Yahrzeit of R Levi Yitchak of Berditchev Kedushas Levi

Today, the 25th of Tishrei (Sunday October 3, 2010) is 201th yahrzeit or
yorzeit of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740-1810)

Two Stories, One Tradition?

There were two widows that were chained as agunahs during the time of Rav
Levi Yitzchok of Barditchov. There was no conclusiive evidence of their
husband's passing and so they could not remarry. When the Berditchever Rav
found a way to permit them to remarry he received a rebuke from the eminent
sage Rav Ephraim Zalman Margolias of Broydie who said "Although you may see
using ruach hakodesh that these women can remarry you certainly cannot use
it to rule on a halachic matter!"

"But I did not use ruach hakodesh, I used a logical argument!" protested Rav
Levi Yitzchak, he then presented the complex halachic argument which he had
used to arrive at his ruling. As the two prominent rabbonim and Torah
scholars jousted and dueled using arrays of complex Talmudic logic building
and destroying eachother's edifices of arguments finally Rav Margolias
acceded to the Berditchever's use of logic although he still argued at his
arrived decision.

When they had concluded Rav Levi Yitzchak brought both of the deceased
husband's souls back to reveal themselves before Rav Margolias. One of the
souls was silent, however the other cried out saying "How can you let our
wives remarry?!" So saying he began to build his own halachic argument
against the permit, citings numerous sources to back up his claims. Rav
Margolias had known the deceased, and during his lifetime he was not a Torah
scholar, "If during your lifetime you were not a Torah scholar," he asked
the soul, "how did you become so learned now after your passing?"

"When I died, it was al kiddush Hashem, in sanctification of G-d's Divine
Name. Now the gates of Kiddush Hashem and the Heichal HaTorah - adjoin
eachother and when they brought my soul up through there I gained all this
knowledge," the soul explained.

"Why is the other one silent?" Rav Margolios asked. "When we were both
killed, I had in mind that I was giving my life to sanctify G-d's name, my
friend however although he too had that in mind, also had an ulterior motive
thinking that perhaps now that he would be famous as someone who died al
kiddush Hashem, perhaps his orphans would have an easier time with
shidduchim for marriage. Therefore he was punished with one years silence."

(Based on Gut Voch p 173-174)

Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
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An Esrog and a Heavenly Promise

From the upcoming MeOros Kedushas Levi on Moadim:

An Esrog and a Heavenly Promise

Once there was a great shortage of Esrogim for the Succos holiday, and Rav
Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev was without an Esrog.

He sent emissaries to wait on at the crossroads to see if anyone traveling
by might perchance have the fruit with them. The emissaries met a Jew who
had an Esrog however he was not traveling to Berditchev and he wished to
continue traveling. The emissaries asked him to stay in Berditchev for
Succos in order to allow Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev to have the merit
and opportunity to bless the Esrog, however the latter declined, explaining
that he had been traveling far and wide for some time and that now he wished
to spend the holidays at home with his family. He was unwilling to relent.

As they were triying to persuade him Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev himself
arrived and begged the Jew to stay for Succos and still the Jew refused. Rav
Levi Yitzchak said to him "I promise you that in exchange for staying, you
will be with me in my place in heaven." When the stranger heard this promise
from the holy Tzadik he agreed, and he traveled with them to Berditchev to
stay for Succos. He entered an inn and the entire town rejoiced.

Rav Levi Yitzchak sent a proclamation to the innkeepers and throughout
Berditchev that no one was to allow the stranger who was a guest to enter
any of the succah booths to eat! The entire town was commanded that if the
guest should ask someone to enter their succah to eat they must refuse him
entry. The guest knew nothing of the conspiracy and when he left the
synagogue after the prayers and attempted to enter the succah at the inn to
make Kiddush he was barred and refused entry. He began to shout and yell
with no avail. He went to the neighbors and asked their permission to enter
their succah, however they refused him entry as well. He understood that
something was amiss and after questioning them, they admitted that Rav Levi
Yitzchak had commanded them to bar his entry.

The guest ran to Rav Levi Yitzchak and asked him "Why have you repaid me
evil for the kindness I did for you?" Rav Levi Yitzchak answered him, "If
you relinquish the promise I made to you to be with me in heaven I will
allow you to enter the succah." An inner battle raged within the guest. What
should he do? Finally he decided to forgive Rav Levi Yitzchak his promise as
long as the Rav would allow him to fulfill the mitzvah of succos with joy!

The next day Rav Levi Yitzchak invited the guest to his own personal succah
along with the important personages in town and explained his odd behavior.
"Now I once again promise you that you shall be together with me in my
portion in heaven!," said Rav Levi Yitzchak. "I wanted you to withstand this
test, so that you should acquire the portion yourself and be worthy of my
promise, rather than having received it as a gift!"

(Shemuos VeSippurim I)

Such is the power of the mitzvah of Sukkah!

Wishing you a Gut Yom Tov,
Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022 / eFax: 1-832-213-3135
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A Broken Pitam and a Broken Heart

From the upcoming MeOros Kedushas Levi on Moadim:

A Broken Pitam and a Broken Heart

Once there was a great shortage of Esrogim for the Succos holiday, and only
after great exertion and much effort was an esrog acquired. One esrog for
the entire city of Berditchev which was brough to Rav Levi Yitzchak. It was
understood that all the townspeople wpuld come on the holiday to pronounce
the blessing on this esrog.

The Shamash said to himself, "surely first Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
will make the blessing with the esrog, and after him all the important
personages in town, and then afterwards everyone else. I myself will be
among the last people to hold and bless the esrog." He came up with an idea,
he would wake up extra early and when no one was around he would be the
first to make the blessing and no one would be the wiser! This is what he
did.

However since he was in such a state of fear and panic rushing and hurried
to finish his deed without being discovered, he accidentally dropped the
esrog so that it fell and the pitam broke off! The esrog was now pasul,
unfit for use by anyone!

The Shamash was heartbroken with anguish, because of his misdeed now the
entire town of Berditshev had no esrog at all! Th Shamash came crying
heartrending tears of anguish and despair before the Tzadik Rav Levi
Yitzchak of Berditshev. He was sure that the rebbe would rebuke and berate
him yelling at him for his misdeed. However Rav Levi Yitzchak simply turned
to Hashem and cried out "Ribono Shel Olam! Master of the World, see what a
nation You have?! See how they are worried and distressed to fulfill Your
commandments!" He used the episode to advocate on behalf of the Jewish
people.
(Shemuos VeSippurim I)

Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
join the mailing list here: http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim
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The holy Berditchever once asked the following question on Yom Kippur:

From the upcoming MeOros Kedushas Levi on Moadim

The Berditchever once asked the following question on Yom Kippur:

"We know that the halacha is that it is forbidden to recite a blessing in vain, and to say Hashem's holy name. If so, how can we recite the blessing 'Blessed are You Hashem the King who forgives our sins'? How can we be so sure that Hashem will forgive us?"

To answer his question he told the following parable:

"When a child wants a sweet treat like an apple and his father is not so forthcoming what does he do? Any smart crafty little boy knows just the trick! He quickly recites the blessing aloud 'Blessed are You Hashem our G-d, King of the Universe who created the fruit of the tree!' Now the child prods his father "Nu . . .Nu . . ." Now, no father wants his son to have transgressed by reciting a blessing in vain, so left with no choice he gives him the apple!"

"So are we, Hashem's wayward children. We too recite the blessing of forgiveness on Yom Kippur to snatch the opportunity to prod our Father in Heaven, Nu Nu Tatte! And so too we trust that our heilige Tatte in himel, our holy Father in Heaven will not wish to have caused us to have recited a blessing in vain, and then He will have no choice but to forgive us!

 

Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022 / eFax: 1-832-213-3135
join the mailing list here: http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim
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Re: {Be'er Mayim Chaim} Selichos

Some people mentioned that they missed the punchline, The Berditchever meant: Master of the World see the contrast & difference between the nations such as Ivan and Your children! They wont get up for Selichos they would rather sleep all morning but Your children rise up early even before daybreak for Selichos.

Selichos

The Berditchever was always searching for ways to advocate for the yidden, he sent his gabbai to awaken Ivan for Selichos. He growled threatening the poor gabbai who said "Ivan does'nt want to get up for Selichos!" "Go back right now and wake him!" the Berditchever ordered. This time Ivan growled, "Selichos what Selichos!? Grr..I will give you what to be sorry about, it's not even daybreak!" He poured out his wrath and abuse on the poor gabbai! When the gabbai hobbled back and repeated his failure, Rav Levi Yitzchak looked heavenward "Master of the World see how righteous your children are!"

 

Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022 / eFax: 1-832-213-3135
join the mailing list here: http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim
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Smoking on Shabbos

Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditschev, was renowned not only as a great Talmudist and a Tzaddik, but, particularly, as one who always-judged others most favorably. He possessed ingenuity in discovering a merit in even the most wicked and lowly person, that he was called the Saneigoran Shel Yisroel The Defense Lawyer and Advocate of Israel.

From the upcoming MeOros Kedushas Levi on the Torah:

I Cannot Tell A Lie

The Berditchever once saw a Jew smoking on Shabbos.

"Surely you forgot that it's Shabbos today?" said the Berditchever, giving the man the benefit of the doubt.

"No, I remembered that it's Shabbos today rabbi," the man replied.

"So perhaps you forgot that it is forbidden to smoke on Shabbos?" the great advocate persisted.

But the young man answered, "No rabbi, I remembered that it's forbidden to smoke on Shabbos."

What line of defense could the tzaddik could come up with in the face of such brazen chutzpah. Everyone held their breath in suspense.

Rav Levi Yitzchak's surprising response was to turn heavenward and with outspread arms declare in triumph: "Look, Ribono Shel Olam - Master of the universe! Even this Jew who has fallen to such a low level that he smokes on Shabbos is still not willing to tell a lie!"

(Based on Sources: Rav Yaakov Yosef Wurtzberger of Tiferes Berditchev – Yerushalayim; Also retold by by Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom in Devarim - Counsel for the Defense, July 21^st,2007 p15-16.)

Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022 / eFax: 1-832-213-3135
join the mailing list here: http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim
Noam Elimelech, Kedushas Levi, Pirkei Avos more!
Discuss Chassidus http://groups.google.com/group/torahchassidusdiscussion
Author Page https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48
LinkedIn: http://il.linkedin.com/in/rabbitalmoshe