Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel zt"l
Known as the Apter Rav
Rabbi in Kolvosov, Yasi, Apte and Mezibuz
Author: Ohev Yisrael
5 Nissan 5585
Near the town of Apter there was an apostate, a Jew who had completely left his religion. He rose in power and became a high ranking officer. He hated the Jews and caused them a lot of aggravation. On every occasion, whenever he attended a meeting with the King and other ministers, he always tried somehow to bring up the topic about the Jews and cause the trouble.
At one such meeting a different minister, also an anti semite told the King about the horrific story that took place in his area.
A young girl went to draw water from the well but never returned home. It was a few weeks before the Jewish holiday of Pesach. After thorough investigations, they discovered that the Jews were to blame. They had kidnapped the girl, killed her and used her blood for their Matzos.
Everyone was raging with anger and were all ready to take revenge on all the Jews. A document was written out. All the ministers and officers signed.
But when it came to the apostate Jew, for some unknown reason, he stood up to speak.
“You all know that I used to be a Jew. Although no friend of theirs, to say it mildly, but one thing I can tell you for sure. This is a blood libel and a complete hoax. One of the biggest sins by Jews and disgusting is drinking blood or eating any food with blood in it. No one can fool me, because I grew up Jewish. This libel is a hoax.”
Everyone immediately accepted his words, knowing he was a Jew hater and wasn’t looking to help his fellow Jews.
Thanks to the apostate the decree was annulled.
But the fire of regret started burning in him. The great Mitzva of saving so many Jews from death aroused his inner soul. He had a great desire to return home to his religion.
But he didn’t know what to do. He had left his original Jewish wife and kids and had married out to a non Jewish lady and had non Jewish kids. He was sure he had no hope.
But even so, he decided to try his last chance and traveled to the Apter Rav.
The Apter Rav saw the apostate Jew he was very scared. Who knows what new decree he has up his sleeve against the Jews.
The Apter Rav tried to avoid talking to him. He apologized that he is old, it was late at night and he wasn’t up to meeting anyone.
But the man wouldn’t give up.
“Rabbi, just hear what I have to say.”
But the Apter Rav was adamant not to have any discussion with the man at all. He said, “If grass grows on the stick next to me, then I will talk to you.”
To the Apter Rav’s amazement, grass started sprouting out of the stick.
Now the Apter Rav understood something was serious here.
He called the man to his house and asked him what he wanted.
The man told over his story, how he regretted his behavior and wants to repent. But doesn’t know what to do and how? Especially with his second wife and family.
The Apter Rav told him to stay and he will help him. In addition he sent a message to the Rabbi of the town where this man lived and asked him to update him with any news about the apostate and his family.
The Man repented and followed the instructions of the Apter Rav.
Less than two weeks later the Rabbi sent a message to the Apter Rav that the apostate’s house had gone up in flames and everyone had died in the fire.
The Apter Rav called the man and told him that his repentance had been accepted in Heaven and he could now return to his former wife and family.
