Like a Tanna

Whenever Rav Zev Wolf of Strikov came before his Rebbe, the Kotzker would ask him to repeat a chiddush (Torah novelty) that his father had taught. The Kotzker was so strict about this that if the Strikover could offer no chiddush, the Rebbe would neither greet him nor agree to see him.

Once, the Strikover was in Warsaw on business and then went to Kotzk without advance preparation, so he had no chiddush ready. As expected, the Kotzker asked for one of his father's chiddushim. When none came, he refused to see the Strikover or offer his hand in greeting, and sent him away to return with a chiddush.

On the way back to Tchechonow the Strikover stopped in Warsaw and told the Chiddushei HaRim what had happened. The Chiddushei HaRim asked him to stop by again, the next time he passed that way, and share his father's chiddush with him as well. The Strikover went home and heard a chiddush from his father. On his way to Kotzk he stopped in Warsaw and repeated it to the Chiddushei HaRim, who was greatly impressed and praised it highly. "Please stop here after you tell it to the Kotzker," he said, "and tell me how he reacted."

On his return the Strikover reported that the Kotzker had answered, "That can't be right. It is against an explicit Gemara." "Aha," said the Chiddushei HaRim. "It is no wonder the Kotzker responded this way, for he himself is like a Tanna from the Gemara."