Reb Uren Leib once came to visit his Rebbi, the Zlotchover Maggid. He found his Rebbi lying on the floor. He asked his Rebbi what happened? The Zlotchover Maggid replied that there was a terrible decree pending in Heaven against the Jews which he was trying to annul.
Reb Uren Leib said to his Rebbi that it wasn’t fair that he should undertake such a difficult and dangerous task on his own, he will try instead. His Rebbi stood up and Reb Uren Leib lay on the floor immersed in prayer. After a while he stood up and told his Rebbi that he managed to annul the decree but they would need to undertake going through some embarrassment and shame; then the decree will be void.
The next day Reb Uren Leib and his Rebbi travelled to a nearby village. They were welcomed in by a local simple Jew. They spent their day immersed in the Torah study and Avodas Hashem. The Zlotchover Maggid had the custom to daven Shachris rather late, past the normal time. When their host saw this he was shocked, started shouting at them and he hurled insults at them, how dare they not follow the Shulchan Aruch. Both the Maggid and Reb Uren Leib never said a word. But their host wasn’t done. He was about to start hitting them. Then Reb Uren Leib intervened and said, “I know we have to suffer embarrassment, but don’t dare try and lift your hands against us.” When they finished their prayers they travelled home and the decree was annulled.
Reb Uren Leib was once sick and lay in bed. A poor man knocked on the door and asked to speak to him but his Rebbitzen said that he wasn’t up to seeing anyone. When Reb Uren Leib heard he quickly got out of bed and went to the door. The poor man came in. He told Reb Uren Leib that he is Eliyahu Hanavi and he has come to teach him Kabbala and secrets of the Torah. Reb Uren Leib replied, “I want to learn Torah according to my capabilities. I want to study Torah with diligence and reach the best I can on my own. As for the secrets of the Torah, I want to hear from Hashem Himself.”
Shortly after, the Rebbitzen became sick. He travelled to his Rebbi and asked for a blessing. His Rebbi, the Zlotchover Maggid replied that he should go to Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk and there she will be healed. Reb Uren Leib travelled with his Rebbitzen to Lizensk. He told his wife, “Rabbi Elimelech can see on a person’s forehead every sin they have committed since they were born. I am scared he will look at me and he won’t let me in. So please prepare food for Shabbos at our lodgings.”
When Reb Uren Leib arrived in Lizensk Rebbi Elimelech didn’t want to give him a hand, nor wish him Shalom Aleichem. He added that he sees that he has committed the three most terrible crimes. Reb Uren Leib came back to his Rebbitzen broken hearted and said, “I told you to prepare food for Shabbos because the Rebbe won’t see me.” When it came to Friday evening, Reb Uren Leib stood outside the Shul and davened. Suddenly Rebbi Elimelech stopped, turned around and said, “Where is the young man who is disturbing my prayers?” They found Reb Uren Leib outside and brought him to Rebbi Elimelech, who motioned him to sit in the front row.
After Shabbos, Reb Uren Leib went in to Rebbi Elimelech with his Rebbitzen and asked for a blessing she gets better. Rebbi Elimelech took off his gartel (Chassidic belt) and told the Rebbitzen to hold one end and he held the other end. “Do you feel better now,” Rebbi Elimelech asked? “Not yet,” she replied. “And now?” “Still not.” “And now?” “Yes, now I feel completely better.” “Tell me,” asked Rebbi Elimelech, “is it true you didn’t feel better the first time?” “To be honest, I did, but I wanted to merit to hold on to the Rebbi’s gartel a little longer together with the Rebbi.”
Then Reb Uren Leib asked Rebbi Elimelech what sins did he see on his forehead? Rebbi Elimelech replied, “on the day of your Bar Mitzva after you went to immerse in the Mikva, on your way home you overheard a couple saying we wish we had a child like him. You had a slight feeling of haughtiness. And on your great level, haughtiness is like idol worship and adultery, as the Gemara says (Sotah 4:). And recently Eliyahu Hanavi came to visit you to learn with you but you sent him away and he was put to shame and Chazal tell us that shaming someone is similar to murder (Bava Metzia 58:).
One Pesach night at the Seder, Reb Uren Leib opened the door and Eliyahu Hanavi came in. He said Baruch Haba, he sat down and had a conversation with Reb Uren Leib. They spent some time in discussion about the ultimate redemption. Suddenly Eliyahu Hanavi stood up and said, “I have to go, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok, the Chozeh of Lublin has already opened his door!”
