It was the Alter of Novardok’s custom to engage in hisbodedus (self-seclusion) with his Maker. In this manner, the Alter studied Torah and engaged in mussar to perfect his character, his devotion and his middos in Avodas Hashem. Two wondrous tales of bitochon and emuna illustrate the Alter’s approach and how his talmidim saw the hand of Heaven aid him.
Once, the Alter and his talmid, Rav Yoel Barantshick, were together in the forest staying in the Alter’s small house of hisbodedus. Night fell and there was neither bed nor any means of comfort to sleep on and spend the night. Did such a small matter deter the Alter? The Alter turned to Rav Yoel and said simply, “Don’t worry – b’ezras Hashem we will find a bed,” and so saying he simply walked out into the darkening forest. Rav Yoel accompanied his Rebbe and to his surprise, as they walked down the path, a farmer greeted them carrying several bales of hay which he had not managed to sell that day at the market. Unable to dismiss such clear hashgocha (Divine Providence), Rav Yoel waited to see what would happen next. The Alter asked the farmer how much he was asking for the hay. The farmer named his price, but the Alter refused; when the farmer would not back down, the Alter turned to leave!
“I cannot spend such a sum, this money is kodesh for the Yeshiva,” he explained, as it was his custom to be extremely frugal and strict when it came to spending any of the Yeshiva’s budget. Suddenly, as they turned to leave, the farmer backtracked and agreed to an even lower sum than Rav Yosef Yoizel had named. The Alter paid the farmer, and the hay served as their warm beds and covers that night in the forest.
The Small Piece of Wax Candle
As a token and proof of his bitochon, the Alter carried around a small piece of wax candle which he said had been Heaven-sent. This was the story:
On one of the long nights in his small forest shack, where he secluded himself in hisbodedus, the Alter’s supply of candles ran out. Left with no light, he was unable to continue learning Torah. Full of bitochon, he simply got up and entered the dark forest at night to search for a candle! Suddenly, out of the gloom, a man approached holding a candle that he gave him as a gift. The Alter guarded the remnants of this wax candle, treasuring it and calling it his jar of mon – tzintzenes hamon. It was his symbol of bitochon. One day, a fire broke out in his home and everything went up in flames, including his miracle candle. This, too, the Alter saw as a message from shomayim, telling him that any proof of bitochon is unnecessary. (Madreigas HoOdom)
Emunah and Bitachon - Rav Biderman
Rav Elimelech Biderman shared the following story about emuna and bitochon:
The Alter of Novardok once set out on a journey. He arrived late that night in a strange town where he knew not a soul. As was his custom, he set out with his bitochon (trust) in Hashem, so of course he had not made any advance preparations whatsoever, including not reserving or preparing any place to stay or even spend the night.
Instead, he made his way to the local bais medrash with full faith that Hashem would see to his accommodations in the best way possible. As he sat and learned, the bais medrash slowly emptied of its occupants until everyone had left, except Rav Yosef Yoizel, who sat learning with not a care in the world. It did not matter that the bais medrash was empty and that no one had noticed the Rav absorbed in his learning, or that had he not been invited anywhere or secured any place to stay.
At that same time, in his comfortable bed, one of the wealthy baalei batim was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. What does a good Jew do when he cannot sleep? He got dressed and made his way to the bais medrash. And there he saw the Novardoker sitting and swaying gently to the sweet song of the Gemora. The wealthy baal habus realized that this visiting Rav must have nowhere to stay, or he would not be here alone in the bais medrash so late.
“Please, Reb Yid, welcome, boruch haba. Please come home and spend the night with me,” he invited the Alter to his home. As they walked, the baal habus could not hold back his surprise and asked his guest, “How can you come here with no plans or preparations? What possessed you to travel here with no accommodation prepared in advance?”
“I trusted in Hashem to take care of all my needs,” explained Rav Yosef Yoizel in his casual way, “and see – He has!” he ended on a note of confidence and finality. This last comment made the wealthy but foolish baal habus actually laugh, and he smirked as he berated the “silly” Rav.
“Really? You don’t say! And what would you have done had I not chanced to be awake? Usually I sleep soundly; for some reason tonight I had trouble sleeping. What would you have done if not for me and my invitation, eh? You would have slept on the benches in the bais medrash alone!” he concluded smugly, not realizing that it was his comments that made the Alter laugh.
Rav Biderman commented as he concluded the tale, “See how foolish that wealthy baal habus was! He completely missed the fact that it was obviously Hashem Who orchestrated his lack of sleep that night in order to get him up and invite the Alter to his home! The Alter’s signature bitochon and emuna in Hashem paid off – Hashem would always take care of his needs.”
