The Ka’as Kapote

Vurka was marked by such intense ahavas Yisroel that the Rebbe nullified himself and his own person for the sake of his chassidim. “I nullify myself like a sugar cube in a glass of hot water,” the Vurker Rebbe used to say.

The Rebbe owned a special garment called his ka’as kapote, literally the coat of anger. Whenever he absolutely needed to become angry, he would order the ka’as kapote to be brought to him. By the time it arrived he had usually calmed down.

Once there was a matter that upset the Rebbe greatly. Since he was filled with ahavas Yisroel by nature, he could not stain himself with a middah as base as anger. Yet the matter required anger, so he ordered the ka’as kapote brought to him. By the time it arrived and the Rebbe put it on, he turned to his devoted attendant, Reb Feivel Shamash, and said, “Feivel, you get angry for me. I just cannot do it.”