The Apter Welcomes Rav Moshe Leib's Son

In the city of Zavanitz there were smugglers who moved goods without paying the levied taxes, and the Shabbos was desecrated openly. The Apta Rav, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel, was deeply upset by their behavior and rebuked them sharply.

Rav Shmelka, the son of Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov, wished to travel and visit the Apter. But he came from Zavanitz, and he feared that the Apter would ask where he was from and, on hearing the answer, would not even let him cross the threshold. His friends advised him to ignore any question about where he was from and simply to introduce himself as Rav Moshe Leib Sassover's son.

And so, when the shamash asked who he was, he said that he was the son of the Sassover. When the Apter heard this, he ran to Reb Shmelka and greeted him warmly, shaking his hand with both of his. He lit candles in his honor, put on finer clothes in his honor, and seated him in a special chair reserved for honored guests, brushing aside every protest with the words, "Why, you are my Rebbe's son."

While Rav Shmelka sat there, the Apter said to him: "Let me tell you a story from the time I was the Rav of Kolbesov. I was a young man then, an avreich, and I lived in the house set aside for the Rav. The house was very large, and my small family used only one wing. The winters were freezing, and my salary barely fed us, let alone paid to heat such a home. So although the whole house was furnished, we lived in one wing.

"I sat and learned lishma, sincerely for the sake of Heaven, and I had plenty of free time, since it was a small city with few matters that needed my attention. I often learned together with my son, and as we were immersed in our learning, nothing disturbed us. We were not chassidim. Since our main avoda was Torah study, we even looked upon their ways with disdain and counted ourselves among the misnagdim (opponents of Chassidus).

"One day two unknown travelers passed by and knocked at my window, asking whether I had room for guests. 'Why, yes,' I answered, 'the entire second wing is at your disposal.' They unloaded their luggage and made themselves at home. I noticed that they seemed to be holy men, and whatever they said to each other sounded lofty and concerned Avodas Hashem. But I was too busy with my learning to take their 'idle chatter' seriously. I thought that my derech (path) was the right one, and I shrugged them off.

"They were my guests for some three days. On the third day, as they prepared to continue on their way, they came to take their leave. One of them began to speak to me and to tell me a story. I was greatly troubled, because they were taking me away from my learning and my sincere Torah study. Still, it would have been rude to interrupt him, so I listened as politely as I could. When he finished the first story, he began another. My hair stood on end. I was so disturbed at this waste of my precious time. When he finished, the other guest began to tell me a tale as well, and the pain I felt was death itself. At last they finished the third story and went on their way.

"About three months passed, and I found that I understood the meaning of the first story and that I had needed it. Three more months passed, and I understood why I had needed the second story, and three months after that, the third. I was astonished to see how they had known what I would need and what would befall me over that entire year. I realized that this could only have been through Ruach HaKodesh, and I hoped that Hashem would give me another chance to meet these two holy men.

"Two years later I looked out of my window and saw them both riding past in their carriage. I could not miss such an opportunity. I ran out to catch their attention. In my rush I did not put on my coat or my spodik (the fur hat worn by an important figure such as the town Rav), and I ran in my shirt after their coach, chasing it across town. When I finally caught up with them near the inn, I asked, between breaths, where they were headed. 'We are going to Lizhensk, to the Rebbe, Reb Elimelech,' they explained.

"'May I join you?' I asked. They agreed, on condition that I go to the market while they davened and buy provisions for the journey, such as rolls, bagels and butter. I forgot myself completely, town Rav or not, and in just my shirt I went and bought the bread and butter. When I returned, they had finished davening and told me to hurry and get ready. I ran home, dressed, grabbed my tallis and tefillin, and jumped into their carriage.

"'We are taking you to the Rebbe, Reb Elimelech,' they explained, 'because we can tell that the root of your soul is bound to his.' And so they did. Reb Elimelech became my mentor, and I became his talmid. Those two holy tzaddikim were your father, Rav Moshe Leib Sassover, and Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev."

Afterward, Rav Moshe Leib would often say that he deserved shidduch gelt, a broker's fee, for making the match between the Apter and Reb Elimelech. To this the Berditchever replied, "And I should get double your fee, since I also brought the Rebbe, Reb Elimelech, and the Rebbe, Reb Zusha, to the Maggid of Mezritch."