Why the Czernobler Knew Lelov

When Rav Dovid Lelover passed away, his son Rav Moshe and a talmid, Rav Yisroel Yitzchok of Vurka, were unsure which rebbe to 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 before." 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?" asked the Czernobler Maggid, turning to his second guest.

"I come from Lelov," answered Rav Moshe.

"Ah, Lelov, yes, that is a place I have heard of," replied Rav Mottele. "Let me tell you both how I have heard of Lelov." And he told them this story.

"After my father, Rav Menachem Nuchem, author of the Meor Eynaim, passed away, he would descend from on High and visit me each night, and we would study Torah together." The two guests sat spellbound at this casual description of otherworldly visits and spiritual chavrusas.

The Maggid continued, "Then, suddenly, some forty days and nights went by 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 reappeared, and we continued to study together as before. I asked him why he had been absent for those forty days and nights, and why he had not come. He answered me:"

"When a great tzaddik leaves this world, he is honored in the heavens with the delivery of a derasha. From the time Rav Dovid Lelover passed away, for forty days and nights, he delivered his heavenly discourse. The attendance of all the tzaddikim in heaven was required, as was the presence of the entire heavenly host, the pamaliya shel maalah. We all listened to the derasha for all forty days and nights, and that is why I was absent and could not come to study with you until now."

"That is how I have heard of Lelov," concluded Rav Mottele of Czernoble.

Rav Yisroel Yitzchok of Vurka could hold back no longer. 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 that his guest was none other than the son of Rav Dovid Lelover, he dressed Rav Moshe in new clothes and showered both guests with honor and respect.