The Sassover Rebbe once asked the saintly R’ Elimelech of Lizhensk, “How can it be said that God skipped over the houses of B’nei Yisrael in Mitzrayim? Isn’t the entire universe filled with God’s glory? Presumably it means that when God came across the home of a Jew in Egyptian territory, He skipped and “danced” for joy, saying, “Here lives a Jew! Here lives a Jew!”
Heavenly Matchmaker
“Orchestrating zivugim is as daunting as the splitting of the sea.” (Sanhedrin 22:1).
One of R’ Motel’e Chernoble’s lofty missions in life was to procure subsistence for the hidden tzaddikim of his generation, and he marshaled his chassidim to this noble cause. One chassid’s benevolence in this “veiled” venture stood out above the rest.
On one of his visits to his rebbe, R’ Chaim Mendel confided that he was possessed of a relentless desire, a yearning to acquaint himself with the identity of the illusive tzaddikim whom he unstintingly supported. He declared his willingness to extend whatever sum it would take to fulfill his ambition, if only to familiarize himself with at least one of them.
Before the rebbe could react to the chassid’s startling remark, R’ Chaim Mendel launched into his second petition. His only son, a God fearing and learned young man, was in need of a bracha – a blessing – to facilitate the finding of his true zivug.
Chaim Mendel readily admitted that there had been many shidduchim proposed. Regretfully, his son was stubbornly insistent on marrying the daughter of Baruch Leib, the simple and indigent forest maintenance warden. He went on to extol his son’s humble nature, deploring that “even humility has limitations. And don’t our sages advise that one should strive to marry a daughter of a talmid chacham (Torah scholar)? I am ready to relinquish a princely sum to secure an illustrious shidduch”
The rebbe deliberated the dilemmas placed before him. “You have presented two formidable issues it is not in my hands to help you resolve them both. The hidden tzaddikim must remain hidden, for this is an inherent element of their righteousness….In regard to a shidduch for your son, our Heavenly Father is the arbiter of arranging suitable matches. And as chazal teach, the pairing of the right zivugim is as difficult as krias Yam Suf. Who am I to intercede?”
Following a silent interval, the rebbe continued. “Listen to me, Chaim Mendel. I am not permitted to divulge the identities of the hidden tzaddikim. But perhaps you will have the good fortune to encounter Eliyahu hanavi – no minor thing. Join us for the seder, and when it will be time for Eliyahu to come by, maybe you will be given the opportunity . . .maybe he will even appear in the disguise of one of the hidden tzaddikim, and you will thereby realize your aspiration.”
R’ Chaim Mendel’s heart did a tap dance. He, a plain chassid, would merit to see Eliyahu hanavi?His prayers took on extra fervency in the days preceding Pesach. He learned with double the concentration and augmented his charitable contributions.
The big night arrived. The Maggid of Chernoble was regally radiant in his gold-trimmed white kittel. Flanked by his eight sons, his eyes danced, pearls of wit and wisdom flowing from his lips unabated. At the telling moment, kos shel Eliyahu filled to the brim, all eyes turned toward the door that was ajar in readiness to welcome the exalted prophet. Only one pair was accorded the rare privilege of perceiving the saintly stature. The prophet’s face was shining, his demeanor joyful, as he approached the table, clothed in simple garb.
