Stories on the Parsha
Hashem Alone Shall Redeem Us
The Rav of Zavanshtick related that once he was serving Rav Yaakov Shimon the son of Rav Pinchas Koretzer, when they were visited by the holy Apta Rav, mechaber of Ohev Yisrael, who stayed with them.
During the visit they sat together and the Apta Rav’s face shone like a fiery flame. He asked, “My good friend and beloved of Hashem, Rav Yaakov Shimon, do you know the reason why in times past there were many Tzaddikim in each generation, whereas now Hashem has removed them from our midst and has left us with but a few specks and grains?”
Rav Yaakov Shimon did not utter a sound. After repeating his question several times, with Rav Yaakov Shimon sitting silently without responding, the Apta Rav said, as his face shone with an otherworldly flame, “If Your Honor, Master of Torah, refuses to answer, I will. It says (Yeshaya 3:1), ‘The L-rd Hashem, Master of Legions, is removing from Yerushalayim and from Yehuda support of men and support of women.’ Loshon HaKodesh has ten expressions to explain the meaning of the word mishon – “support” – as those expert in languages understand.”
And then the spirit rested upon him and he spoke and explained the ten ways to translate mishon. Afterward, he continued his remarks by saying (Yeshaya 2:11), “‘And Hashem alone will be exalted on that day.’ Rav Shimon bar Yochai’s generation should have been redeemed in his merit, but all his generation relied on him – and so they were not redeemed. The holy Arizal’s generation should have been redeemed in his merit, but all his generation relied on him, thinking he would redeem them – and so they were not redeemed. Similarly, the holy Ba’al Shem Tov’s generation should have been redeemed in his merit, but all his generation relied on him and so they were not redeemed. In each generation there were single great individuals who stood out and whose souls were so elevated that Klal Yisrael trusted they would be the redeemers, relying upon them to be their saviors. Thus, the redemption failed to come and they were not redeemed. Before Moshiach’s coming Hashem will remove from Yehuda and Yerushalayim all support – both male and female; all those lofty souls that Klal Yisrael relied upon for support will be taken away, leaving Klal Yisrael with no one to rely on except Hashem – and then the Geula will come!”
He concluded by saying, “This is why the pasuk tells us that on that day Hashem alone shall be exalted: Klal Yisrael will have no one else left to lean on or rely upon for support except Hashem – then the redemption will come.” The Zavanshticker Rav concluded the story by saying that when the Apta said the pasuk ''Venisgov Hashem levado bayom hahu'' – he roared the words so loudly that the walls shook!
