BEND
DOWN
All his Chasidim strove to be present when
Rabbi David of Tolna kindled his Chanukah lights. It was a
powerful event. The Rebbe would be intensely focused and in an exalted
state, and his menorah in itself was something quite impressive.
It was made of pure gold, and magnificently crafted with intricate
designs. The chasidim who merited to be in the house would be inspired,
and the nights of Chanukah would be filled with joyous festive songs
and melodies.
One year, on the first night of Chanukah, just before the time to
light the flame, the Rebbe was standing before the menorah,
involved in his last-moment inner preparations. The crowd of chasidim
pressed around him. Unexpectedly, the Rebbe turned to a certain chasid
and said, "I know that your wife is quite short. When you need
to speak to her, what do you do? Do you bend over towards her or does
she raise herself up to your height?"
Immediately upon uttering this remarkable question, the Rebbe began
his recital of the Chanukah blessings and lit his golden menorah.
The astonished man to whom the Rebbe had directed his question, as
well as all the other Chasidim of Tolna, were totally bewildered by
the Rebbe's mysterious words. No one could even begin to suggest what
the tzadik could possibly have meant.
Standing among the Chasidim at the time was Rabbi Mordechai Dov
of Hornsteipel, a grandson of one of the Rebbe's brothers, who
was already known as a tzadik. He had come to visit with his relatives
for a while. Seeing how perplexed the Chasidim were by their Rebbe's
words, he cleared his throat and addressed them.
"Shall I explain to you what my holy great-uncle said? It is
taught in Kabbala that 'The Divine Presence never descends lower than
ten' (tefachim from the ground). The one exception is the Chanukah
light. According to its law, ideally it should be lit at a height
of less than ten tefachim (about eighty centimeters/two feet,
but higher than three tefachim) above the ground. Then the
Divine Presence will descend to 'lower than ten.'
"The holy Ari of Safed stated that this secret of the descent
of the Divine Presence is the mystical root of the Talmudic statement,
'If your wife is short, bend over and whisper to her.' It is this
secret that the Rebbe, my great-uncle, wished to hint at and invoke
with his words to that tall chasid."
The next evening, when it was time to kindle the second light, the
Rebbe of Tolna turned to a different chasid, and again said something
baffling that no one could penetrate. Then, as he turned back to the
menorah, he addressed his great-nephew, the young tzadik,
and remarked, "This time you will not be able to decipher it
for them."
And so it was.
[Translated and freely adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles from Sipurei
Chasidim-Festivals.]
Biographical notes:
Rabbi David Twerski of Tolna [1808-10 Iyar 1882], son of the famed
tzadik, Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, had thousands of chasidim that
relied on his leadership. His works include Magen David. There
is a Tolner Shul in Safed even today.
Rabbi Mordechai Dov Twerski of Hornisteipel [1840-1904] was
named after his two maternal great-grandfathers, Rabbi Mordechai of
Chernobyl and Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch. He was also a direct descendant
of Rabbi Zusha of Anipoli and the son-in-law of Rabbi Chaim of Sanz.
A highly respected Talmudic scholar, he was also the author of a popular
book of Chasidic guidance, Pele Yoetz.
