The Chuppah and the Favor

Der groise chasunah (the great wedding) was a title the Chassidim applied to certain auspicious occasions, weddings of particular renown and importance. The chasunah of Rav Meilech of Rudnik was one such event that had earned that nickname.

Among the tzaddikim gathered there to celebrate and officiate were the Ropshitzer's famed son, Rav Eliezer of Dzhikov, and the Ropshitzer's talmid, Rav Avraham of Olynov. The Olynover Rav was invited to be mesader kiddushin and marry the couple. He ascended to the chuppah, took the goblet of wine in hand and stood there frozen, rooted to the spot, unmoving.

Time passed, and no one dared interrupt, although no one understood the delay. The Olynover Rav just stood under the wedding canopy, wine in hand, deep in concentration, absorbed in his own holy thoughts, waiting silently. For what, no one knew. One hour passed, then two, and the people were growing restless, but their respect for the Olynover Rav won out and they waited. He stood still as a statue, not a hand or foot moving. Then, just as suddenly, he awoke and came back to life. He proceeded to officiate as mesader kiddushin and married the couple.

No one understood what had delayed the Olynover Rav. “No one but me,” explained Rav Meilech of Rudnik, as he repeated the story to his Chassidim and followers in later years. “You have no idea what a heavenly favor the holy tzaddik did for me there under my chuppah. During those two holy hours he helped my two children live and survive. Two hours of his tefillos for those two children.” As is known, Rav Meilech of Rudnik had fourteen children in his lifetime and only two survived: the famed Rav Elazar of Reisha and one other, a daughter.