How R' Peretz Became Rabbi Of Beshenkowitz

Rabbi Peretz Chein was a great Torah scholar and a Chasid of Rabbi Dov Ber Shneuri, the second Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch known as the Mitteler Rebbe. Reb Peretz was sent by the Mitteler Rebbe to be the rabbi in the city of Beshenkowitz.

Reb Peretz was very uneasy about taking on the position in Beshenkowitz; a man by the name of Reb Aharon had caused grief to all the previous Chasidic rabbis of the town. Reb Aharon was a great scholar in his own right and was vehemently opposed to Chasidism. He used his genius to confound the rabbis and ultimately to get rid of them.

Reb Aharon's way of operating was as follows: He would present all manner of difficult questions to the rabbi upon his arrival in Beshenkowitz. After the rabbi would render his decision, Reb Aharon and his friends would present a strong case for an opposing position. If at any time, a rabbi conceded that he had erred, he was ridiculed by Reb Aharon and his cronies until he left the town in disgrace.

Therefore, when the Mitteler Rebbe assigned Rabbi Peretz to become the rabbi of this town, it was no wonder that the latter was nervous. He told the Rebbe his concerns, saying that under the circumstances he did not think he could go there. The Rebbe told him that "they had approved of this in Heaven," but Rabbi Peretz was still apprehensive. The Rebbe finally told him to go there, "oif meina pleitzes" (on my shoulders). Hearing this, Rabbi Peretz rejoiced and said, "Rebbe, I'm going! If it's on the Rebbe's shoulders, I have nothing to fear."

Rabbi Peretz arrived at Beshenkowitz and began leading the town as its rabbi. Reb Aharon, of course, began sending all sorts of questions his way through his various emissaries, but Rabbi Peretz always managed to prove the validity of his legal decisions.

Reb Aharon once sent him a particularly complicated question. Rabbi Peretz scrutinized the item in question and pronounced it kosher. Reb Aharon immediately galvanized his friends into action. They attacked the rabbi's decision with strong, convincing proofs. Rabbi Peretz worked arduously to justify his position.

At the height of the debate, the antagonists repeatedly demanded, "What's your source? From where did you derive your decision?" Finally, Rabbi Peretz pointed towards a packed bookcase and said, "From there."

Rabbi Peretz had meant that, in general, his decision had been based on the holy books housed in the bookcase, but evidently one of his opponents understood him to be referring to a particular book. So he took the book out and opened it up to see what it said.

Lo and behold, this was a book of Jewish legal responsa, and by an incredible instance of Divine Providence, the place he opened to was precisely the topic they were discussing! There the author referred to the sources the antagonists were quoting in attempt to disprove Rabbi Peretz, and it went on to explain how each point was taken out of context. In the book of responsa, the final ruling was in accordance with the opinion that had been derived by Rabbi Peretz.

When Reb Aharon and his cohorts saw the proof in black and white with their very eyes, they meekly left the house. From then on, they no longer persecuted Rabbi Peretz.

"That's when I saw," said Rabbi Peretz afterwards, "that the Rebbe had indeed taken me on his holy shoulders."

Adapted from a story in Beis Moshiach Magazine.

How The Mitteler Rebbe Became a Chosid

Reb Dov Ber of Lubavitch was the son and successor of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad chasidism. One time, while still a young man, Reb Dov Ber met one of the chasidim of his father during a visit to Janowitz. The young chasid was a peer of Reb Dov Ber's and they began a discussion on various matters relating to Torah and a Jew's G-dly service. During the conversation, Reb Dov Ber made light of his friend's accomplishments in Torah study and prayer.

The chasid was upset by Reb Dov Ber's words and replied: "How can you make such statements? Are you comparing yourself to me? Who is your father, and who is mine? Your father is our Rebbe, and everyone knows what spiritual level he is at. When it was time to bring a soul down to This World, no doubt he and your mother brought down a pure and lofty soul. Then as you were growing up, your family watched you carefully to make sure that not only no physical harm befell you, but also that no spiritual harm would befall you. You were given the best possible Jewish education and you were always surrounded by people of exemplary character and religiousity. So, what kind of impressive achievement is it that you are meticulous in the observance of mitzvot (commandments), that you relish Torah study, that your soul desires to cleave to its Maker during prayer?

"But me - my soul was probably arbitrarily swiped from the storehouse of souls up there. After I was born, I grew up like any other Jewish child, with as much supervision as my parents could offer while they were both involved in trying to put food on the table. Of course, I studied in the local cheder, but my playmates and comrades were just regular children like myself.

"And now, how do I make a living? I give the local peasants the capital they need to buy grain during the sowing season. But that is not the difficult part of my job, for the hard work is in the winter. During the winter I have to collect my debts. There's a whole procedure to follow in order to do this properly! I have to bring a bottle of vodka with me on these ventures. Of course, I have to travel at night, since in the winter the peasants get up while it's still dark outside. When I finally get to the first peasant's home I have to make a little 'l'chaim' with him, and his wife, too! Without that he won't even begin to talk business with me.

"I settle the accounts with him and then I move on to the next house. There, too, I must have a 'friendly' drink before they will let me discuss business. This goes on at the next house and at the next, until I've collected from three or four people. At this point it's light outside. I head home, immerse in the mikva (ritualarium) as does every chasid, and say my morning prayers with the congregation. So you can imagine what kind of praying one can muster following a 'morning' like that. After that, I grab a few precious moments for Torah study before I have to go back out and deal with the local peasants once more."

In truth, this chasid who had just delivered the long soliloquy, prayed with the greatest devotion and concentration and was an impressive Torah scholar. But, since he was a humble person, he underestimated himself considerably.

When the young Reb Dov Ber heard his words he was quite overwhelmed. He returned at once to his father, the Rebbe, related the entire conversation, and bemoaned his own spiritual attainments. It seemed to him that everything he had accomplished until now really wasn't worth anything at all.

The next time the chasid from Janowitz came to Liozna to be with the Rebbe, the Rebbe told him, "I am indeed indebted to you. You have made a chasid of my son, Berl!"