Lag B'Omer Stories

Motek

Tue, May 17 2005, 10:44 am

I have a bunch of stories. If you have any, please add!

An Open Miracle

By Menachem HaYitzchaki

The daily walk was the highlight of the children’s day. Each morning they got up and eagerly waited for their beloved assistant teacher to pass by, pick them up and escort them to school. The usual routine was the familiar knock at the door and a kiss on the cheek from their mother, and they were on their way.

The children’s mothers stood in their doorways seeing them off lovingly. They all whispered the same prayer, that Hashem help their children in their studies so that they would grow up to G-d-fearing Jews. The children sang “Modeh Ani,” and their song joined the paean of thanks of the entire world for the new and glorious day.

It was all to the credit of the new assistant teacher, said the townspeople amongst themselves. Since he had come, the children loved going to school. They were so attached to R’ Yisroel, and he, in his unique manner, succeeded in instilling within them fine character traits and fear of Heaven. He did this primarily through song and stories of faith in tzaddikim.

He related to the children as a father. If a child was sick, ch’v, R’ Yisroel went to his home immediately and fed him. At the same time, he bolstered the child’s faith and trust in the Healer of the sick, our Father in Heaven. No wonder the parents relied on him implicitly and entrusted the spiritual and physical lives of their children in his hands.

The nearby forest was one of R’ Yisroel’s favorite places. Every so often he would take the children there, and, surrounded by nature’s wonders, he would explain to them the greatness of the Creator. He told them of Jews who loved the mitzvos, of tzaddikim who gave their lives al kiddush Hashem, and implanted a deep love for Hashem and His Torah within their hearts.

R’ Yisroel was a tzaddik nistar (hidden tzadik); none of the townspeople were aware of his profound holiness. Even the town know-it-all, Getzel the Milkman, remained unsuspecting of R’ Yisroel’s secret. But one day, R’ Yisroel, who later came to be known as the Baal Shem Tov, was forced to reveal a little of his greatness. This is what happened:

Getzel the Milkman had the unpleasant task of having to relate the horrifying news about a band of Cossacks who were approaching the area and were planning to attack their town. The Jews quickly stockpiled food and began preparing their hiding places, relying on cellars, attics, and even holes in the ground as temporary shelters. As far as the loss of property, they had already made peace with that misfortune. The main thing now was their lives, for they knew that an encounter with a Cossack would be fatal, ch’v. Reports they had heard from the survivors of nearby towns that had already been visited by the Cossacks was terrifying.

Jews hid themselves in the forest and fearfully waited the arrival of the Cossacks. A group of Jews was in charge of watching over the food supply and dealing with any problem that might arise.

R’ Yisroel sat in the beis midrash consumed with worry. It wasn’t that he was afraid, for his father had told him to fear nothing but G-d Himself. It was simply that his compassionate heart was broken with worry over the townspeople, especially for the innocent children, his students, who were lying in trenches and moaning in sorrow. They were so young, yet they were destined to suffer the lot of their fathers and grandfathers throughout the generations. R’ Yisroel wailed over the exile of the Shechina and cried out to Hashem to annul the decree threatening the town.

One day passed and then another. For an entire week, no one heard the sound of children singing in the morning. The town was deserted, with no signs of life. Who even remembered that tomorrow would be Lag B’Omer, the hilula (celebration) of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai? This was the day that children traditionally went out to the fields and forests to play with bows and arrows in memory of the rainbow, which did not appear in the lifetime of the holy tanna. Only one person remembered the date, and that was R’ Yisroel. He remembered and resolved that this year would be no different. But what would the children’s mothers say?

Night fell and word got around that the Cossacks were camping at the edge of the forest. R’ Yisroel didn’t sleep that night. He prayed that the holiness of the day and the merit of the tzaddik would stand by the townspeople and save them.

Day broke and R’ Yisroel went to carry out his plan. Laden with bows and arrows, he visited the various hiding places, and invited his charges out to the forest to play. The mothers looked at him as though he must be joking. They couldn’t bear the thought of parting with their little ones for even a moment, and to the forest of all places!

Now the children’s ties to their teacher came to the fore. They, who had imbibed so much from him about emuna and bitachon, begged their mothers to allow them to accompany him. The mothers were taken aback by the unnatural behavior of their children, but R’ Yisroel’s shining face encouraged them to accede to their children’s wishes.

The deserted streets were now witness to a most peculiar procession. With R’ Yisroel in the lead, the children burst into song and sang p’sukim and mizmorim. They completely forgot the reason they had been hiding in the first place. The children went out to the field, took the bows from their teacher and shot the arrows in memory of R’ Shimon.

The Cossacks could hear the sounds of rejoicing, which only served to enflame their anger. Who dared to irritate them this early in the morning? They guided their horses in the direction of the noise, resolving to wipe out those insolent Jews. The hoof beats shook the town, and the children were nearly trampled, when suddenly something amazing happened. As soon as the Cossacks saw the glowing face of the children’s leader, fear filled their hearts. They simply turned their horses around and left, never to return.

It was a miracle b’reish galei (an open mircale), b’reish being an acronym for both "R’ Yisroel ben Sara" and "R’ Shimon bar Yochai". The merit of the two tzaddikim had brought about the great miracle!

(Adapted from Kol Sippurei HaBaal Shem Tov)

Motek

Thu, May 19 2005, 5:03 pm

In recent years the custom of going to Miron with 18 “rotel” of wine (approximately 54 liters) on Lag B’Omer (which is brought in the Sefer Ha’Minhagim) has become widespread. This segula can work wonders, as many can attest. We present a few stories that took place in 5760 near the tziyun of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai

By L. Halpern

AND BEHOLD THERE WERE TWINS

Many years went by and Rocheli of Rechovot did not have children. She went to the best doctors, had received brachos from numerous rabbonim, and had attempted various segulos, but nothing worked for her.

Her mother found it hard to visit her daughter, and even harder to host her. When in Rocheli’s company family members were careful about what topics they discussed, trying not to discuss children.

One day Rocheli heard of the custom of bringing 18 “rotel” of wine to the kever of R’ Shimon bar Yochai on Lag B’Omer. She figured it couldn’t hurt and it might help, so she did the segula in the finest way possible. Within a year she was expecting twins.

THE HELP OF HASHEM COMES IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

“Sarah B. left the tziyun with faltering steps, nearly falling with every step she took. I went over to her,” says Mrs. S. of Kfar Chabad, “and offered her a drink and something to eat. She sat down next to me but didn’t manage to take a bite as her choked sobs prevented her from doing so. She kept whispering, ‘Oy tzaros, oy tzaros.’

“I tried to engage her in conversation, but all she said was that she had many tzaros. I wondered how I could help her, how I could cheer her up a bit. I put my hand on her shoulder and said, ‘Surely you’ve heard of the segula of donating 18 “rotel” of wine to the people who come to Miron on Lag B’Omer. Give a donation and maybe Hashem will listen to your prayers and your request.’ We exchanged phone numbers and said goodbye.

“I arrived home tired and overwrought. I had completely forgotten about Sarah whom I had met at the kever of Rashbi. About half an hour after I had gone to sleep, I heard the phone ringing, as though through a fog. I decided to ignore it, for what could be that important anyway, and I didn’t have the strength to say hello, but the phone didn’t stop ringing.

“Every few minutes the ring woke me up again. I decided I had no choice, for if I wanted to get some sleep I had better answer the phone.”

“Hello! I thought you hadn’t gotten home yet!”

“We got home but I have no strength at all. Please call back in the morning.”

“I must tell you that my husband’s lawyer called and said the claim against him was dropped. You hear? Dropped completely. You’re the first one I’m calling. I didn’t even tell my husband yet. Poor fellow, it is already five years since they hit him with a tax evasion claim and he fled the country. Do you understand? It’s been five years already since they froze all the accounts, the furniture … I have nothing. I don’t even have a husband here in the country with whom to share my problems. Now, after promising to donate 18 “rotel” to R’ Shimon, the tax authorities decided to close the case!”

Motek

Sun, May 22 2005, 11:37 am

GOING TO MIRON WITH A SHEITEL

Esther is a resident of old Miron and a “bat bayit” of the holy tziyun. She says, “There’s an older single girl who I’ve seen over the years coming to Miron to daven for a husband. She comes every few months from Petach Tikva to ask for a yeshua.

“Once when I saw her, I told her I had had enough seeing her coming in her own hair and the time had come for her to marry!

“One morning at 7:00, the phone rang and woke me up. I didn’t know who could be calling me at that hour and I picked up the phone and said, ‘Who is this calling so early?’

“I’m getting married tomorrow!”

“So get married! What do you want from me at this hour?”

“Well, it’s because of you!”

“Because of me?”

“Yes, you forced me to donate a sum of money for the guests who come to R’ Shimon, and I was helped.”

Esther suddenly realized who she was talking to.

“I’m coming to donate more money as a gift to R’ Shimon,” said the excited girl.

RASHBI THE SHADCHAN

“Three years ago, I went to a wedding in London,” began Sarah. “On the plane I met Malka from Kiryat Malachi, as well as her son the chassan, and the family. The boy was marrying a girl from London.

“I asked her who the shadchan was, who knew both sides on different continents. To my surprise she answered, ‘Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.’

“When she saw the incredulous look on my face she explained:

‘The kalla came to Eretz Yisrael to daven at kivrei tzaddikim. She went to a relative of mine who lives in Miron, right after davening at the tziyun. My relative was greatly impressed by the girl and called me up to suggest her as a shidduch for my son.

‘Afterwards we met and spoke and I checked her out, and I saw that she was perfect for my son. But there was one problem in that her father would not agree to finalize the shidduch without seeing the boy, yet he is makpid (particular) about not going to Eretz Yisrael. After much discussion and investigation on both sides, he agreed to come for twelve hours, to complete the shidduch. Now we’re on our way to the wedding in London. In the merit of R’ Shimon bar Yochai we have this wonderful kalla, whom we wouldn’t have met if not for R’ Shimon.’”

Motek

Tue, May 09 2006, 5:00 pm

BEGINNING TO SPEAK

Esther: “Do you hear me talking now?”

“Yes.”

Esther: “Do you hear me well?”

“Yes.”

Esther: “Are you sure?”

(In surprise): “Of course!”

Esther: “If you had called last Friday, you wouldn’t have heard me on the telephone because I had lost my voice. You understand? No sounds came out, even the faintest whisper. I tried everything since last Cheshvan: vinegar, ice, salt, hot compresses, cold compresses, lying down, standing up, any other ideas? I bet I tried them, but nothing helped!

“Last Shabbos the children asked me who would organize the collection of donations for the preparation of sandwiches for the hordes of people who come on Lag B’Omer to Miron, when I couldn’t talk and I had been the one in the past who organized it.

“It’s been many years now that we take care of the people who come. I once asked for a donation from someone who said, ‘Whoever comes should bring along their own food!’

“Since I live near the tziyun of R’ Shimon, I know that a woman with tzaros (lo aleinu) who gets up in the morning and decides to go to the kever of R’ Shimon, doesn’t think about going to the grocery store to buy rolls and prepare sandwiches to take along. Under pressure she’d either forget them at home, or the bag would tear, or they would drop as she searched through her purse to pay the bus-driver. Then, when she has finished davening and feels tired and weak, she doesn’t have anything to eat …

“For years now, we have prepared food for the guests. We buy it, prepare it, and pack it up, but this year – how could we do it? The discussion among my children continued and I davened in my heart and asked R’ Shimon to help me be able to continue taking care of those who come to him.

“You won’t believe this, but Shabbos morning I was able to whisper. By the afternoon I could speak quietly, and by havdala my voice was back! In the zechus of R’ Shimon!”

(those who need a yeshua and want to donate 18 rotel to the tziyun of R’ Shimon, can call Israel at the following numbers: 03-578-4413 or 053-476852. In the evening: 03-619-3139.)

Motek

Thu, May 11 2006, 6:55 pm

The Ha'Yom Yom for Lag B’Omer says that Lag B'Omer was a particularly noteworthy holiday for the Mittler Rebbe [2nd Lub. Rebbe]. They went out to the fields … and saw many miracles. Most of the miracles had to do with children, and people looked forward to Lag B’Omer the entire year * Many miracles regarding children also took place with our present Rebbe

By Tammy Holtzman

ANOTHER CHILD REMAINS IN MY POCKET

One year, on Lag B’Omer, the Mittler Rebbe blessed those who needed a yeshua. One of the Chassidim who needed a bracha didn’t make it on time because of inclement weather that impeded his traveling. He finally showed up the next day and went to the Rebbe, fearing that he had missed the auspicious moment.

The Mittler Rebbe humorously remarked, “I still have a child left in my pocket out of all the children that I distributed yesterday. I bless you with this child.” And that year the Chassid had a child.

The Rebbe spoke about these miracles and Chassidim understood that Lag B’Omer was an auspicious time for asking for blessings for children from the Rebbe. Over the years, many people took advantage of this special time to ask for brachos for children.

We asked Rabbi Groner, the Rebbe's secretary, about this and he had many stories to tell us:

I knew a couple who had been married for eleven years, and every Lag B’Omer they asked the Rebbe for a bracha for children. The Rebbe blessed them each year but they still had no children.

In the twelfth year, the grandfather approached the Rebbe on Lag B’Omer and said that all the requests from previous years were not answered and the couple still didn’t have children. The Rebbe said, “Really? So they should have a child!”

A year later is when their daughter was born and now they have a number of children.

Motek

Sun, May 14 2006, 8:38 pm

a story told by Rabbi Shmuel Krauss:

“I give a class to a group of women. One woman was married a number of years and had no children. This was brought to my attention when, one time, I spoke about brachos from the Rebbe and the woman said she needed a bracha.

“On Lag B’Omer, I reminded myself of this couple and I wanted to ask them to put a letter into the Igros Kodesh. Since I didn’t have a personal relationship with them, I asked a friend we had in common who was especially close with them, to tell them to write to the Rebbe.

“At the end of the day, I called the friend and asked him whether he had done as I had asked. He apologized, saying he had forgotten, and that he was uncomfortable about it.

“I felt that time was slipping away and I didn’t want this golden opportunity to be lost. Having no other choice, I called the couple myself and got an answering machine. As a last resort, I left a message.

“I stammered a bit because it was really not an easy thing to do, but I had done what I could do, and Hashem would do His part. To my surprise, the woman called back shortly thereafter and wanted to know exactly what I had in mind since she didn’t understand my message.

“I explained and she readily agreed to write to the Rebbe. I explained the importance of writing on Lag B’Omer, before sunset, which was rapidly approaching. Soon she and her mother came to my house. Her mother was impatient and she decided to open the Igros even though she hadn’t written a letter. The daughter sat and wrote.

“The mother opened the volume and cried out in surprise. She didn’t say what her question was, but the answer fit whatever she had asked. Then the daughter put her letter into the volume, opened the volume and read the answer. She couldn’t understand it because it said, ‘If, by accepting the teaching position she’ll be strengthened in all matters, she should take the position, and may it be with blessing.’

“She was disappointed but I explained that sometimes, even if there wasn’t an explicit answer, the bracha was given.

“On her way out, she suddenly stopped and said that she had actually gotten a job offer to be an assistant teacher. She didn’t need the job but had thought of taking it anyway in order to keep occupied.

“I was excited, says Rabbi Krauss, since now I understood that she had indeed gotten an answer. I advised her to make a commitment to something, I.e. to strengthen some area of Yiddishkeit, and to take the job.

“After she left, my wife and I wondered which school could have made her that offer. There aren’t too many schools in our area. The only religious school is one in which my wife works, and then there is a secular school. We knew that the religious school wouldn’t hire her because although she was traditional, she didn’t cover her hair and didn’t carefully follow the laws of tznius.

“The next day we were surprised to see that the woman had been accepted by the school my wife teaches in, as an assistant to my wife! Her regular assistant had left and the new assistant was this woman.

“In order to comply with the school’s conditions, she committed to covering her hair.

“This all took place on Lag B’Omer 5758. On Pesach 5759 the woman gave birth to a boy!”