Reb Pinchas Reizes, one of the greatest chasidim of the Alter Rebbe, was an incredible gaon in learning. The Rabbeim trusted him fully, involving him in many private and clandestine activities having to do with them and the chasidim. He was also a wealthy and influential resident of Shklov and did a great deal for the Alter Rebbe in that respect. He was a chozer during the time of the Alter Rebbe who was known for the preciseness of his hanachos (transcriptions). The Mitteler Rebbe called Reb Pinchas the “field marshal” of chasidei Chabad.
Reb Pinchas traveled to the Alter Rebbe for four months during the year: Elul, Tishrei, Nissan and Sivan. Once, Reb Pinchas fell ill and was unable to make the journey for Tishrei. Later on during the month, he felt better, but because the winter had already set in, he remained in Shklov. While sitting in his sukkah on Shmini Atzeres, he suddenly cried out, “Oy Rebbe!” and said to those sitting with him that the Rebbe had just thought of him.
At this same time, the Alter Rebbe was sitting at his seudah in his sukkah, and he said: “Pinchas Reizes needs his body to be cured. That which I cannot give him, I cannot give, but a bodily refua I can give him.”
The chassidishe young men from Shklov were very surprised to hear the Rebbe suddenly mention Reb Pinchas in middle of the Shmini Atzeres meal. After Yom Tov, upon their return home, they immediately went to the home of Reb Pinchas and asked him for mashke, which he supplied. As they were speaking, they discovered that at the same time the Alter Rebbe had mentioned him, Reb Pinchas had screamed, “Oy Rebbe!”
Chasidim have always been averse to an outwardly showing of greatness by displaying ruach hakodesh and the like, and reprimanded him for such behavior. Reb Pinchas declared, “It was not me. The first time I went for yechidus, I gave the Rebbe my nefesh. The second time, I gave him my ruach, and the third time, I gave over my neshama. Being that my entire neshama had been given over to the Rebbe, it was not my powers that did this.”
The Rebbe explained that some aspect of this is relevant today through total dedication of the neshama to the Rebbe. However, this level was reached only after the intense learning and toiling in avoda as Reb Pinchas would do.
