14. We will discuss some of the salvations and deeds of chesed that the Bas Ayin performed in his lifetime:
There was a tragic earthquake in Tzefas and Teveria on the 24th of Teves, 5597/1836. The houses in Tzefas were built on a slope, one next to the other, and their foundations were weak. When the earthquake hit, the foundations collapsed, and the houses fell. About two thousand Yidden were niftar, and many more were wounded.
The Bas Ayin was in his beis medresh davening Minchah when the earthquake began, and the walls shook. Some people wanted to rush out of the beis medresh, but the Bas Ayin instructed everyone to gather around him, and he fell on the ground and davened. Most of the dome roof collapsed, and the four walls fell, but the people around the Bas Ayin were saved. In this spot of the beis medresh, the ceiling remained intact.
(Today, visitors to the Bas Ayin's beis medresh can notice that the ceiling has two levels. This is because half of the roof collapsed and needed to be rebuilt. The following words are engraved on a plaque in the beis medresh, "How holy is this place! The beis medresh of Reb Avraham Dov, the Rebbe of Avritz zt'l, who witnessed the great earthquake in Tzfas, 5597. In his great merit, half of the beis medresh remained intact, and the Rebbe and his students survived.)
The Bas Ayin explained why he prayed while lying on the ground: "I saw that the stones were falling sideways, not downwards. It was like one wall was throwing stones at the opposite wall. I understood that this meant the samech mem (the Satan) was executing this disaster. When this occurs, the only protection is total humility. That's why I fell to the ground."
When they left the beis medresh, the Bas Ayin, his chassidim (and all survivors of the earthquake in Tzefas) tried to save as many people as they could from under the rubble because many homes collapsed. It was raining and cold, but they had to save lives, and there were niftarim who needed to be extricated and brought to their burial.
After things calmed down a drop, the question was where to go. Most of the homes were destroyed, and rebuilding them would be very costly. Many rabbanim thought it was time to leave Tzefas and move to Yerushalayim. Most of the Prushim communities did so. However, the Bas Ayin toiled and succeeded in re-establishing the Jewish community in Tzefas. He sent messengers to chutz la’aretz to raise funds. The city of Tzefas was rebuilt, this time on top of the mountain instead of on the slope, with space between each home.
In the year 5601, there was a plague in Tzefas. The Bas Ayin became ill and was sick for a few days. He requested that his student, Reb Shmuel Heller zt'l, visit him before his demise, as he wanted to share the secrets and profound lessons he had heard from his teachers. However, Reb Shmuel Heller's family was afraid to allow Reb Shmuel to visit the Bas Ayin because the Bas Ayin was ill with the contagious plague. Reb Shmuel Heller always regretted that he lost this opportunity.
Before his passing, the Bas Ayin proclaimed, “I'm the last victim of this plague. After me, no one will die.” And that is what happened. His demise brought atonement to the people of Tzefas, and the plague ended.
A Story of Reb Moshe Leib Heller
I heard from Reb Shmaya Toisig Shlita, who heard from his grandmother, who repeated a story that occurred with their ancestor, the head of their family, Reb Moshe Leib Heller zt'l. He was the brother of Reb Shmuel Heller zt'l the Rav of Tzfas and a chasid of the Bas Ayin.
The last day of Reb Moshe Leib Heller's life was a Friday, and Shabbos was approaching. For a long time, he was a גוסס, on the verge of death. His brother, Reb Shmuel Heller, was concerned that if his brother continued in this state into Shabbos, it would result in some chillul Shabbos, so he said to his brother, "It is already late. It's almost Shabbos." At that moment, Reb Moshe Leib rolled over to the other side and returned his neshamah to his Creator, and he was buried just moments before Shabbos arrived.
On Motzei Shabbos, the niftar came to his brother, Reb Shmuel, and told him what occurred in his judgment. He said that since he was buried just moments before Shabbos arrived, the court of heaven didn't have enough time to check what his judgment would be. So, he had a very calm and good Shabbos (as it is known, even Gehinom isn't functioning on Shabbos). When Shabbos passed, a malach came to him and said, "Come with me." Reb Moshe Leib told him, "As long as I lived, I never did anything without asking my Rebbe for his counsel. I don't want to go with you before asking my Rebbe his counsel."
The malach agreed to grant Reb Moshe Leib his request, and he brought him to the heichal (heavenly abode) of the Bas Ayin. Reb Moshe Leib entered, and the malach waited outside. The Bas Ayin asked him about his petirah, and Reb Moshe Leib told him that the malach was waiting outside. His Rebbe, the Bas Ayin, replied, "Who is this malach? You are here! Stay here!" And he did.
The lesson for us is that whoever merits coming to the heichal of the Bas Ayin, he can remain there. Fortunate are those who merit to be "under his shade" (בצלו החוסים). He will receive all blessings, b'ruchniyus and b'gashmius, for his body and for his soul, for his entire life.
