Reb Chanoch Henoch of Alesk Shows Passion and Humbleness
Harav Chanoch Henach Dov Mayer of Alesk (Olesko) was born in the city of Belz to Reb Shmuel in 1800. He was a brilliant boy and became the son-in-law of Harav Shalom of Belz Ztzal. The two were a bond and learned together countless hours. He authored the famous Siddur Lev Sameach and Lev Sameach on the Torah. He became known as the Lev Sameach of Alesk.
Would not allow his Rebbetzin to get upset
After the wedding, his Rebbetzin Fraidel, daughter of the Belzer Rov, operated a business that provided a good living for the couple. On one occasion, when the Lev Sameach prepared to travel to Lemberg to buy Seforim, the Rebbetzin asked him to also buy merchandise for the business. On the way home, while the Lev Sameach was staying over at an inn, the wagon filled with merchandise was stolen. Greatly pained by this catastrophe, the Lev Sameach returned to Lemberg to repurchased the same amount of merchandise that had been stolen, and warned the driver not to reveal to the Rebbetzin about the unfortunate robbery, as not to cause her any agony!
This ordeal would have stayed hidden, until several days later, when a Jewish man who’s hand suddenly became tragically paralyzed, came to the Sar Shalom of Belz, tearfully admitting that he had stolen merchandise from his daughter and had subsequently become paralyzed. The Sar Shalom summoned his daughter about the incident, but she had no clue of any robbery. The Belzer Rov, brilliantly figured out what happened and the Lev Sameach “admitted” that his merchandise had been stolen during his business trip, and that he had hidden the matter from his Rebbetzin so that she would not get upset. The Sar Shalom advised the admitted thief to visit the Lev Sameach, plead for forgiveness and entreat the Tzaddik to pray for his recovery from the paralysis that had beset him. The Sar Shalom assured the confessed thief that the Lev Sameach was extremely righteous and his prayers on behalf of the man would surely be accepted.
The Ruach Hakodesh
Once it came the time to build a new Shul in Alesk, the builder had to excavate a deep hole for the foundation. The Lev Sameach was to have the honor on Erev Shabbos in the morning to perform the Hanachas Even Hapina, laying of the cornerstone. The builder strengthened the walls of the hole, and the Lev Sameach would dig a few holes to find a nice cornerstone for the Shul.
The whole city came and waited for the Alesker Rebbe to go down in the hole and find a nice cornerstone. But as the Alesker Rebbe neared the hole, he surveyed the area for a long while, and said I will not enter the hole, as I am sure that the walls will collapse on me and Chas Vashalom the earth will bury me alive!
The builder pleaded with the Rebbe not to cause him embarrassment, as he would never ask the Rebbe to enter a danger zone. He said my builders took extra caution to make sure that the walls were safe and sturdy. Besides, my workers are being paid, and want to get to work on the new Shul!
The Alesker Rebbe was adamant and answered, I am sure you did the right work to the walls, however, I am afraid to enter the hole, as it is a danger zone. But the Rebbe said, if you insisist that I do it, I ask that you let me go to the Mikvah Lekavod Shabbos, and after going to the Mikvah, I will survey again the hole! The builder agreed and the Rebbe went to the Mikvah, and as the Rebbe was immersing in the water, a loud thunder sounded and the huge hole collapsed as the Rebbe feared!
The builder was shocked and couldn’t believe what had happened! The miracle spread and the whole city began to speak of the Ruach Hakodesh of the Rebbe. That Shabbos, the Rebbe heard the flying rumor of Ruach Hakodesh being discussed, decided to deliver a Drasha to clarify what happened. The Rebbe stood at the Drasha and began: What happened had nothing to do with Ruach Hakodesh. It happened when I surveyed the hole. I noticed a nice big stone praying to Hashem, that he merit to be part of the Shul. Hashem answered the prayer, and the only way that stone would be able to be part of the Shul. is if the wall collapses, and when they would dig again, they would come across the nice large stone. That’s exactly what happened after Shabbos, the builders dug up the hole and they noticed that stone and decided to use that as the cornerstone for the Shul.
The crowd heard what the Rebbe said, but they knew that being able to hear a stone pray is also Ruach Hakodesh. They knew the Rebbe was humble and held himself in low esteem. His Yahrtzeit is the 1st day of Elul 5644. The Rebbe was survived by his son Harav Shlome, who became the Rebbe in Sassov. His Yahrtzeit is 12 Adar II 5679.
