This One Is Mine

It is told that when Rav Klonimus Kalman was a small boy, Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev came to visit his town. As children do, the boy slipped under the tallis of the Berditchever to see what the Rebbe was doing as he davened. The way the tzaddik prayed left such a mark on him that from then on a holy fire burned within him.

Years later, when Rav Klonimus Kalman had grown up and become a well-known talmid of Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk, Rav Elimelech once met the Berditchever while the talmid was with him. Rav Elimelech was proud to have such a holy and distinguished person among his students. The Berditchever looked carefully at the author of Maor VaShemesh and recognized in his face the boy of long ago.

“No, no,” he said to Rav Elimelech, “this one is mine. When he was five years old and hid under my tallis, the holiness already left its mark on him, until he reached the level he has now.”