I Have Heard of Lelov Before

It is told that when Rav Dovid Lelover passed away, his son, Rav Moshe, and his talmid, Rav Yisroel Yitzchok of Vorki, were unsure which Rebbe they should travel to from then on. They decided to visit Rav Mordechai of Czernoble. When they arrived, he asked them where they came from.

“I come from Zarik,” answered Rav Yisroel Yitzchok, who was a chassan.

“Hmmm,” murmured the Czernobler Maggid thoughtfully, “I cannot say that I have ever heard of that place.” Zarik was a small town, and in those days before the railroads, travel was limited. Outside one’s own surroundings, not every town was known.

“And you?” the Czernobler Maggid asked, turning to his second guest. “I come from Lelov,” answered Rav Moshe. “Ahh, Lelov, yes, that is a place I have heard of,” replied Rav Mottele. “Let me tell you both how I heard of Lelov.” And he told them this story.

“After my father, Rav Menachem Nuchem, the author of the Meor Eynaim, passed away, he would descend from on High every night and visit me, and we would learn Torah together.” The two guests sat spellbound at this matter-of-fact description of visits from the other world and heavenly chavrusas.

The Maggid continued, “Then, suddenly, some forty days and nights passed in which my holy father did not appear. I had no idea what had happened. Perhaps I had done something wrong? After forty days and nights my father returned, and we studied together once more as before. I asked him why he had been absent. Why had he not come? He answered me.

“When a great tzaddik leaves this world, he is honored in the heavens by being asked to deliver a derasha. From the time Rav Dovid Lelover passed away, for forty days and nights, he delivered his heavenly discourse. All the tzaddikim in heaven were required to attend, as was the entire heavenly host, the pamaliya shel maalah (the heavenly household). We all listened to the derasha for all forty days and nights, and that is why I was absent and could not come to learn with you until now.”

“This is how I have heard of Lelov,” concluded Rav Mottele of Czernoble.

Rav Yisroel Yitzchok of Vorki could not hold back. He steered Rav Moshe toward the Czernobler Maggid and said, “Rebbe, this is Rav Dovid Lelover’s son.” Rav Moshe was very poor, and his clothes were tattered. When the Czernobler understood who his guest was, none other than the son of Rav Dovid Lelover, he dressed Rav Moshe in new clothes and showered them both with honor and respect.