Purim Rebbe - Monthly Gedolim Story
I am sure that one of the highlights of Purim for many people is the Seudah (Feast) which takes place in the late afternoon of this wonderfully happy day. Whether you celebrate it with friends, family or if your chasidish, with your Rebbe, this beautiful meal is a time for inspiration, laughter and blessings and is eagerly looked forward to by many.
I hope you find the story as enjoyable as your Purim Meal :)
Yitzy Schweitzer
Yitzy Schweitzer
Purim Rebbe - Monthly Gedolim Story
Rabbi Yisrael and his wife had been married for six years and had not yet been blessed with children. At every bris that he performed, Rabbi Stern would silently pray for him to be to do the mitzvah of bris milah one day for his own son.
His father, Reb Shlomo, who was also a well-known mohel, would often travel to Belgium, France and Switzerland to perform a bris. After Chanukah in 1957, at a bris, Reb Shlomo met the famed tzaddik Reb Itzik'l Gewirtzman zt''l., whom he knew well from the two having spent their earlier days in Paris. Reb Irzik'l was known for his piety, humility and wisdom and as such, would have many people come to him for a blessing.
After that bris in Antwerp Reb Shlomo approached Reb Itzik'l and requested a blessing for his son. Reb Itzik'l thought for a moment before replying "My great grandfather, Reb Naftali from Lizhensk, was a very holy man, whose blessings were always fulfilled. He hardly blessed anyone, but on Purim, he would. His reasoning was, as he said, 'Purim is a time when people can disguise themselves, so now I can disguise myself as a real Rebbe'. Now, I am surely not the holy man Reb Naftali was, but if your son, Yisrael comes to me on Purim, we will see what we can do."
Reb Shlomo returned to England and told over the news to his son, who discreetly, that afternoon, made plans to be in Antwerp for Purim.
The two had actually met on a couple of occasions previously at brissim in Paris and more recently at that time at a wedding of one Rabbi Sterns dear friends in England, which Reb Itzik'l attended. At the sheva brachos, Rabbi Yisrael, known than for his comical antics, whimsically recited divrei Torah and stories which entertained all that night, including Reb Itzik'l who had many compliments for him afterwards, so this meeting on Purim would be a reunion of sorts.
On Purim morning after reading Megilah, delivering Mishloach Monos, and handing out some money, Reb Yisrael headed for Heathrow, where he was told that all planes to Antwerp were cancelled due to heavy fog. After some thinking, however he managed to get a plane to Amsterdam, where he could than get a train to Antwerp. So despite the hold up, he would still make it to the Purim Seadah, which mattered most.
After that bris in Antwerp Reb Shlomo approached Reb Itzik'l and requested a blessing for his son. Reb Itzik'l thought for a moment before replying "My great grandfather, Reb Naftali from Lizhensk, was a very holy man, whose blessings were always fulfilled. He hardly blessed anyone, but on Purim, he would. His reasoning was, as he said, 'Purim is a time when people can disguise themselves, so now I can disguise myself as a real Rebbe'. Now, I am surely not the holy man Reb Naftali was, but if your son, Yisrael comes to me on Purim, we will see what we can do."
Reb Shlomo returned to England and told over the news to his son, who discreetly, that afternoon, made plans to be in Antwerp for Purim.
The two had actually met on a couple of occasions previously at brissim in Paris and more recently at that time at a wedding of one Rabbi Sterns dear friends in England, which Reb Itzik'l attended. At the sheva brachos, Rabbi Yisrael, known than for his comical antics, whimsically recited divrei Torah and stories which entertained all that night, including Reb Itzik'l who had many compliments for him afterwards, so this meeting on Purim would be a reunion of sorts.
On Purim morning after reading Megilah, delivering Mishloach Monos, and handing out some money, Reb Yisrael headed for Heathrow, where he was told that all planes to Antwerp were cancelled due to heavy fog. After some thinking, however he managed to get a plane to Amsterdam, where he could than get a train to Antwerp. So despite the hold up, he would still make it to the Purim Seadah, which mattered most.
Eventually, after all that travelling he made it to the home of Reb Itzik'l. Before he entered, however he opened his suitcase and unpacked an elaborate costume he applied the night before. He applied white make up to his face so he would look old, glued on a long white beard and than placed a Shtreimel on his had and put on a bekeshe.
As he entered the room, everyone turned to see this unknown Rebbe. So well disguised that even his close friends did not recognize him. After being seated next to Reb Itzik'l, and his son and son-in-law (who also did not recognize him), at the head of the table, he began speaking in fluent Flemish,at which point everyone realised he was a Purim Rebbe. But who was he?
After his opening words in Flemish, he changed accents and started speaking Lithuanian-accented, German and more keeping his audience - including Reb Itzik'l hysterical with laughter. Near the end of the seudah when Reb Itzik'l was handed a plate of kugel Rabbi Stern turned to him and asked in Yiddish "Ihr, zeit oich a Peerim Rebbe? You also a purim Rebbe, to which Reb Itzik'l smiled. "I'll make a deal with you"said Rabbi Yisrael "I'll promise you what you want if you promise me what I want". Reb Itzik'l agreed and so, Rabbi Stern took out his kvittel and handed to Reb Itzik'l who turned white after he read it "Dee bist Duss? It this you?" he asked.
Rabbi Stern pulled of his beard and Reb Itzik'l realised that this indeed was the Yisrael he said should come to him on purim. Everyone noticed the sudden change in the tzaddik's face, but Reb Itzik'l brushed aside their concerns.
After the meal concluded, the two men went out for a walk where Reb Itzik'l asked Rabbi Stern "promise me that I will be the one to hold the sandek at the bris", to which Rabbi Stern agreed. The two walked on a bit more and than Reb Itzik'l asked Rabbi Stern to let him know when their will be good news in the family. Afterwards the two parted ways and the next morning Rabbi Yisrael was back home.
A few months later, the news was told to Reb Itzik'l that the doctors had discovered that his child was expected to be born around Purim. Reb Itzik'l was obviously invited and, when the child, Nosson Yehududah was born a week after Purim, the tzaddik came and was honoured with being the sandek.
As he entered the room, everyone turned to see this unknown Rebbe. So well disguised that even his close friends did not recognize him. After being seated next to Reb Itzik'l, and his son and son-in-law (who also did not recognize him), at the head of the table, he began speaking in fluent Flemish,at which point everyone realised he was a Purim Rebbe. But who was he?
After his opening words in Flemish, he changed accents and started speaking Lithuanian-accented, German and more keeping his audience - including Reb Itzik'l hysterical with laughter. Near the end of the seudah when Reb Itzik'l was handed a plate of kugel Rabbi Stern turned to him and asked in Yiddish "Ihr, zeit oich a Peerim Rebbe? You also a purim Rebbe, to which Reb Itzik'l smiled. "I'll make a deal with you"said Rabbi Yisrael "I'll promise you what you want if you promise me what I want". Reb Itzik'l agreed and so, Rabbi Stern took out his kvittel and handed to Reb Itzik'l who turned white after he read it "Dee bist Duss? It this you?" he asked.
Rabbi Stern pulled of his beard and Reb Itzik'l realised that this indeed was the Yisrael he said should come to him on purim. Everyone noticed the sudden change in the tzaddik's face, but Reb Itzik'l brushed aside their concerns.
After the meal concluded, the two men went out for a walk where Reb Itzik'l asked Rabbi Stern "promise me that I will be the one to hold the sandek at the bris", to which Rabbi Stern agreed. The two walked on a bit more and than Reb Itzik'l asked Rabbi Stern to let him know when their will be good news in the family. Afterwards the two parted ways and the next morning Rabbi Yisrael was back home.
A few months later, the news was told to Reb Itzik'l that the doctors had discovered that his child was expected to be born around Purim. Reb Itzik'l was obviously invited and, when the child, Nosson Yehududah was born a week after Purim, the tzaddik came and was honoured with being the sandek.
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