The Reform movement was formed in the year 1810. There was great friction between the Reform and the Orthodox as both sects davened in the same Shul and basically shared the same community. In Germany, it was Hagaon Reb Shamshon Refoel Hirsch z’’tzal who was the staunch opposer to them. In Hungary, it was the Gaon the Chasam Sofer - Reb Moshe Sofer z’’tzal - who was one of the strongest of the opposers to the reform movement and he decided that because of the changes brought about by the Reform movement, Orthodox Jews must create separate communities for themselves in Hungary, in order not to assimilate with the Reform Jews. This was known in Yiddish as “the Upteilung”.
The Reform movement had very close ties with the Government, and in order to achieve “the Upteilung” it was now necessary to receive the royal approval for this. Therefore, the Rabbanim met and decided upon to choose five of the most famous Rabbanim and Tzaddikim of Hungary to send them as a a delegation to the Kaiser Franz Josef, who was known to be a rational person. Among the delegation were Reb Yehuda Assad, the famous author of Teshuvas Yehuda Ya’aleh and Chidushei Maharia on the Torah, Reb Akiva Yosef Shlezinger the Lev Haivri and many more seforim, and his father-in-law, Reb Hillel of Kolomyia author of Eis Laasos and Maskil El Dal and many more. Reb Akiva Yosef, in his sefer Bris Olam, relates that the night before their meeting with the Kaiser, he was lodging with his father-in-law Reb Hillel. In the middle of the night he was awakened by Reb Hillel, who asked him, “Are you asleep?” Reb Akiva Yosef replied that he was awake. “Do you see anything?” asked Reb Hillel of his son-in-law. “No,” came the answer. After a while Reb Hillel asked again, “Do you see anything?” Again, Reb Akiva Yosef replied, “No, I don’t see anything.” After that, Reb Hillel woke him once again with the same question, and once again Reb Akiva Yosef gave the same reply.
Reb Hillel politely explained, “I just saw my Rebbe the Chasam Sofer in a dream and he told me, “You have davened well. Go to the Kaiser, and your mission will be successful.” I told the Chasam Sofer that the guards would never allow us an audience with the king! The Rebbe answered Hashem will have you seen as angels and the guards will not notice you!
The next morning the entire delegation went to the Kaiser’s palace. They found all the gates open, with no guard or anyone else to stop them or ask them questions; so they walked right in to the palace grounds. The Kaiser was taking his morning stroll, was not notified of the sudden guests, was only wearing a simple house robe. When the Kaiser saw them, he exclaimed, “Five angels!” The members of the delegation had removed their hats, as is customary when standing before a king. Reb Yehuda Assad approached the king and said, “If His Majesty will allow it, I would like to put on my hat so that I can recite the blessing we say when we see a king.” The Kaiser graciously answered, “Of course, but please wait a minute. I too would like to cover my head.” Then the Kaiser then went into the palace and put on his crown, and afterwards Reb Assad and the others recited the Bracha as is the Halacha in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 224:8: “Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, Who has imparted of His honor to flesh and blood.” Afterwards the Kaiser asked them what was the purpose of their visit.
The Rabbanim had originally chosen one of the Rabbanim, a talmid of the Chasam Sofer, since he was a eloquent orator and fluent in the language that he would present their request; but now he found himself unable to open his mouth. The Kaiser realized that the young man was overcome with awe before him and therefore could not speak. He said, “Instead of speaking, just put your request in writing, and whatever you wish, I will grant.” They immediately wrote their request, that the Kaiser give them the necessary recognition so that they could function as a separate community with due legal authority. The Kaiser took their request and, without even reading its contents, folded it. This was the royal sign that the request had been granted.
Afterwards, the Kaiser was about to take leave of his five guests, but first he asked for a blessing from Reb Yehuda Assad, who appeared to him as handsome as an angel. Reb Assad blessed him with a long life and a long and successful reign. It is known that the blessing was fulfilled, for the Kaiser was still king at the age of eighty-four. When they left the Kaiser, they met the palace director, who was astonished to discover that five strangers had entered the palace without any hindrance. He asked them, “How did you enter without permission?” They answered, “No, we are not entering. We are leaving.” Upon hearing this he was so astonished that he simply walked away. This miracle was performed from the Holy Chasam Sofer in order to allow the separation of the communities and the continuation of the Orthodox Jews in Hungary and eventually throughout the world. The Rabbanim were not swayed by the masses. They went with the Emes, and Leshaim Sh’mayim.
