The Siddur of the Shela

On Shabbos and Yom Tov, the Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz davened from the siddur of the Shela HaKadosh, which he had inherited from the Tzemach Tzaddik. He used to say of it, “I remember holding this siddur in front of my Zeide during Nishmas. Holy Jews held this siddur in their hands.”

Once, when someone tried to hand him a different siddur, the Rebbe pointed to the Siddur Shela to show his preference. He turned to the approbations and pointed out the words of the Bach on the Tur, Rav Yoel Sirkis, who wrote in his haskomah: “I promise that whoever davens from this siddur, his prayers will not return empty and will not remain unanswered.”

The Sulitzer Rebbe of Far Rockaway also davened from the Siddur HaShela. When asked why, he showed the same haskomah of the Bach and pointed out these holy words.