SHABBOS
Tzaddikim used to say about Rav Chaim of Czernowitz, mechaber of Be’er Mayim Chaim and Siddur Shel Shabbos that on Shabbos “er iz gevein mit a kup hecher – he was a head taller!” His appearance changed so drastically on Shabbos that he appeared to be a different person completely. (Maamar Mordechai Slonim 2)
The Tosher Rebbe related the well-known story of how the Be’er Mayim Chaim once collected tzedoka for hachnossas kalla to help marry off a poor orphan. As he approached one of the simpler, rougher elements among the Jews of Czernowitz, one of the known troublemakers was seized by a feeling that moved him to donate the entire sum, whereupon the Tzaddik blessed him that he should merit to feel the light and sanctity of Shabbos.
When Shabbos came, the simple Jew was so overcome by the sanctity of Shabbos that he simply could not handle it! He was so simple that he was unaccustomed to such kedusha! It almost drove him out of his mind. He went back to the Be’er Mayim Chaim and asked him to take back his berocha! The Tzaddik answered him that whatever gift had been bestowed by Heaven could not be taken away or given back.
Instead he advised the Jew to stay with him and he would instruct him in Avodas Hashem. And so he did. The Yid grew and grew in yiras shomayim and slowly he was able to properly receive the light of Shabbos within himself. Day after day he rose to higher spiritual levels until he himself became a great Tzaddik and received kvitlech (petitions) and blessed many Jews, performing miracles and bringing about salvation for others! (Avodas Avoda Pisgamei Kodesh p. 17)
IN WHAT MERIT
On another occasion, the Tosher Rebbe related the well-known story (also found in Maamar Mordechai) how once the Be’er Mayim Chaim grew sick and weak, and he fainted. His soul soared heavenward and reached the world of emes (truth). There he saw the holy Ba’al Shem Tov. Rav Chaim of Czernowitz asked the Ba’al Shem to heal him and save him.
“In what merit?” asked the Ba’al Shem.
“My Rebbe, the Zlotshover Maggid, was your direct talmid,” explained the Be’er Mayim Chaim. “It was my Rebbe’s custom always to relate some story, parable or teaching from the Ba’al Shem Tov during the Sholosh Seudos meal on Shabbos. One Shabbos, however, they had already brought the mayim acharonim to wash and prepare to bentsch, signaling the end of the meal. I stopped my Rebbe from reciting Birkas Hamozon and reminded him, though the hour was late, that he had not yet related something from the Ba’al Shem Tov. Then the Zlotshover Maggid recited a story from the Ba’al Shem and we bentsched.” The Ba’al Shem Tov had great satisfaction from this and he healed the Be’er Mayim Chaim.
The Tosher Rebbe concluded, “This story clearly demonstrates that when we tell stories about Tzaddikim who are in the Olam Ho’elyon (World Above), the merit of doing them this favor stands by us, safeguards and protects us, sending us salvation, healing and all manner of blessings from above, to allow us to study Torah in purity and sanctity! (Avodas Avoda Sichos Kodesh p. 211)
THE REBBE’S SEFORIM ARE FUNDAMENTAL IN JEWISH LITERATURE THEY ARE TRANSFORMATIVE AND UPLIFT THE SOUL
The Tosher Rebbe used to say that “The sefer, Likkutei Amarim also known as Tanya is among the most fundamental writings of Toras HaChassidus, it has the power to uplift the human soul from the lowest pits to the loftiest heights The author took upon himself to elucidate the concepts of chassidus using broad, expressive language. Deep and sophisticated ideas became digestible and in this way, fundamental foundations of chassidus became accessible to all. The Tanya is the key to understanding many other chassidic works which were written cryptic manner. These esoteric works-- written in shorthand, and filled with hints and allusions-- were largely abstruse, provided only slight glimpses into ideas which remained more concealed than revealed. (Avodas Avoda, Sichos on Shemos)
ALWAYS ON THE TABLE
The Tosher rebbe once related:
Rav Mottel Neshchizer used to keep a copy of the Rambam’s Yad haChazaka on his table at all times. When his son, Rav Yitzchok of Neshchiz was questioned as to why his father had this custom, he explained: My father had a vision in which the Rambam appeared before him with a complaint: “Why do you not study my sefer?”
“I apologize,” answered my father, “but with people coming to me day and night with their problems, I just don’t have the time; I am simply unable to help them and also find time to study your sefer.”
The Rambam then returned, “At least keep a copy of my sefer on your table,” I promise that if you keep a copy before you on your table at all times, whenever you need to help a Jew and achieve some yeshua for someone, just open my sefer and take a look inside. I assure you that you will find some cure and manner of healing.” That is the reason for this custom, he concluded. (L’Yesharim Tehilla, see also Avodas Avoda Sichos Shemos)
UNABLE TO WITHSTAND THE RAMBAM’S YIRAS SHOMAYIM
The Tosher rebbe and the Satmar Rebbe both used to relate the following story on different occasions:
The Uhjler Rebbe, author of Yismach Moshe, once made a request that Heaven grant him the yiras shomayim of a Tanna. This request was denied on the grounds that he would be unable to withstand such yiras shomayim. He repeated his petition to at least receive the yiras shomayim of an Amora or one of the Geonim; yet again, his request was denied on the very same grounds: He would simply be unable to handle such yiras shomayim.
Finally, he made a third request, to be granted the level of yiras shomayim of the Rambam. This final tefillah was answered. The Yismach Moshe saw however, that he was simply incapable of withstanding such a yiras shomayim. He then davened that it be taken away - and so it was. (Teshuos Tzadikim see also Avodas Avoda Sichos Shemos)
A PILLAR OF YIRAS SHOMAYIM
The Tosher Rebbe used to say that the Rambam was the pillar of yiras shomayim. He mentions that a well-known and accepted segula for yiras shomayim is to study the seforim of the Rambam. The rebbe said in the name of Rav Pinchas of Koretz that even just having the Rambam’s seforim in the house is a segula for Yiras Shomayim. This is because, as we said, the Rambam was the pillar of fear and awe of Heaven and he authored his seforim with the intention of helping us achieve yiras shomayim.
The Tosher Rebbe told how when the Rambam passed away in Egypt, they brought him to Eretz Yisrael to be buried in Tiveria. When they brought the aron (coffin), a band of highwaymen attacked the levaya (funeral procession). There were some thirty armed brigands and they wanted to steal the aron, which they probably thought contained treasure. But when they tried to make off with it, they were unable to move it at all! When this nes happened, they saw it was the hand of Hashem. They were so spooked that they all ran away!
THE DERECH ERETZ OF A CLOCK
The Tosher Rebbe once told over that Rav Yechezkel of Shinova had the custom to relate the following story regarding the Ateres Tzvi of Zidatchov.:
When the Ateres Tzvi recited Torah on Shabbos during shalosh seudos (the third Shabbos meal) and the clock would begin to chime, the Ateres Tzvi would silence the clock by yelling at it, “Sha! Derech eretz! (Silence! Do you have no manners?)”; whereupon the clock would freeze mid-chime and only resume working after the shalosh seudos Torah ended. This occurred quite often. Once the Torah recitation was indeed concluded, the clock resumed chiming and ticking where it left off, making up whatever it had missed during the break!
The Shinover Rav then concluded the tale with the following remarks: “See how even an inanimate object such as a clock demonstrated derech eretz (manners) with respect to the words of the tzaddik!” (Avodas Avoda Sichos Kodesh I p. 290)
MESIRUS NEFESH: A LESSON IN AVODAS HASHEM
The Tosher Rebbe related how once after the the holy Ba’al Shem Tov had already passed away, he had revealed himself in a vision to his son, Rav Tzvi, . Rav Tzvi asked his departed father, the Ba’al Shem, “Please teach me how to serve Hashem properly.”
The holy Ba’al Shem Tov depicted for his son a tall mountain with a steep cliff; at the edge of the cliff, peering down, one could see a raging, roaring, deep body of water. “My son,” said the Ba’al Shem, “you should imagine that you are always standing at the top of this mountain at the edge of the cliff and then cast yourself from the mountain and plunge yourself deep into the river’s waters down below! That is how you must serve Hashem, always be prepared to be moser nefesh – be ready to give yourself and to sacrifice for Hashem in order to sanctify His Name!” (Avodas Avoda Sichos Kodesh I p. 87)
