Stories Of Greatness

This week’s parshah discusses the “Mis’onenim” – the complainers, who were not satisfied with all that Hashem gave them. Even after He rescued them from Egypt, the Yam Suf, and Amaleik, and gave them all the miracles that they lived with on a daily basis, such as the Mann, the people wanted more. They complained that life was not good – that they had it better when they were slaves. Their complaints made no sense. Hashem allowed them to vent, before He vented His wrath on them. No good ever comes out of complainers.

One of the greatest disciples of the holy Baal Shem Tov zt”l was the tzadik, Reb Leib Sarah’s [ben Sarah] zt”l (1730-1791), who was known to travel far and wide, sustaining and supporting hidden tzadikim and uncovering sparks of holiness in far-flung places. It is told that on one Motza’ei Shabbos, Reb Leib Sarah’s suddenly felt a Divine presence tugging at his conscience, urging him to travel to a far-off land, where an unusually bright spark of greatness was hidden and needed to be uncovered. Reb Leib, the great mystic in faraway Ukraine, perceived that in Hungary there existed an exalted soul that was waiting to be redeemed. Early the next morning, he set out on his holy calling, to locate and cultivate the hidden spark of k’dushah.

On any given Friday night throughout the Jewish calendar year, chasidim from all over the world, and of every stripe and denomination, would descend on the famed Pshevorsker Beis Midrash, at Mercatorstraat 56 in Antwerp, Belgium. Specially chartered planes would bring the eager masses to Antwerp before every Yom Tov, every simchah celebration, and especially for the High Holidays of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. They came to see, hear, and just bask in the holy presence of the Pshevorsker Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Leiser zt”l, who assumed the mantle of Rebbe from his father-in-law, Rav Moshe Yitzchok zt”l in 5736 (1976), and proceeded to lead his flock for more than two decades. Among the visitors who came on an almost continual basis were people seeking all sorts of salvation, advice in business affairs, and those requesting a blessing from the holy man. Hundreds of stories abound about Rav Yaakov’s piety, his wisdom, Divine inspiration (ruach ha’kodesh) and the many miracles that were attributed to him.

“If two (people) are traveling on a journey (far from civilization) and one has a pitcher of water, if both drink, they will (both) die; but if only one drinks, he can reach civilization. The son of Peturah taught, ‘It is better that both should drink and die, rather than one should behold his companion’s death.’ Until Rabbi Akiva came and taught: ‘That your brother may live with you’ – “chayecha kodmin” – your life takes precedence over the life of your neighbor.”

On the night of Shavuos, many people have the custom to recite Tikkun Leil Shavuos. Tikkun Leil Shavuos is said to have been officially established by the holy Arizal, Rabbeinu Yitzchak Luria zt”l. The chag of Shavuos celebrates the giving of the Torah to the Jewish People, but, according to the Midrash, B’nei Yisrael overslept on the morning they were due to receive the Torah, and they had to be awakened by a shofar blast from Hashem.

The following story is told by Rabbi Pinchas Woolstone of Sydney, Australia.

While I was in New York, I was approached by a prestigious chasidic rabbi who told me about a family that was searching for their long-lost daughter. She had been born and raised in Boro Park and had married there. Unfortunately, the marriage ended badly, but her husband – for whatever reason – refused to give her a get (divorce). After this went on for a period of time, the wife suddenly disappeared. Her family had since learned that she had gone to Australia, but they had no idea where in Australia. Since I was from Australia, the rabbi who approached me thought that maybe I could help them bring their daughter back to her people.