The wonderous boy served as Klal Yisrael's salvation on Rosh Hashanah
Rebbe Dovid Biderman the holy Rebbe from Lelov was born 1776 to his holy father Rebbe Shlomo Tzvi and his mother Malka. Despite being poor they managed to provide the best teachers for their son. The boy developed himself and met the holy Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk who initially shunned him but later accepted him as one of his closest disciples after witnessing his intensity of devotion. The year that Reb Elimelech passed away he became a student of Rebbe Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz the Chozeh of Lublin.
In the city of Lelov, a couple passed away unexpectedly and left behind a young orphan named Itzikal, and Rebbe Dovid took him to his home and raised and educated him. Since Itzikal was a bright youngster who picked things up quickly, Rebbe Dovid spent a lot of time with him and enjoyed talking to him. Every Rosh Hashanah, Rebbe Dovid would travel to the Chozeh of Lublin to be with the Rebbe; Itzikal, being too young, would be left at home. As he grew older and realized how important it was to visit a tzaddik, he yearned to accompany Rebbe Dovid to Lublin. With grace, Rebbe Dovid replied, "There are many people there who, God forbid, could step on him. Secondly, it will be difficult to pray because he will have to pay attention to him." For these reasons, he asked the boy to stay at home.
When Rebbe Dovid said goodbye to Itzikel, Itzikel went to go with him to the wagon. Itzikal heard what Rebbe Dovid said, but he did not reveal his plan. The wagon was large enough for Rebbe Dovid and additional Chassidim to ride in. Itzikal grabbed onto a board that was coming from below when the wagon began to move. Itzikal found a place to go and proceeded until the Chassidim got off the wagon and Itzikal was seen hiding beneath the wagon. They informed Rebbe Dovid about Itzikal's arrival. The extremely modest and spiritual Rebbe Dovid calmly brought Itzikal on board the wagon without reprimanding him, and sat him down beside him.
The Rebbe of Lublin's table stretches to Lelov, and Rebbe Dovid sits at the end of it, as he once said. He begged Itzikal to behave and sit next to him at all times, saying that since Itzikal is now with him, this is Hashem's will. Itzikal was instructed by Rebbe Dovid to always hold on to his gartel in order to stay close to him. Itzikal was happy to be there and understood and consented to this. He stayed constantly next to Rebbe Dovid, prayed, and behaved well to prevent interruptions to his prayer.
Rebbe Dovid started meditating to find out why Hashem had sent Itzikal. He was aware that Itzikal's arrival was not in vain and that something significant was happening in heaven! Following Shachris and the Torah reading on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, there was a break. Following his custom, the Chozeh went to his room and would later emerge to blow the shofar. This time the Chozeh entered the room and he did not come out as usual. The Chassidim noticed that it was late and were worried since the Chozeh never stayed so long in his room. The greatest Talmid of the Chozeh, Reb Dovid, was approached by the Chassidim, who asked him to go see what was going on with the Rebbe and why he hadn't shown up for the Shofar blowing.
With no other option, Reb Dovid took Itzikal with him and instructed him to hold onto the gartel as they entered the Chozeh's room together. Why wasn't the Rebbe coming out to Shofar, Reb Dovid questioned. The Chozeh asked the boy his name instead of responding to him. He answered, "Itzikal!" Then the Chozeh inquired as to what he was now learning in Cheder. Itzikal responded that he was currently studying the halachic topic of a relative's ineligibility to serve as a witness. Why is it improper for a relative to testify, the Chozen questioned him? Itzikal retorted, stating that a relative is invalid if he testifies falsely in order to benefit his relative. The Chozeh asked Itzikal if he was having any trouble with this topic as they carried on their conversation. Itzikal wisely replied that he found it extremely challenging. It makes sense that a relative would wish to testify in favor of something good and for his relative's benefit. But when a family member wishes to testify and make negative remarks about his relative, why should he be unable to testify?
His response thrilled the Chozeh, who then questioned Itzikal, "And what was your solution for this?" Itzikal answered that it was quite easy. The Torah states in Devarim 19:17, "then both the men shall stand before Bais Din," to clarify that both witnesses must be a regular person. A relative who is able to speak ill of his relative is not a person. As a result, a relative cannot ever testify. With a smile on his face, the Chozeh said, "If that is the case, then there is no one closer to us than the one above, and he will not speak poorly of his children." We can now proceed to blow the shofar. Later, the Lelover Rebbe declared with great enthusiasm that the entire fiasco was orchestrated by the Chozeh in order to bring Itizikal to serve as Klal Yisrael's salvation on Rosh Hashanah.
