The Beis HaChaim

Rav Menachem Nuchem Rabinowitz of Boznisnak, a descendant of Rav Yaakov Yisroel of Tsherkas, related a story he had heard from the chassidim of Rav Aharon of Czernoble who lived in Kremintzuk. The population of Kremintzuk was made up mostly of Tsherkaser chassidim. When the local beis hachaim was full and had to be expanded, they naturally turned to the Tsherkaser Rebbe for advice.

They invited the Rebbe to spend Shabbos in Kremintzuk and to sanctify the new section of the beis hachaim. After he arrived on Motza'ei Shabbos, the gabbaim of the chevra kaddisha entered his study and presented two alternate plans. “We can expand the beis hachaim either along its length or its width. If we expand its width, it will be cheaper, since we will not have to move the chedrei tahara, where the purification takes place.”

The Rebbe leaned a bit on his arm, and after a few moments he answered, “When I get there, I shall decide the best way to proceed.”

“Now understand,” said the Czernobler chassid, “I was there, and as a Czernobler chassid I could not understand what the Rebbe needed to see on location and why he could not decide at once. I took a small coach and hurried off, intending to arrive before the Rebbe and see what he would do. The Rebbe's coach took a shorter route and arrived near the wide part of the beis hachaim. I watched as the Rebbe approached the cemetery fence. He moved aside two pickets and peered into the beis hachaim. Then the strangest thing happened. The Rebbe appeared to sniff for something, and as soon as he seemed satisfied with whatever scent he had picked up, he ran back to the coach and ordered the driver to be off.

“I followed, and we all arrived at the crowd awaiting the Rebbe. There he told them he had arrived at his decision. Despite the extra cost, under no circumstances were they to expand the beis hachaim along its width. They should expand along its length. He gave no explanation, and he sanctified the beis hachaim along the length.

“I was not satisfied,” the chassid continued. “Out of curiosity, I asked two elderly chassidim to accompany me back to the beis hachaim. I showed them the spot where the Rebbe had stood by the fence and smelled whatever it was he smelled, and they recognized the place. ‘Who is buried here by the fence?’ I asked them. They named several well-known apikorsim who were buried there.

“At that moment I realized that the Tsherkaser Rebbe truly has ruach hakodesh, and I decided then to attach myself to him.”