Story of the week (By Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
The first Amshinover Rebbe teaches an arrogant scholar a lesson
Harav Hakadosh Rav Yaakov Dovid, son of Harav Hakadosh Rav Yisrael Yitzchok Kalish, the Vurka Rebbe, founded Amshinov Chassidus in the Polish town of Mszczonów. His father Rav Yisrael Yitzchok was from the elite students of Harav Hakadosh Rav Simcha Bunim of Parshicha.
Reb Yaakov Dovid was renowned for his kindness and compassion for all Jews. He was ready to sacrifice himself for any Yid, even if it meant mesiras nefesh. If it would benefit a Yid, he was always willing to get involved and do anything he could with the government. The authorities held great regard for him, even though it occasionally endangered his life. He accepted it and dismissed insults that otherwise diminished his honor, or kavod. He never gave these things any attention. When he found himself in the center of a major, heated dispute, one of the primary players shunned him and he severely punished him until he learned his lesson. This is how the tale unfolded:
There once was a young, intelligent young boy in Raz'an who had exceptional learning skills. Being a top boy he becme engaged to the daughter of a prominent rich man. His father-in-law provided him with continuous kest, or support, enabling him to continue studying without having to work and finally become a Rav. Sadly, the young man lacked the motivation to learn by sitting down. He made the choice to invest the money his father-in-law handed him as a dowry when he got married in a business. With a sharp mind, he spent his days engaging in commercial activities since he wanted to get into it. His father-in-law was a Kotzker Chossid and a clever man. Dissatisfied with his son-in-law, he turned to the Kotzker Rebbe.
The Kotzker Rebbe told the father-in-law, "Tell your son-in-law that all his work will be for nothing." He will not have hatzlachah in business.” Nevertheless the young man was a wise man. He didn't fear the tzaddik's opinions or the opposition he received from his father-in-law. He thought he would succeed if he utilized his money and intelligence. He experienced a lot of haltzlachah in his business for a little period of time, which reinforced his pride. Because of his affluence and arrogance, he developed a snobby attitude and started voicing his opinions to everyone in the community. Because he was also skilled in learning, he launched an offensive against the town's Rav, challenging his decisions, which led to a severe machlokess in the community.
The town's residents sought the Amshenover tzaddik, Rebbi Yaakov Dovid zatak"l, who was renowned for being a "Rodef Sholom," or a man who pursues peace, in order to put out the fire and combat the machlokess. Reb Yaakov Dovid of Amshenov was an extremely intelligent man who always managed to find common ground wherever he went. They were hoping he would put out this fire. No second's hesitation was shown by the Amshenover Rebbe He was indifferent to himself and his personal wants were unimportant to him. He promptly prepared his wagon for journey, heading toward the village of Raz'an.
Upon arriving in Raz'an, the Rebbe checked into a hotel and promptly summoned the young man to him. He urged the man to bow down to the Rav, ask him for a mechilah, and put an end to this senseless machlokess that was doing the world no good. Because of his pride and stubbornness, the young guy refused to be convinced. He thought he was right and that everyone should submit to his requests, acknowledge his correctness, and share his opinions. With great seriousness, the Amshenover commanded him, "I will give you a brachah if you will not obey." You're going to become a Rav shortly, and people will hold a lot of grudges against you. Then you'll experience what it's like to be a Rav who has to deal with a powerful man in the community and what it's like to be up against a strong, unyielding man."
The words spoken by the Kotzker Rebbe soon came to pass. The man's labors were in vain. He lost everything in a single day, including the sizeable dowry his father-in-law had given him, when his entire firm collapsed. In the end, he had nothing. The man was left with nothing at all, not even bread to eat, but he was still able to learn, and in a distant village he became a Rav. However, the Amshenover tzaddik's "brachah" eventually came to pass. Soon after he obtained the name Rav, a strong, unyielding wealthy guy confronted him and engaged in conflict. He had to give up being a Rav very quickly, so he moved out of town to live somewhere else. There, too, he became Rav, but his life was harsh and terrible because of another rich guy. And so it did. Throughout his life, he moved about, became a Rav, and was rejected from each community he lived in. He did not have a successful life as a Rav.
At last, he regained consciousness and realized the true meaning of being a Rav facing a formidable and unyielding wealthy man in a fierce battle, just as the tzaddik had “blessed” him. After accepting who he was, he returned to Raz'an and begged the Rav for forgiveness. He gained invaluable insight about never opposing a tzaddik. In addition, he begged his father-in-law's pardon and pledged to sit down and advance in his Torah learning. His father-in-law was happy and offered to help him, and he made progress in his Torah studies, and lived a tranquil meaningful life.
