The Munkatcher Rebbe came just in time to the Bris in Radomsk.
Harav Shlomo Chanoch Hakohen Rabinowicz (1882–1 August 1942 c"a, ctc j"h) was the fourth Rebbe of the Radomsker Chasidic dynasty. He was the eldest son of the third Radomsker Rebbe, Harav Yechezkel. (t"gr, iuaj j"h) author of Sefer Kneses Yechezkel, the son of Harav Avrohom Yissachar, the Chesed LeAvraham (c"br, kukt d"h), son of Harav Shlomo, the Tiferes Shlomo /(u"fr, rst y"f)
Under his leadership, Radomsk became the third-largest Chasidic dynasty in Poland, after Ger and Alexander. He built a network of 36 yeshivas across Poland and Galicia that enrolled over 4,000 students by 1939. He was murdered in the Warsaw Ghetto with his entire family.
He had one daughter, Reizel, who married her father's first cousin, Harav David Moshe Rabinowicz, in 1929. He was the son of Harav Nosson Nachum Hakohen Rabinowicz, the Rebbe of Krimilov, and grandson of the second Radomsker rebbe, Avraham Yissachar Dov.
Reb David Moshe didn’t have children, and the Chassidim were anticipating that his children would continue on with the dynasty. His wife always approached her father, Reb Shlomo Chanoch, to bless her with a child, and he always gave her a bracha. But as time went on, and she still didn’t have a child, her father one day summoned her to go to the great Rebbe of Munkatch, Harav Chaim Elazer, author of the Minchas Elazar, who was known to make miracles. He was now in a resort area near Radomsk, and the Rebbe told her daughter to visit the Munkatcher Rebbe, who would definitely be able to help her with a child.
The daughter didn’t really want to go to a different Rebbe, especially since there was some friction between the sects, but her father told her that now was not the time for personal issues. It is not too often that such a great Tzaddik as the Munkatcher Rebbe comes here. She listened to her father and went to visit the resort area. However, outside of the Rebbe’s room, it was packed with men, and a woman would not be able to be there. She quickly asked around: How would it be possible to meet the Rebbe?
A Chosid advised her that early in the morning at 6am, the Rebbe goes alone to the Mikvah before Davening. When the Rebbe exits the Mikvah, she should wait and ask the Rebbe for a bracha. She did as advised, and in the morning she waited outside the Mikvah, and when the Rebbe walked out, she stood by the door and began to cry, She said that she was the daughter of the Radomsker Rebbe, and she had been married for many years and wasn’t blessed with children. My father recommended that I visit you, and the Rebbe has the power to bless me with a child!
The Munkatcher Rebbe stood and thought and said, "I will bless you with a son on the condition that I will be the Mohel." She wholeheartedly agreed and promised the Rebbe that she would do so. The Rebbe gave her a bracha. Hashem blessed her with a son that year. The Radomsker Chassidim were grateful to Hashem that they had a successor to the dynasty. However, the mother of the child revealed the condition of the Munkatcher Rebbe to be the Mohel. This raised eyebrows between some hot-headed Chasiddim who wanted to deny the Munkatcher Rebbe coming to Radomsk. Rav Chanoch, became aware of the situation and scolded them.
The Rebbe asked the Gabbayim to send a telegram notifying the Munkatcher Rebbe of the time and place of the Bris. One Gabbay was still immature and delayed sending the telegram and stating the Bris would be a day later, in order that the Munkatcher Rebbe would arrive after the Bris, therefore enabling the Radomsker Rebbe to be Mohel.
The Munkatcher Rebbe received the telegram, and he was able to sense the evil mind of the Gabbay. The Rebbe knew that time was of essence. He began to gather all the train routes to Radomsk in order to come in time for the Bris. The Munkatcher was a brilliant man, and he figured the only way to come in time was to catch the train in Pest. He called the manager of the train station in Pest, asking him to hold the train until he arrived. The manager was acquainted with the Rebbe and did so. This enabled the Munkatcher to arrive in Radomsk a day earlier.
Meanwhile, the time of the Bris came, the Munkatcher Rebbe hadn’t come yet, and the Gabbayim stated sarcastically that they were sure the the Munkatcher wasn’t coming and the Radomsker Rebbe should be Mohel. The Rebbe was unhappy and said we must wait; the Munkatcher said he would be here in time! It didn’t take long, and the door opened. The Munkatcher walked in, and the Radomsker Rebbe gave the knife over to him. After the Bris, the Radomsker Rebbe stated: The Munkatcher Rebbe made two miracles. One giving us a child and second by turning over a world to come in time for the Bris!
