What are Lamed-Vavniks ? Do we know of any?

TzenaRena

Tue, Dec 26 2006, 10:34 am

You've got the story backwards. This tzaddik remained hidden by being a custodian, a most unlikely job, in a most unlikely place that nobody would think of - a theatre! NOT that he was a simple custodian who did some special deed.

Tzaddikim aren't simply very special people who do very good things, and are awarded by a special status. Every Jew's good deeds hold up the world. The RamBam says that each one of us holds the key to redemption for ourselves and the entire world with each maaseh tov, dibbur tov and even machshova tova, that even one good thought,utterance or action "machria es kol haolam kulu l'chaf zchus, umeivi yeshuah v'hatzalah"

For example the story of either one of the Rishonim, or perhaps a Tanna or Amorah Confused

who had a dream that his neighbor in the World to Come would be a simple butcher! Quite astonished, and disturbed, he went to find out who this butcher was, and discovered that he was such an extraordinary baal chesed that his maasim tovim had made a profound impact l'maaloh.

However, he was not a hidden tzaddik. His good deeds were known. and from the way the story is told it seems that he was still a pretty simple unlearned Jew, notwithstanding his maasim tovim.

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TzenaRena

Tue, Dec 26 2006, 11:24 am

But that applies to everyone. A Tzaddik of one of the 36 hidden tzaddikim is NOT a pious, individual who does something outstandingly special.

They are "Bnei Aliyah". and yes, they hold up the world, as it says tzaddik yesod olam.

Lamed Vov tzaddikim are something completely different. From the fact that the Rebbe chose to reward his chossid with the opportunity to meet the lamed-vovnik, illustrates that it would be comparable with having the opportunity to meet Eliyahu HaNavi, which was also how some talmidim of great and holy Geonim who were Tzaddikim were rewarded for their devotion.

There is such a story recounted in the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Memoirs, vol. II (Yiddish edition - couldn't find it in the transl.volume). How the select students of the Gaon R. Ephraim Fishel of ___ , after engaging in intense teshuvah merited to see Eliyahu, but didn't know it, and they did not receive him with kovod! The Gaon informed them that the person whom they had brushed off abruptly was Eliyahu haNavi, who had come to resolve the Gaon's questions that he had encountered in his learning, and that had caused him much distress, throwing the entire Yeshiva into this state of teshuvah.

They had the zchus to encounter Eliyahu because of their high level of devotion and service to the Gaon, and their teshuvah, but unfortunately had passed up the opportunity to greet him properly! (IIRC, this was the same Yeshiva as that which the author of Seder HaDoros , the Gaon R. Yechiel Halperin headed, give or take a generation)

TzenaRena

Tue, Dec 26 2006, 11:44 am

Here is a story of a hidden Tzaddik, which will illustrate somewhat what we are talking about.

Reb Yisroel Chaim was not very learned but earned the city's praise for his outstanding deeds. Every Friday, before dismissal he would visit the chadorim and give out sweets to all the children, telling them it was in honor of shabbos, reminding the children not to miss coming to Shul on shabbos for Kabbolas shabbos, and shacharis.
R. YC would arrive first in shul, where he would gather the youngsters around him and make sure they loudly responded "amen" and "Boruch Hu Uvoruch Sh'mo" besides Kedusha and all the other parts of the prayer service that young children can repeat....

whenever a woman in the city gave birth to a boy, R. YC would gather the youngsters and lead them to her home to recite the Shema next to the newborn's crib....

He also taught the children from the earliest age to keep their heads always covered, to let their peyos grow, and to conduct themseoves in general the way Jews should.

That which the children's own parents and even Torah teachers often failed to do, R. YC used to do with great joy and love. It was clearly a pleasure and a priveilge for him to be able to help Jewish children grow into good, devoted Jews.

As for orphans, R. YC was like a true father to them. His wife too was deeply devoted to the, watching over them like the apple of her eye.

U fortunately, Reb YC and his wife experienced great anguish with childbearing. Whenever she gave birth, her children did not survive for long....

Nevertheless, neither of them ever comlained against G-d. Every time another child passed away, they would say "G-d has given and G-d has taken away"- for surely he knows what He is doing.

One of their children, Simcha, did survive until the age of five. The parents were hopeful that he would live out his years. But Simcha too, fell ill and returned his soul to his maker.

The tragedy occurred on a Friday, the day R. YC would normally be busy on his rounds of the Torah schools to distribute sweets to the little students in honor of the shabbos. But he was not destined to make his rounds that day. Instead, he had to attend his son's funeral.

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TzenaRena

Tue, Dec 26 2006, 11:45 am

The whole of Posen mourned with them, reaching out to their beloved Rabbi Yisroel Chaim and his wife in their time of pain. The whole community attended the funeral, from the greatest torah scholars to the simplest jews, with not a dry eye among them. Amazingly, only r. YC and his wife remained strong, accepting with love G-d's will.

The entire crowd accompanied the child to his final resting place. so huge was the crowd that no one paid much attention to who was there. no one noticed an old man, known in Posen as Asher Yonasan, mingling in the crowds. In Posen he was considered crazy and not worthy of attention. If not for the somberness of the occasion, especially such a tragic funeral that moved eveyone so deeply, some would no doubt have had some fun at the crazy old man's expense.

Asher Yonasan's age was surpassed only by his povery. he had arrived in posen many years ago from another land. Ever since, he had been living in the Beth Hamidrash. There he slept and ate his meals-- if indeed he ate at all... No one paid him much notice. he was known only as a man who behaved strangely, which was why he became known as "the crazy one".

He used to pray withthe earliest group for morning prayers, at the crack of dawn. right after that, he would disappear to the Shul attic, often staying there all day. No one knew what he did there whether he was praying, reading Psalms or other books, or perhaps sleeping. Neither did anyone bother to find out, because he was anyway considered crazy.

How he managed to survive was a mystery that no one ever bothered to investigate. he did not ask anyone anything and never ate at anyone's home. in fact, no one ever invited him for a meal, not even on Shabbos or Yom Tov.

Probably this was because he avoided people, staying on his own in the attic rather than in the Beth Hamidrash among other worshippers. In fact, he never even spoke to anyone. If someone said anything to him, he would give a surprised look and promptly turn away without a word in response.

Most likely, there was no special reason for his silence only the fact that he was crazy.
...Obviously, no one paid any attention to someone who for so long had been considered insane by the whole city,even when he came down from his place in the attic to participate in the funeral of Reb Yisroel Chaim's five-year-old son simcha, who was brought to burial on that Friday afternoon before Shabbos.

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TzenaRena

Tue, Dec 26 2006, 11:46 am

The Tzaddik's Condition

As little Simcha's body was laid to rest, the huge crowd stood around his open grave weeping bitter tears for the child's parents, Reb Yisroel Chaim and his wife. Both parents remained calm, accepting G-d's judgment and declaring with firm resolve: "G-d has given and G-d has taken away."

"We had hoped," they said, "that we would be privileged to escort our son to his wedding. but now G-d has decreed that we escort him to his final resting place. May G-d's name be blessed."

A murmur arose among the crowd. Some even questioned G-d's ways; how could such an injustice have been done to such G-d -fearing Jews as Reb Yisrel chaim and his wife? The tragedy moved everyone to the depth of their hearts.

It was at that point that old Asher Yonasan, whom everyone had always considered crazy, suddenly pushed through the crowd until he stood right next to little Simcha's open grave. With a motion of his hand, he silenced the crowd.

"My fellow Jews," he called out, "please listen carefully to what I have to say."
Everyone was so shocked to hear him speak that gave him theirfull attention, not wanting to miss a word. although no one had ever paid him any attention, he nevertheless seemed to have something of significance to say.

Reb Asher Yonasan continued: "It is already some fifteen years since the Satan-- may no one have anything to do with him --- became envious of Reb Yisroel Chaim the storekeeper, and his virtuous conduct. Above all, he could not bear Reb Yisroel chaims' great devotion to the young Jewish schoolchildren, how he watched over them like the apple of his eye to guide them in the proper path. a Jew like Reb YC could force the Satan out of his job, for the good deeds that Jews were doing would soon start to outweigh their sins!

"The Satan therefore came before the heavenly Court with the request that he be permitted to put Reb YC to the test by challenging him with difficult trials and tribulations to see if he would still remain so good and pious. Let him and his wife experience real anguish in bringing children into the world, for only then could it be seen whether they would keep their faith in G-d and continue to believe in His Torah."

Reb Asher Yonasan paused briefly, as if to catch his breath. "I am now ninety four years old." Two months from now, I will be leaving this world. When I arrive in'the world of truth,' I promise to call the Satan to a court case before the Heavenly Court for having caused Reb Yisroel Chaim and his wife such unwarranted anguish and suffering.
"I will plead their case before the Heavenly Court and insist that G-d bless them with a son who will merit long years and great talents and who will grow up to be a great Torah leader of the Jewish people.
"I make but one condition , that the son they will be blessed with shall be named after me, Asher Yonason."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, he walked away from the open grave. Everyone had been caught off guard and remained utterly amazed, uncertain of their reaction to his words. Were these the words of a deranged person or of a holy man-- a hidden tzaddik?

For a long while , everyone looked at each other in silence. Reb YC and his wife too, just stood there in silence. no one was able to fathom what had just occurred. Finally, the grave was filled and the mourners and crowd dispersed, going back home.

The amazing story soon spread. Everyone in the city, young and old, was talking about it. as usual in such cases, the actual facts of the story became richly embellished.

The city was on the verge of a split. Some contended that Reb Asher Yonasan must be a hidden tzaddik, while others maintained that he was just a crazy old man whosse words could not be taken seriously. Those who had suddenly begun to believe in his hidden saintliness even started to tell of miracles he had performed and spoke of his great scholarship in Talmudic learning and in the Kabbalah.

While the commotion about him kept the city in a state of agitation, Reb Asher Yonasan went about his daily routine exactly as before. he stayed in the attic of the Beth hamidrash day and night, and when he did go down to the synagogue, he spoke to no one.

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TzenaRena

Tue, Dec 26 2006, 12:13 pm

Reb Yisroel Chaim and his wife did believe in R. Asher Yonasan's words. Whether out of conviction or hope, they found comfort in his promise that they would be blessed with a son. They therefore took great care not to do or say anything wrong that could cause them, G-d forbid, to lose their merit for receiving the blessing. With redoubled dedication, they increased their efforts on behalf of children, widows and orphans and the needy in general.

Reb Yisroel Chaim and his wife tried their utmost to befriend the mysterious Reb Asher Yonasan. They would have gladly invited him to live with them and provided him with all his needs, or at least bring his needs to the attic of the synagogue. But the old man ignored all their efforts and when Reb Yisroel Chaim tried to speak to him, he simply did not respond.

one day Reb Yisroel Chaim's wife waited for him in the Beth Hamidrash as he came down from the atttic and she cried out:

"Reb Asher Yonasan, since you have already promised me a son, how should I conduct myself until I become pregnant, during pregnancy and after the birth? How do I raise my child?"

Reb AY turned away from her, as if he had heard nothing. Those who witnessed this scene considered it further proof that the old man was simply deranged.

The month of Av came. One day after morning prayers, before the worshippers left the Shul, Reb Asher Yonasan stood up on the Torah-reading platform and in a clear voice, as if conveying goood tidings, declared:

"Fellow Jews, today I am leaving you! Please forgive me for any disrespect I may have shown anyone inadvertently, or any discomfort I may have caused anyone. I also wish to thank the officers and worshippers here for allowing me to stay in the Beth Hamidrash all these years."

Concluding his little speech, he stepped down from the platform. Many assumed that he planned to leave Posen and move elsewhere.

Reb AY then walked to a nearby store, where he bought three candles. Having done this, he brought a small barrel and filled it with water.

When he finished, he started to pray Mincha, the afternoon prayer, earlier than usual. he prayed with deep devotion and with an evident joy--rather than sadness.

After concluding his prayers, he asked one of the Jews studying Torah in the Beth Hamidrash to go to the city's burial society and notify its chief officer that he, Reb AY, was in his last moments of life and that they should come quickly in order not to miss the departure of his soul!

While that Jew hurried off to fulfill his mission, Reb AY, still fully alert, asked another Jew there for a favor- to light the three candles he had just bought and place them around his head after his soul departs. He asked that his body should be placed on the floor immediately after the departure of the soul, and one candle should be lit at his head, another to his right and the other to his left.

While this was going on, many young men were studying in the Beth Hamidrash. Seeing Reb AY busy with his own final arrangements and hearing what he told the two men, they were gripped with fear. Never had they heard or seen anything like this.

Something seemed to them amiss--Reb AY appeared to be in perfect health, yet he was arranging for his death. perhaps this was a further indication that he wasnot in his right mind?

"Why are you talking about death?" they asked him in fright.

"I ask you please not to argue with me" pleaded the old man. "There is no time to lose. Do as I ask, and if you fulfill all my wishes, there will still be time for me to bless you before I leave you".

Having said this, he started to say the confession prayer said before leaving the world. he said it in a clear voice, each word distinct and well thought out. The men in the the Beth Hamidrash fell deathly quiet, their questions silenced. They obediently fulfilled all of Reb Asher Yonasan's requests.

A while passed before some members of the Chevra Kaddisha appeared. Reb Asher Yonasan stretched out on a bench and asked that his sack of belongings be brought to him. Out of the sack he himself took out ready made shrouds and handed them to one of the burial society members. Again he rummaged in the sack and brought out a little bundle, which he untied, taking out three golden coins.

"Give this to the chief officer of the burial society", he said "for the purchase of my grave and my burial expenses. My grave should be at the north edge of the cemetery next to the fence. In that rocky area it is difficult to dig graves, so the burial sociaty won't lose much if I am buried there. I wish to lie alone, for I cannot bear the smell of other dead and the dirt of pleasure food. Please distribute the rest of my money to charity."

Reb AY then gathered his clothes and asked that they be sent to his relatives in Prague. He also requested that they remind
Reb Yisroel Chaim and his wife to name their son after him.

He then asked forgiveness of all the Jews of Posen and gave them all his blessing. Finally he asked that as soon as he breathes his last, he should be ritually washed with the water he had prepared and be buried that same day.

Reb Asher Yonasan then called out the words of the Shema. "Shema Yisroel Hashem Elikeinu Hashem Echod." and with a faint smile on his lips, his soul left this world.

The next chapter describes the levaya of Reb Asher Yonason, and how his promise was fulfilled. The child Asher Yonason was a prodigy, and great Torah scholar, he was the teacher of R. Moshe of Posen,( the great grandson of the Maharal, and father of R. Schneur Zalman, the grandfather of the Baal HaTanya).

The story is from the third volume of the the English translation of the (sixth) Lubavitcher Rebbe's (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn זצקללהה נבגמ זיע) Memoirs. transl. is by Rabbi Nissan Mindel

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