Rav Chaim Meir Hagar author of Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz once told his chassidim on the occasion of the Czernobler's Yarzeit, that the sefer Meor Eynaim, SeMacht Lichtig Der Oigen – It enlightens the eyes!
He once told the following story: During one of the Meor Eynaim's many travels he stayed at a Jewish inn and spent the night. The innkeeper and his wife were simple Jews and when the Czernobler began to recite Tikkun Chatzos and when the sounds of his loud sighs, moans and crying reached the ears of his hosts they were startled.
“Surely our guest is not feeling well,” declared the innkeeper's wife. “Please go and see to him.” The innkeeper went downstairs with a candle in hand, and as it cast its light in the darkness he was startled to hear the moaning, groaning, sighing and crying continue to come from the guestroom. He knocked and opened the door apologizing, “I am sorry to disturb you, but I overheard your pain, are you not feeling well, how can we help you?”
The Rebbe turned to his host and explained, “Thank G-d I am Baruch Hashem feeling fine, however I was just reciting Tikkun Chatzos.” “Hmmm. . .Tikkun Chatzos?” asked the puzzled innkeeper scratching his head and pulling at his beard, “what's that?” “It is the prayer recited over the destruction of our holy temple, the beis hamikdash,” explained the Rebbe patiently. “What is the beis hamikdash?” asked the innkeeper. The Czernobler proceeded to explain how all the Jews once dwelled in the holy land, and how Hashem had commanded them to build a temple, and how they had worshipped there before it was destroyed due to our many sins and we were dispersed in the exile. “And soon,” explained the Rebbe with a note of yearning and longing, “Moshiach will come and gather us all in from the exile, bring us back up to Eretz Yisroel, surely you anticipate his coming any day as we all do?”
At this query the simple innkeeper grew even more perplexed, “Hmmm. . .I am not sure let me go and ask my wife.” He went back upstairs, told his wife about their guests special prayers of the temple, explained to her what he had said and asked her opinion on the matter. “Go and tell our guest,” said the innkeeper's wife, “that we have Baruch Hashem saved some money, here we own a flock of geese, some property and we have a way of life, why should we give all that up and move to Eretz Yisroel when Moshiach arrives?”
The innkeeper turned and relayed his wife's words to the Rebbe. “Go and tell your wife that here in galus,” explained the Rebbe, “while we are in exile among the nations, the goyim torture and hurt us making our lives difficult and miserable, in Eretz Yisroel that will all end.”
Nodding his head in understanding the innkeeper went back to his wife and related to her what the Rebbe said adding “Don’t you remember what happened last week when Ivan, our neighbor got drunk and smashed all our windows? In Eretz Yisroel the Rebbe promises we will not have these problems!” he stated. The innkeeper's wife thought a bit and then her eyes filled with a light of understanding and her expression filled with comprehension.
“Aha, I've got it! Go and tell the Rebbe, I have a solution. Here we are comfortable and settled. We own property and the only problem are the goyim. Tell the Rebbe that when Moshiach comes he will solve all our problems by taking the goyim with him to Eretz Yisroel!”
When the holy Czernobler heard the innkeeper's answer, he said “Now I understand the meaning of the verse in Parshas VaEra Shemos 6:6 Hashem says “I will take you out from the sufferings of Mitrzayim,” I will cause you to no longer be able to suffer and endure the exile and then you will want to go out. That is our sin,” exclaimed the Rebbe, “we have become so settled to living in the exile in our complacency we are happy and believe there can be nothing better - how wrong we are!”
