The Radomsker Rebbe - Rabbi Shlomo Hakohen Rabinowicz (1801-1866), Poland; The first Rebbe of the Radomsk Hasidic dynasty and one of the great Hasidic masters of 19th-century Poland. His sefer, Tiferes Shlomo is considered a classic in Hasidic literature. Paid special attention to the needs of the Jews of Radomsk proper, collecting money to bribe the Czar's officials to release townsmen from the army. Had a beautiful singing voice and was renowned as a chazzan and composer of Hasidic music, composing new nigunim each year for the Yamim Noraim and Yamim Tovim. Also had a practice of visiting a different tzadik every Shavuot.
Why do we say the entirety of Beit Yisrael if that is untrue? It is because it is true! When one of our brethren are in captivity, we are all in captivity. All of us. We are all in the same position of distress, and one who separates from it, and believes they can live life, eat and drink, as though nothing is affecting them – such a person will not see the comfort brought to the community when it arrives. Some of us cannot join the army and fight, nor can we join the hospital and treat the wounded. But we can do other things. We can daven. We can reduce the worldly pleasures we indulge in. I saw a note from many Rabbis, directing the public not to eat meat on Mondays or Thursdays during the weeks of shovevim (Shemot through Mishpatim). It won’t kill anyone to hold back on meat twice each week. In reality, we should all be fasting, so at least we can reduce our food intake related purely to pleasure. Moshe was chosen because he took on the burdens of others, and we should take on the pain and distress of others as well. Hakadosh Baruch Hu is there, in the middle of that suffering, and we should be as well.
As we approach the month of Shevat (שׁ ְ ב ָ ט), may the acronym of שׁ ֶ ' נִּתְ בַּשּׂ ֵ ר בְּ ' שׂוֹרוֹת ט' וֹבוֹת come true and may we be brought the anticipated news of Mashiach’s arrival and the end of all our suffering. ◊
