Remove Your Shoes
Rav Boruch of Mezhibuzh zy”a was a beloved grandson of the Baal Shem Tov Hakadosh zy”a. He was born after the following story: One year on Simchas Torah, the holy students of the Baal Shem Tov were rejoicing and dancing in ecstasy. They could feel that the Shechinah was literally hovering above them. Suddenly, the shoe of one of them ripped, and he could no longer dance and rejoice with the Torah. He was very anguished by this until the tzadeikes, Udel, the daughter of the Baal Shem Tov, told him that if he promised her that she would give birth to a boy that year, she would give him a good, new pair of shoes. He gave his promise, and she gave him the shoes. That year – 5513 – she gave birth to twins. One was Rav Boruch, and the other was the Degel Machaneh Efraim zy”a.
Torah Yevakshu Mipihu
In his youth, Rav Boruch did not want to learn with his melamed and he would run away from cheder. When the Baal Shem Tov asked him about this, he said, “Do you think I don’t know that you learn with Achiya Hashiloni? I also want to learn with him!”
With Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchov
The Toldos Aharon Rebbe zy”a (Sefer Divrei Emunah, Parshas Naso 5733) relates the following story in the name of Rav Yoel Ashkenazi zt”l of Teveriah: In the city of Teveriah, there lived an elderly chasid named R’ Naftali Chanales zt”l. He was a descendant of Rav Boruch and he had his kaftan, which was stained with oily spots. He related that Rav Boruch was once traveling in the winter. However, the road was covered in so much mud and snow that he could not continue. He was compelled to spend the night in the nearby village. The innkeeper gave the Rebbe a private room, but Rav Boruch stipulated with him not to let any other people into his inn for any price, and he promised him this. Two days later, Rav Leiv Yitzchok of Berdichov zy”a passed by the same town and also wanted to stay overnight, but the innkeeper told him that he could not let him in under any circumstances according to the Rebbe’s instructions. Rav Levi Yitzchok asked the innkeeper to ask Rav Boruch to let him in because he couldn’t travel anymore due to the snow and cold. Rav Boruch responded to the innkeeper, “If the Rebbe of Berdichev promises that he will not perform his avodas Hashem as he usually does, with enthusiastic dancing and loud screaming, then he will agree to let him in. Rav Levi Yitzchok promised that he would be calm and not make a lot of noise. And, indeed, he davened Maariv in a calm, quiet manner. When they sat down to eat dinner, Rav Levi Yitzchok made a bracha of “al netilas yadayim” and “hamotzi” quietly, but in the middle of the meal, when the innkeeper came in and asked him if he liked to add a little pepper into the soup, Rav Levi Yitzchok jumped up and shouted, “You think I like pepper? I like the Creator of the World!” His bowl of soup overturned onto the coat of Rav Boruch, staining the garment. Rav Boruch later said, “I knew that he wouldn’t be able to contain himself!”
Like When it Was Given on Har Sinai
Sefer Otzar Yisroel relates: Rav Yaakov Shimshon of Shpitivka zy”a once traveled to the eastern lands and met the Sefardic Gaon, Rav Yitzchok Bechor zt”l, author of Sefer L’Dovid Emes. Rav Yitzchok was amazed by Rav Yaakov Shimshon’s brilliance and asked if there were other Gedolim like him in Europe. He answered, “In Europe, we have Rav Boruch of Mezhibuzh, the grandson of the Baal ShemTov Hakadosh, who knows all of Torah like when it was given on Har Sinai!”
The Gate of Anavah
It is related that a chasid once arrived at Rav Boruch’s court, and since he had never met the Rebbe before, he was unsure how to approach him. The article continues with stories and teachings highlighting Rav Boruch’s humility, his connection to the Baal Shem Tov, and his unique approach to Torah and avodah.
