By Yehuda Z Klitnick
Reb Yisrael Perlow was the son of Reb Asher of Stolin. Yisrael was only four-and-a-half years old when his saintly father was nifter, but he had shown brilliancy, and the elder Chassidim, found condolence in the young boy, and crowned him as Rebbe to continue the holy unbroken chain of Stolin-Karlin Rebbes.
Thousands of people came to see a Tish headed by a young boy. Hence he is known as the Yenuka, a young boy. However, in Stolin, he is known as the Frankfurtor, since he is buried there. The second day of Rosh Hashanah 5622, the Rebbe passed away in the hospital in Bodenheim at the young age of 51 and he was buried in Frankfurt..
Reb Yisrael Yitzchok Meshi Zahav traveled to raise money for needy people in Jerusalem. Whenever he was to leave back to Jerusalem, he would visit the Stoliner Rebbe, Reb Yisrael, in Stolin to get a bracha for a safe trip home. The ship to Israel was in Odessa, and Reb Meshi Zahav would take a train, which had a stop in Horin, outside of Stolin, and see the Rebbe.
Before the World War I Broke Out
This was in 1914 right before World War 1 broke out and he wanted to get on a ship from Odessa to Israel. Reb Meshi Zahav realized that it was a dangerous time in the world and made sure to make a stop in Stolin to get a bracha from the Rebbe.
The Rebbe greeted him warmly and got into an interesting discussion which took quite a while, but Reb Meshi Zahav didn’t have the Chutzpah to tell the Rebbe, that he would miss his train to Odessa. After the discussion, the Rebbe asked Reb Meshi Zahav to stay overnight in Stolin. However, Reb Meshi Zahav told the Rebbe that if he missed the train he would lose eight rubles which is a lot of money.
The Rebbe pleaded with him to stay overnight, and if he decided to go, the Rebbe wouldn’t give him a bracha and take upon himself if anything happened! Reb Meshi Zahav heard what the Rebbe said, but felt that he could not afford to lose eight rubles, and if the Rebbe won’t give him a bracha, so be it, and he left the room.
It didn’t take long when the Rebbe sent his Gabbay to have Reb Meshi Zahav come back to him as he needed to send something very important to Eretz Yisrael. This was stressful to Reb Meshi Zahav, but he figured it would only take a few minutes to go to the Rebbe and pick up what the Rebbe wanted to send, and he would still have enough time to catch the train to Odessa.
When Reb Meshi Zahav returned to the Rebbe, he was received again very warmly. The Rebbe thanked him for coming back and told him he wanted to write a short letter to his Chassidim in Eretz Yisrael to give them Chizuk in this period. Reb Meshi Zahav reluctantly said he would wait until the Rebbe finished the letter. He sits down in the waiting room and waits, however, the door to the Rebbe stays closed and he realizes that he has no choice but to wait now!
Realizing that He Had Missed the Train
He looked at his watch and saw that he missed the train to Odessa and would have to catch the next train. Finally, the Rebbe opened the door handed over the letter to Reb Meshi Zahav and gave him a warm bracha for a safe trip home. Reb Meshi Zahav was a bit upset that he lost eight rubles but he arrived near the train station to wait for the next train, he saw that the station was closed and ambulances and police were at the station.
He went to find out what happened. and he was told that as soon as the train left the station, it collided with an oncoming train and hundreds of people perished in the accident. The next train might only leave tomorrow afternoon.
Reb Meshi Zahav realized that the Rebbe foresaw everything and he owed his life to the Rebbe. He returned to Stolin, and the Rebbe asked nonchalantly, why he returned so soon. Reb Meshi Zahav was in shock and told the Rebbe about the accident, and the Rebbe saved his life!
Denying that it was a Miracle
The Rebbe answered it was not a miracle! I saw on your forehead that you were destined to live, and I wanted to save you from going on the train and having agony and aggravation. Reb Meshi Zahav decided to stay a few days in Stolin.
However, the next day right after davening the Rebbe called over Reb Meshi Zahav and told him to leave immediately and catch the train to Odessa! Reb Meshi Zahav understood that the Rebbe saw everything and said goodbye and went as fast as could to catch the next train to Odessa.
When Reb Meshi Zahav came to the port in Odessa he purchased a ticket and went onto the ship. Reb Meshi Zahav arrived in Eretz Yisrael and heard that his ship was the last one that was allowed to leave Odessa. If the Rebbe wouldn’t have pushed him to go then and there, he would have had to stay in Russia until after the war! Reb Meshi Zahav was forever grateful to the Stoliner Rebbe for saving his life.
This story was retold by his son Reb Chaim David Meshi Zahav of Jerusalem.
Reprinted from the Parshas Nitzavim 5785 email of Pardes Yehuda.
