The Segulah of His Kever

It is told that Rav Hirshele promised that if a fire ever broke out, the people should hurry to daven at his kever, and the fire would stop and spread no further than three buildings. And so it was: whenever a fire broke out in Tshortkov, they davened at his kever, and the fire miraculously died down (Shemen HaTov 92, 115).

Before his passing, Rav Hirshele also promised that any of his descendants who came to daven at his kever would be answered. Some say the promise was for five generations, others say ten, and still others say for all generations to come. His kever is well established as a tried and tested segulah for having tefillos answered.

Rav Shmuel Shmelka Horowitz of Sanik, author of Semichas Moshe, testified that he was once paralysed with pain in his foot. No doctor could help, and they had given up hope. Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Rymanov advised him to send a shaliach (messenger) especially to daven at Rav Hirshele's kever. As soon as the shaliach arrived and prayed there, he began to heal, and he recovered completely.

In the introduction to Minchas Yom Tov, Rav Shmuel of Shitava, also a descendant, relates that someone had been sick for nine months. They sent a special shaliach to daven at Rav Hirshele's kever, and the sick person was healed at once.

Rav Pinchos HaLevi Horowitz of Magrov, Teveria, related that he once had a wound on his cheek. He travelled with his mother to Rav Sholom of Belz, and as soon as she told him of Rav Hirshele's promise, he told her to travel immediately to Tshortkov. They did so, and as soon as he returned home he was healed.