The Lemberger Rav greatly respected and admired Rav Hershele of Riminav
Rav Tzvi Hirsch Hakohen Katz -known as Rav HershMeshares-, the Rebbe of Riminov, ,u"k odkd yxid iav x"enc`d
aepinixn was born 1788 in a small town in Western Galicia, Dabrowa Tarnowska, to simple parents, R’ Yehuda Leib Katz and his wife Shprintza. They were simple Jews, and they sent their son to a cheder, never dreaming that someday he would grow up to be one of the pious leaders of Israel. When he was 10 years old, tragedy struck, and he lost both his parents. Alone in the world, he was fortunate to have a cousin, Reb David of Tarnow, who searched for and found a simple but honest tailor who agreed to take in the little boy as a foster child. He taught him tailoring so that the boy might have a trade when he grew up.
Rav Hershel used to say when he was a Rebbe, “I was never a great success as a tailor. I did, however, learn two very important things from my teacher. When he used to give me a garment that was old and torn, he would say, ‘Be careful to sew up the tear so that it is as good as the original.’ On the other hand, when he would give me new material, he would say, ‘Be careful not to ruin the good material that I have given you.’ “These two things I have never forgotten,” Rav Hershele said. “I have always tried to repair the tears in my soul so that I may return them to my Maker in as close as possible to their original condition. On the other hand, I watch every good quality that I have acquired so as not to ruin it. Rav Hershel became the loyal servant to Rav Menachem Mendel of Riminav, and he was appointed by him as his deputy, and he was crowned as Rebbe after the Rebbe passed away.
In Lemberg, the chief Rabbi was Hagaon Rav Yaakov Meshulam Orenstein, author of Yeshuas Yaakov on Shulchan Aruch, the son of Hagaon Rav Mordechai Zeev. Since Lemberg was a large city, many Rabbanim and Rebbes came to visit. The custom was that everyone would visit Lemberger Rav while visiting the city. The meetings were set up in advance to be prepared to honor the personalities. When the Rav was notified that Rav Hershel was planning to visit him, the Rav was very skeptical that a servant of a Rebbe could become a Rebbe. He therefore told his gabbaim to remove all the chairs from the room when Rav Hershel comes with his chassiddim, so they would have to stand at the meeting.
It was announced that Rabbi Hershel could come in; however, when he came to the door, he wanted to kiss the Mezuzah, but his hand refused to move. He tried doing so a few times but to no avail. The Lemberger Rav noticed this and called out to Rav Hershel, stating, “Are you trying to tell me that the Mezzuza is not Kosher?” Let me assure you that you are very wrong, as the mezuzah was checked by an expert and God-fearing scribe a few weeks ago, and he said that the mezuzah is 100% kosher Lemehadrim!
Rabbi Hershel wasn’t swayed; he knew if his hand didn't want to touch the mezuzah, then the mezuzah wasn’t kosher, and he refused to enter the room! The Lemberger Rav sternly said, “If you are adamant, I will remove the mezuzah and prove that you are wrong!” The Lemberger Rav ordered his gabbay quickly to call a scribe expert to review the Mezuzah. In the meantime, the Rav removed the mezuzah from the door and opened it. He was shocked to see that the Mezuzah was indeed as unkosher as the Gabbay. When he knocked the Mezuzah on the door, he knocked the nail through the Mezuzah, rendering it unkosher. The Rav didn’t need a scribe anymore.
The Lemberger Rav immediately apologized to Rav Hershel and placed a new Mezuzah on the door. Rav Hershel didn’t react to this. Meanwhile, the Rav ordered the servants to bring in chairs for the prominent Rebbe and his Chassidim. Meanwhile, this story of the miracle spread throughout Lemberg, and hundreds of people came to the house of the Rav to catch a glimpse of and say Shalom Aleichem to the Rebbe of Riminav.
The Lemberger Rav and the Rebbe gave great respect to all who came. When the Rebbe sat down, the Rav asked him, How did he know that the Mezuzah wasn’t kosher? Rabbi Hershel replied that he had solemnly dedicated all his organs to Hashem, and when he wanted to touch the mezuzah but his hand would not go, I knew that the mezuzah was invalid!
The Rav once again apologized to Rabbi Hershel for not giving him his true respect but Rav Hershel was humble and didn’t make any gestures. They had a lengthy discussion in learning, and again, the Rav was dismayed at the greatness of the Rebbe’s knowledge. When they finished, the Rav rose and accompanied the Rebbe to the door, which was done only for the greatest Rabbanim.
After Rav Hershel left, the crowd stayed, and the Rav said that he had to tell them something important. The Rav confessed to them that Rav Hershel was indeed a great tzaddik. The wonder that he showed with the Mezuzah has been seen by others. However, his straight humble behavior when he noticed that there were no chairs in the room, where a normal person would feel downgraded, was the same as when hundreds of people came to respect him. The look on his face was the same. This is where I saw his great righteousness, and that is the greatest miracle shown for me.
Rav Hershel was truly a great tzaddik and leader for thousands of Chassidim. He passed away 30 days of Cheshvon 5606, and was buried in Riminav, next to his Rebbe. He unfortunately lost 14 children in his life, but he accepted it as the will of Hashem with great courage. He was survived by two daughters and a son Rav Yosef who was the successor to Rav Hershel. Rav Yosef passed away 27 days of Nisan 5673, and is buried in Riminav as well.
