The Ropshitzer's Miracle Oil

The Shinover Rav did not omit Tachanun on the yahrzeits of tzaddikim, and he was not accustomed to visit their graves. He made one exception. He observed the yahrzeit of the holy Ropshitzer Rav, author of Zera Kodesh, and visited his tziyun, because he felt he owed him his very life. This is why.

When Rav Yechezkel Shraga was seven years old, his uncle, Rav Avigdor of Dukla, came to Rudnik to visit his brother, Rav Chaim of Sanz. At the end of the visit Rav Avigdor entered his carriage to leave, and realized that he had forgotten something in the house. He sent young Yechezkel Shraga to fetch it. In his eagerness to help his uncle, the boy dashed across the street, and a wagon loaded with heavy lumber came careening down the road and ran him over. The wheels crushed his body. The doctors shook their heads and despaired of his life, for the surgeon found that the wheel had cut his liver in half.

Hearing the diagnosis, Rav Avigdor raised his hands toward Heaven and cried, “Ribbono Shel Olam, if I am destined to have a son, I would gladly give him up so that this boy's life be spared.” And so it was that Rav Avigdor never had sons, only daughters.

The Divrei Chaim examined his son's broken body, and wherever he touched, the bones grew back together and straightened. Even in his old age, people, especially physicians, would remark on how straight and stately the Shinover Rav stood.

Still the Divrei Chaim feared for the child's life, for his inner organs had been damaged beyond natural repair. He sent word with one of the chassidim to his own rebbe, Rav Naftali of Ropshitz, asking him to daven for his son. The Ropshitzer did that and more. He sent back a flask of pure olive oil, with instructions to anoint and massage the child's body. In a short while the boy was well again.

In his old age, when he was weak, the Shinover Rav would tell of his salvation. He would recall how, as the oil from the Ropshitzer was rubbed into him, he could feel his bones mend and his organs restore themselves until his body was whole again. Then he would sigh and say longingly, “Where could we get such pure, holy oil today if we needed it?”