Rav Shayaleh's Advice on Tisha B'Av

Rav Yoel was close with Rav Shayaleh of Kerestir. They visited each other from time to time and sent greetings, and Rav Yoel would say that Rav Shayaleh was a velts chacham, a sage for the whole world.

In Újhely there was a known breach in the fence of halachah. Many simple Jews, whose work among the non-Jews forced them to wear leather shoes, made a mistake. They thought that because they needed leather shoes for work, they could keep them on all day on Tisha B'Av, and so they came to shul that morning for Shacharis and Kinnos in leather shoes and went straight from there to their jobs.

It was Rav Yoel's first year as Rav, and the leaders of the community feared that when he saw this, he would rebuke the offenders publicly and open a new rift in the kehillah. To prevent strife, they asked for a meeting with the new Rav. They explained that these men had followed the custom for many years, and asked him to forgive them and not rebuke them. Better that they remain shogeg (unintentional sinners) than become mezidim (willful ones).

Rav Yoel was astonished. "Do you mean that on the day our Beis HaMikdash was destroyed and burned," he asked, "these Jews will come to shul in leather shoes?" The leaders asked what they should do. "I declare," said the Rav, "that I cannot remain Rav in a place where some members of the community so openly disregard the halachah, something stated plainly in Shulchan Aruch." The leaders left the Rav's house downcast, and Rav Yoel himself did not know what to do.

A few days later Rav Yoel was in Kerestir for a din Torah, and as was his custom, he visited Rav Shayaleh. He described his predicament and asked for advice. "On this matter," Rav Shayaleh answered curtly, "you should speak with Rabbiner Roth." Rabbiner Roth was the Rav of the Status Quo congregation, and Rav Yoel could not understand how he could possibly help.

As was his custom, Rav Shayaleh closed his eyes and leaned back as if asleep. Rav Yoel asked what Rabbiner Roth had to do with the matter and what answer he could have. Again Rav Shayaleh said, "Speak with Rabbiner Roth, and you will see success." The advice seemed strange, and Rav Yoel thought privately that although Rav Shayaleh was a world-renowned sage, this time he had missed the mark.

Still, when he returned to Újhely, he decided that he had nothing to lose, and he sent for Rabbiner Roth. Rabbiner Roth was very surprised that the Rav of the Orthodox congregation wished to see him, and out of respect he came at once to Rav Yoel's home.

"I have an urgent request," said Rav Yoel. "In your Shabbos sermon, please speak to your congregants about the approaching Tisha B'Av. Tell them it marks our national tragedy and teach them how the Beis HaMikdash was set aflame twice on this day, how Jews everywhere have fasted and mourned over it, and that one of the customs is to refrain from wearing leather shoes." The request seemed odd, but Rabbiner Roth agreed, and his sermon included all of it.

When Rav Yoel heard that Rabbiner Roth had kept his word, he understood the solution. He rose before his own congregants and rebuked them. "How will you face this?" he said. "Even the Status Quo congregation has now heard about the mourning of Tisha B'Av and the custom of not wearing leather shoes. How will it look if they all know this, and the Orthodox community openly ignores the law and walks around in leather shoes on Tisha B'Av? What a shame and disgrace."

Rav Shayaleh's advice worked. That year every member of the kehillah came to shul on Tisha B'Av, and not one wore leather shoes.