Helped the Great Reb Asher of Stolin ztz"l with a Sukkah and Merited Longevity (26th of Tishrei)

The holy Reb Asher of Stolin ztz"l was born in 5520 (1760) to his holy father, the Holy Rabbi Aaron Hagadol of Karlin ztz"l. He was orphaned at the age of twelve when Reb Aaron suddenly passed away on the 19th of Nissan, 5532 (1772). Reb Asher was raised by the Holy Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin, who had been a disciple of Reb Aaron the Great and served as his successor until the 22nd of Tamuz, 5552 (1792), when Reb Shlomo was killed by a Gentile at fifty-two years old. Holy tzaddikim said of Reb Shlomo that he was Mashiach ben Yosef, who according to tradition is destined to fall at the hands of a Gentile. Reb Asher traveled to one hundred and ten tzaddikim in his lifetime and led the Hasidic movement until his passing on the 26th of Tishrei, 5587 (1826).

His household expenses were large, so the Great Stoliner traveled frequently to raise funds for his court. Once, he was on a distant journey and was forced to stay there for Succos. In that town, there was only a single Sukkah for the entire community. That year, severe cold set in early, and the roof of the Sukkah became covered with a thick slab of ice, making it impossible to open the roof and use the sechach (covering). When the Great Stoliner asked about the Succos situation in town, they broke the bad news that the town's only Sukkah could not be used. The Rebbe went to inspect the Sukkah, began to weep, and was utterly heartbroken. The townsfolk learned that the Rebbe wanted to celebrate Succos with them, but he was deeply pained, saying he could not endure Succos without a Sukkah.

There lived in that town a strong young man who approached the Rebbe and promised to ensure the Sukkah would be ready for the holiday. The young man climbed onto the roof and tried with all his strength to see what could be done, but seeing how thick the ice was, he realized he could not accomplish it alone. He called several friends who came to help chop the ice in the biting cold to make the task easier for him. His friends helped for a while, but the freezing cold became too unbearable, and they all left. The young man desperately wanted to help the Rebbe and decided to proceed with complete mesiras nefesh. He chopped away, sweating profusely in the freezing cold, until he finally succeeded in dislodging the ice from the roof. He opened the roof, revealing valid sechach over the Sukkah. The Great Stoliner rejoiced greatly and thanked him for his devotion.

However, a person is only human, and sweating in the freezing weather took a heavy toll on the young man. He developed a high fever and severe pneumonia, losing his strength until he was bedridden. People went to ask the Great Stoliner to pray for him. The Rebbe listened and inquired about his condition, but offered no blessing at that moment. Meanwhile, the festival of Succos arrived, and the Rebbe instructed that the young man be brought to the Sukkah, saying he wished to recite the blessing Leishev BaSukkah with him and eat the first required kazayit of the festival alongside him.

The young man was overjoyed upon receiving the Rebbe's invitation and requested to be carried there in his bed, as he had no strength to stand. The Great Stoliner waited, and when the young man arrived, the Rebbe greeted him with immense joy, thanking him warmly for his great effort and sacrifice in making the Sukkah possible. Understandably, the young man was spiritually uplifted, but he said to the Rebbe, "Everything is wonderful, Rebbe, but you see what this has brought upon me!" The Rebbe responded, "Do not fear, and do not worry; Hashem willing, you will be completely healthy."

Hearing these words, the young man was comforted. The Rebbe asked for him to be lifted out of bed and seated beside him. The Rebbe poured him a cup of wine, instructed him to recite Kiddush and Leishev BaSukkah, and thank Hashem, minute by minute, the young man felt his strength returning. The Rebbe placed the Lechem Mishneh before him and urged him to eat, and he began feeling much better.

After reciting Grace After Meals, the Rebbe bestowed a further blessing upon him. The young man returned home feeling greatly improved, and by the end of Succos, he was completely healed. After the holiday, when the Rebbe prepared to return home, he bade farewell to the townsfolk. The young man came to see him off, entirely healthy and full of strength. In the merit of his self-sacrifice, the Rebbe blessed him with longevity, wealth, and joy from his children.

Rabbi Nachman Yosef Wilhelm ztz"l—father-in-law of the Holy Rabbi Yochanan of Rachmastrivka of Jerusalem ztz"l—related that while in Stolin in 5652 (1892), he met this very Jew, who had come to receive a blessing from the holy Rebbe, the Or Yisrael of Stolin ztz"l. By then, the man was well over one hundred years old, blessed with exceptional wealth and distinguished children—all in the merit of his self-sacrifice.