THE BEIS HACHAIM
Rav Menachem Nuchem Rabi Rabinowitz of Boznisnak was a descendant of Rav Yaakov Yisroel of Tsherkas. He related this story that he had heard from Rav Aharon Czernobler’s chassidim who lived in Kremintzuk. Kremintzuk’s population was made up of mostly Tsherkaser chassidim, and so, when the local beis ha’chaim was full and they needed to expand, they naturally turned to the Tsherkaser Rebbe for advice regarding plans for enlarging the cemetery.
They invited the rebbe to spend Shabbos in Kremintzuk to mekadesh the new chelkas beis hachaim. After the Tsherkaser Rebbe’s arrival on Motza’ei Shabbos, the gabbaim of the chevra kaddisha entered the rebbe’s study and presented two alternate sets of plans. “We have the possibility to expand the beis hachaim either along its length or width. If we expand its width, it will be cheaper since we won’t have to move the chedrei tahara where the purification takes place.”
The rebbe leaned a bit on his arm, and after a few moments he responded: “When I get there, I shall decide the best way to proceed.”
“Now understand,” Rav Aharon Czernobler’s chassid said, “I was there, and as a Czernobler Chassid, I couldn’t understand what the rebbe needed to see on location and why he couldn’t decide now. I took a small coach and hurried off intending to arrive before the rebbe and see what he would do. The rebbe’s coach took a shorter route and arrived near the wide part of the beis hachaim. I observed as ethe rebbe approached the cemetery fence. He moved aside two pickets from the fence and peered inside the beis hachaim. Then the strangest thing happened” described the chassid. “The rebbe appeared to sniff for something and as soon as he appeared satisfied with whatever scent he picked up, he immediately ran back to the coach and ordered the driver to be off!
“I followed, and we all arrived at the crowd awaiting the rebbe. There the rebbe told them that he had arrived at his decision. Despite the extra cost involved under no circumstances were they to expand the beis hachaim along the width. Rather, they should expand along the length. He gave no explanation and he was mekadesh the beis hachaim along the length.
“I, however, wasn’t satisfied,” continued the chassid. “Out of curiosity, I approached two elderly chassidim and asked them to accompany me back to the beis hachaim. I showed them the spot where the rebbe had stood by the fence and smelled whatever it was he smelled, and they recognized the spot. “Who is buried here by the fence?” I asked them. They named several well-known apikorsim, that were buried there.
At that moment, I realized that the Tsherkaser Rebbe really has ruach hakodesh and I decided then to attach myself to him!” (Emek Tefilla, Intro)
