visibly relieved. “Those are simply shorthand for the names of the Tannaim that he mentioned while studying Talmud on that day.” They explained that ארח ארש ארי stood for Amar Rav Chisda, Amar Rav Sheshes, Amar Rav Yochanon, and they regretted having ever doubted Rav Avraham or suspecting him of wrongdoing. (Eser Ataros 2:4)
FIRST COMING TO ROPSHITZ
Rav Avraham of Olynov, the son of Rav Yitzchak Charif of Samvur, was a good friend and colleague of Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz. Rav Avraham was initially among the misnagdim, those that disagreed with derech ha’chassidus and opposed the Chassidim and their rebbes.
“Please come with me just once to Ropshitz to meet my rebbe, Rav Naftali.” Rav Chaim pleaded with Rav Avraham of Olynov again and again to no avail – the latter staunchly refused to agree to travel to Ropshitz. Finally, after much cajoling and persuading, Rav Avraham agreed. Rav Chaim was overjoyed and Rav Avraham promised that they would go in a few weeks’ time.
When the appointed date arrived, Rav Chaim of Sanz turned to another good friend and colleague, Rav Yosef of Rudnik, and said: “Rav Avraham finally agreed to come with me to Ropshitz to meet my rebbe, but as this will be his first visit, I am worried that perhaps no one there will give him the proper attention, or maybe his welcome won’t be warm enough and he will never agree to come again! Let us go with him together and see to it that he receives a proper warm welcome and due attention,” Rav Yosef agreed to the plan and set off together with Rav Avraham of Olynov for Ropshitz.
When they arrived before the threshold of the Ropshitzer Rav’s room, Rav Chaim and Rav Yosef were prepared to enter and introduce their friend and colleague as the Rav of Olynov so that he would receive the proper welcome. To their astonishment and surprise, he was ushered in ahead of them, as the Ropshizter Rav rose from his chair and seated Rav Avraham beside himself, a sign of respect and honor. “Baruch HaBa, Olynover Rav!” greeted the Ropshitzer prophetically, no introductions necessary! They sat there together for several hours, conversing in secret matters. Afterwards the Olynover Rav took his leave and the Ropshizter escorted his guest to the gate of the courtyard. When he returned, Rav Naftali extended his hand in greeting to his other two guests in turn, to Rav Chaim of Sanz and to Rav Yosef of Rudnik and then he sat himself down once again in his chair and began stroking his beard, sighing and saying to himself (out loud): “Naftali, Naftali! Have your eyes seen how white the hairs of your beard have grown? You have grown old with age yet you have accomplished nothing! See how the Olynover Rav, so much younger than yourself, has already succeeded in accomplishing so much more, would that it were so?! If only I had been able to make such unifications as he has during these few hours?!” With a sigh of regret, the Rav concluded his lament and called his son over. Rav Eliezer of Dzhikov, Rav Naftali’s son, approached. Back then he was just a young man full of life, and the Ropshitzer told him: “See now, we have an important guest with us for Shabbos, the Olynover Rav,” the Ropshitzer warned him with a wink. “Now I know how much you like your little pranks and you are always a troublemaker with the rabbanim and guests that come to visit here, but I am warning you full well this time! Give it up or you shall regret it! He is a flaming fire; guard yourself lest you are scorched, touch not even the hairs of his beard!” This warning was summarily delivered and Eliezer was dismissed. And this is how the first visit between the disciple and talmid the Olynover Rav and his future rebbe, Rav Naftali of Ropshitz, unfolded. (Ohel Naftali #292, pg 108).
THE CHUPPAH AND THE FAVOR
Der groise chasunah –Chassidim applied such a title to specific auspicious occasions, weddings of particular renown and importance. Rav Meilech of Rudnik’s chasunah was one such event that had earned that nickname and title.
Among the tzaddikim gathered there to celebrate and officiate was Rav Naftali Ropshitzer’s famed son Rav Eliezer of Dzhikov and the Ropshitzter’s talmid and disciple Rav Avraham of Olynov. The Olynover Rav was invited to be mesader kiddushin and marry the couple. He ascended to the chuppah, grasped the goblet of wine in hand and . . . stood there frozen, rooted to the spot, unmoving . . . time passed, no one dared interrupt although no one understood the delay. The Olynover Rav just stood under the wedding canopy, wine in hand, waiting, deep in concentration, absorbed in his own holy thoughts, waiting silently, for what? No one knew. Time passed, one hour, two hours, people were getting restless but their respect for the Olynover Rav won out and they waited. He stood still as a statue, not a hand or foot moved, and then . . . just as suddenly he awoke and came back to life. He proceeded to officiate as mesader kiddushin and married the couple. No one understood what had delayed the Olynov Rav. “No one but me,” explained Rav Meilech of Rudnick, as he repeated the story to his Chassidim and followers as he was accustomed to in later years. “You have no idea what a heavenly favor the holy tzaddik did for me there under my chuppah. During those two holy, hallowed hours, he helped my two children live and survive! Two hours of his tefillos for those two children!” As is known, Rav Meilech of Rudnik had fourteen children in his lifetime and only two survived – the famed Rav Elazar of Reisha and one other, a daughter (Ohel Naftali # 292 pg 109).
DANCE, REJOICE!
Rav Avraham of Olynov was among the greatest talmidim and disciples of Rav Naftali Ropshitzer. He passed away on Simchas Torah in Olynov, and this is how it took place:
The Chassidim were merry making, throngs of dancers and acrobatics ran through the streets of Ropshitz on Simchas Torah. The circles of Chassidim gathered, undulating in dance and song before the windows of the Ropshitzer beis medrash were a sight to behold! The rebbe himself, Rav Naftali Horowitz, stood by the window gazing out at the joyful dancing Chassidim, but not seeing them; his eyes stared through them to some other far off place, a sight only he could see. Suddenly he raised up his hand and silenced the merrymakers with a gesture to stop and cease. A few moments of tense silence passed and then the tzaddik spoke:
“If a single mighty soldier falls on the battlefield, does that mean that all the others must flee in fear, like the faint of heart?” he asked rhetorically. He answered his own question with a loud resounding declaration: “No! The war must go on! Dance! Rejoice! Dance!!!!”
The rebbe’s mysterious speech was understood by no one, but they understood the rebbe’s command all too well, and so they resumed their previous dance as before with even greater exuberance. Only afterwards did word reach them of what their rebbe knew all along: the great tzaddik and Rav of Olynov had passed away and left this world. (Ohel Naftali #45, pgs 23-24; MiDor Dor vol III, 2280)
