7 Shevat
Hiding His Greatness Even From the Chozeh of Lublin:
After Rav Dovid’s petirah, his Rebitzen a”h gave his Kiddush cup to the Chozeh of Lublin zy”a. The Chozeh used it to make Kiddush and then said, “He was very, very, very great. And he hid his greatness even from me.” (Yemos Olam, page 124)
Learning Yiras Shomayim From a Butcher:
Rav Dovid would often travel to towns and villages to inspire the residents of far-flung areas to do teshuva. He once was traveling with his friend, the Yid Hakadosh zy”a. In the middle of their journey, he told the Yid Hakadosh to stop and wait for him for a short while because he wanted to enter a certain village on the side of the road.
He returned after a short time and the Yid Hakadosh asked him where he had been. Rav Dovid answered, “I just learned yiras shomayim from a butcher.”
He explained that he had seen a butcher holding in his hand the ax he used to chop meat. Suddenly, he got angry at his father, who was standing next to him, and said, “If I didn’t fear Hashem, I would cut off your head with this ax right now!” Rav Dovid was amazed by the butcher’s yiras shomayim and he couldn’t stop saying, “Such yiras shomayim!” (Otzar Yisroel)
Who is The Worst Person:
The Rachmastrivke Rebbe of America zy”a (Sefer Milin Kadishin) related the following story:
The first time that Rav Dovid of Lelov went to visit Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk zy”a, Rav Elimelech asked him, “Who is the worst person in the world?” At that time, there was a well-known lowly person in town, and Rav Dovid suggested that he was the worst person. Rav Elimelech then commanded him to leave his presence. After he left, Rav Dovid was upset with himself for saying such a bad thing about this man. He went back to Rav Elimelech and said, “The truth is that I am the worst person. But if I would leave the city, that man would be the worst.”
He Closed his Store so as Not to Hurt Others:
Rav Dovid made his living from selling salt. One day, he closed his shop for good. His friends asked him why he did this, and he said, “In my neighborhood, there is another salt merchant. Some people buy from him and some people buy from me. When I see someone purchasing salt from my competitor, it doesn’t make me feel bad. I have no complaints against the customer for not buying salt from me. On the contrary, I am happy that the other store has business.
“However, when a customer comes to my store, I see that it makes my competitor feel bad. He is upset that the customer isn’t going to him. I don’t want to cause another Jew pain, so I have to shut down my business.” (M’Tal Hashamayim, page 327)
Better to Eat Worms Than People:
His incredible middos are evident from his explanation of the verse (Tehillim 22:7): “I am a worm and not a man.” He explains this to mean: It is easier for me to eat a worm – and to transgress five prohibitions (see Makkos 15A) – than to eat a man, so to speak, by causing him pain. (Imrei Kodesh Lelov, page 55)
The Power of His Brachos:
Sefer M’Zekeinim Esbonen writes that Rav Mordechai Chaim of Slonim zy”a related that Rav Dovid once was traveling and stayed overnight in a certain man’s home. Early in the morning, he was ready to get back on the road, but his host was still asleep. He wanted to bid him farewell, so he tapped on the window of his bedroom and said, “Zeit gezunt!”
Sleeping in the same room was the man’s daughter, who had been very sick and unresponsive for 12 years. That very morning, she got up, completely healthy, as if she had never been sick. That was the result of the power of Rav Dovid’s bracha for good health.
The Story of Rav Chaim Dovid Doctor:
Sefer Sipurei Maran HaRamach (of Slonim) relates the story of the connection between Rav Dovid and Rav Chaim Dovid Doctor of Pietrokov zy”a, who was also known as Dr. Bernard:
A man who was suffering from a kidney problem once came to Rav Dovid to ask for a bracha. The Rebbe gave him some cheese and whiskey to eat and drink. He then had him lie down on his bed for a while. When the man got up, he was hale and healthy.
This man was a patient of Dr. Bernard’s. When he came for his next appointment, the doctor couldn’t believe what he saw. He said, “I have the ability to heal lungs, but you didn’t even have any lungs left. How did you get new lungs?”
The patient told him about the holy man in Lelov who had brought about his yeshua, and the doctor decided to go see him. When the doctor went into the Rebbe’s room, he asked him all of his philosophical questions, and the Rebbe responded by sending him to the Chozeh of Lublin zy”a. As soon as he arrived, the Chozeh listed all of his questions and answered them all.
The doctor became a baal teshuva and was known as Rav Chaim Dovid Bernard zy”a. In his later life, he still practiced medicine and was a po’el yeshuos. May his memory be blessing for all of Klal Yisroel.
