Weekly Chasidic Story #973 (s5776-45 / 14 Tammuz 5776)

Heavenly Protection from a Book and a Rabbi

The Israeli-dressed man entered the study hall of the Husyatin chasidim in Tel Aviv, scanned the bookcases and pulled out a volume of "Ohr HaChayim." the famous commentary on the Torah by the 18th century sage and kabbalist, Rabbi Chayim Ben-Atar.

Connection: Seasonal: The 273rd yahrzeit of the Ohr HaChayim is on Tammuz 15 (this year: July 21).

 

Heavenly Protection from a Book and a Rabbi

 

One evening, in the mid 1960's in the synagogue and study hall of the Husyatin Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzchak Friedman, in Tel Aviv, in Bialik Street, a man entered whose outer appearance was quite different than that of the usual crowd of chasidim sitting singly or in pairs, immersed in Torah study. His look was that of a typical Israeli, of middle age, with a kippah (yarmulke) on his head attached by a large clip.

The man walked directly to the wall of bookcases and began scanning the shelves. Finally, he found what he was looking for - a volume of Ohr HaChayim, the famous and beloved commentary on the Torah by the 18th century sage and kabbalist from Sali, Morocco and, in his later years, in Jerusalem.

The man carried the book to a table in the corner of the hall, opened it to the Torah portion of the week, and began to learn it aloud with great enthusiasm.

One of the chasidim, Rabbi Mordechai-Shraga Bauminger, named for his great-grandfather, the first Husyatin rebbe, youngest son of "the holy Rhizhiner," looked up from his tome of the Talmud. Something about the man's devoted study had attracted his attention. He wondered who he was, and why he had entered specifically the Husyatin center to study Ohr HaChayim, a set that can be found in every serious Torah library in the world.

After a while, he looked up again and decided to go ask the man directly. He sat down next to him and initiated a conversation. With visible reluctance the man tore himself away from the sefer. But when he found out that the chasid speaking to him was a descendant of the first two Husyatin Rebbes, his eyes opened wide in wonder and he said, "If so, perhaps you are the right person for me to tell what happened to me today and my connection to your maternal grandfather."

The man inserted a piece of paper for a bookmark and closed the book. He composed himself for a moment and then began his tale.

"My name is Natanel. I currently live in Haifa. I was born in the Western Ukraine, in a town where most of the inhabitants were Husyatin chasidim, including my parents. In 1937, while I was still a child, the Rebbe (Rabbi Yisrael Friedman), your grandfather, left the Ukraine to live in Israel. Because of the extreme harsh conditions in the era, and also because the great distance of the Rebbe, my parents weakened greatly in their chasidic ways and ceased their connection to the Husyatin community.

"When I became a teenager, I joined the "Club for Zionist Fulfillment." There they cultivated in us the Zionist vision, the idealism of working for the land of Israel, the value of physical fitness and agricultural labor, and so forth. Unfortunately they offered no Torah classes there, or any respect for Jewish religiosity, and eventually our entire youth group relinquished all commitment to fulfill the Torah's commandments.

"The club also organized a group to make aliyah. Years later, soon after WWII, we were able to fulfill our dream.

"Upon arrival in Israel we were full of idealism, enthusiasm and energy. But with the passage of time practicality crept in and the group slowly fell apart. Each one became primarily involved in building his own individual world.

"For me, the dissolution of idealism and the Zionist dream led to an inkling of desire and a gradual return to my traditional roots. I began to wear a kippah again and to attend Torah lectures and classes, first sporadically and then more often. Eventually I returned to Shabbat observance, wrapped tefilin daily, and was much more careful about kosher diet.

"During that time period I would sometimes recall a vision from my childhood: my father sitting at a table and studying Ohr HaChaim on the weekly Torah Reading. I resolved that I too would study Ohr HaChaim on a regular basis, and so I have done for years now.

"One night a few weeks ago, after I went to sleep, I suddenly felt that I was choking horribly, strangling even. I could sense my heart ceasing to beat. Then I fell into a deep faint.

"But then everything changed and I seemed to be flying upwards through the air. A unique radiant light was blinding my eyes. I became overwhelmed with the certainty that I was now in a spiritual realm, in the 'World of Truth'.

"Mysterious forms that I couldn't recognize took hold of me and transported me to a brightly lit hall. A table stood in the middle. Two distinguished looking men were sitting on opposite sides. I understood that I was now in the Heavenly Court and that they were waiting for the chief judge to come and take his place in the chair between them so that my trial could begin.

"Right then a distinguished, bearded elder entered the room and sat on a seat awaiting him. Before officially opening the case, the new arrival queried the other two judges, 'Is it really already the time for this man to come up here?'

"Silence.

"A few moments later, the elder spoke again. 'Is it not so that he faithfully and devotedly studies Ohr HaChaim?'

"Silence.

"Suddenly the 'courtroom' disappeared, and again I was flying at great speed through the air, this time downwards. And then I was awake! - Sitting up on my bed, trembling uncontrollably, terrified and emotionally overwhelmed.

"The dream had a tremendous effect on me. It aroused and inspired me with the determination and inner strength to improve myself in all aspect of my life-including of course to take extra care in maintaining my Ohr HaChaim study schedule.

"This morning I came down to Tel Aviv to take care of some affairs. As I was walking along, I noticed three men in full chasidic garb further up the street. I could see from their formation that the two younger ones were escorting the older man between them. This aroused my curiosity to see what the subject of their respectful attention looked like, so I quickened my pace. When I caught a glimpse from the side of the contour of his face I almost fainted. He was the head judge of the Heavenly Court that I saw in my dream!

"I had to find out who he was! I followed behind them discreetly until I found the opportunity to ask one of the young chasidim privately about the identity of the man they were escorting. He told me he was the Admor (Chasidic Rebbe) of Husyatin.

"What a shock! At that moment a vision appeared before my eyes, a memory of my childhood when my parents were faithful chasidim, when my father would take me to the synagogue and I would see the Rebbe. This current Rebbe, who must be the grandson of Reb Yisrael from the Ukraine, looked just like him.

"I was shaking with excitement. I decided to follow them. I knew I had to make a strong effort to speak to the Rebbe privately, even if that would prove to be difficult.

"They led me here to the Husyatin center. I prayed Mincha (the afternoon prayer) there, and through a window I could see the Rebbe immersed in his prayer together with a minyan. Again I was reminded of the Husyatin chasidic atmosphere in my home town.

"After the last kaddish, I requested of the Rebbe's personal attendant to allow me to enter the Rebbe's room for a private audience. When he exited the Rebbe's room, he held the door open and signaled me to go in.

"The Rebbe looked up at me with a penetrating stare. Then he said, kindly, 'Who are you and what is your request?'

"I was so overwhelmed with emotion I couldn't bring myself to speak. When I finally regained control of myself, I said, 'Do I really have to tell the Rebbe who I am? Was it not only two weeks ago that the Rebbe ruled in my favor for life in the Heavenly Court?' Then I burst into uncontrollable tears.

"When I finally calmed down, the Rebbe extended his hand to me for that traditional limp handshake, and while still holding my hand said, 'Nu, G-d Almighty should bless you with long years and a good, prosperous life.'

"I left his presence still in a very emotional state. I thought to myself the best thing to calm down would be to study some Ohr HaChaim, since in the merit of doing so I had been granted a new lease on life. So here I am.…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Source: Translated and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from the Hebrew weekly, Sichat HaShavua #1381. Bio notes and photos courtesy of
//kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/suchostaw/sl_husiatyn_chassidic_dynasty.html

Biographical notes:
Rabbi Chaim ben Moses ibn Attar (1696-15 Tammuz 1743) was one of the most prominent rabbis in Morocco. In 1733 he decided to leave his native country and settle in the Holy Land. En route he was detained in Livorno by the rich members of the Jewish community who established a yeshiva for him. His resting place on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is the occasion for a large annual pilgrimage on his yahrzeit.

Husyatin: There were four generations of Rebbes of the Husyatin branch of Ruzhin, of whom the 2nd and 4th are featured in the story above:
Mordecai-Shraga ("Feivish") Friedman, (1835-1894), youngest son of the holy Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin;
Yisroel Friedman, (1858-1949), named for his holy grandfather;
Yaakov Friedman, (1878-1957), son-in-law of Reb Yisrael and son of Yitzchak Friedman, the Buhash Rebbe, oldest grandson of the holy Ruzhiner;
Yitzchok Friedman (1900-1968), son of Reb Yaakov / grandson of Reb Yisroel and of the Buhash Rebbe for whom he was named, 4th and last Rebbe of Husyiatin (his only son,Mordecai Shraga, died in childhood).

Connection: The 273rd yahrzeit of the Ohr HaChayim is on Tammuz 15 (this year: July 21).

 

 




Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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