את ה’ אלקיך תירא…(עקב י:כ)

Hashem, your G-d, you shall fear…

The Holy Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev zt’’l spent one summer in the birthplace of the holy Rebbe Moshe Zvi of Savraner zt’’l.

The Barditchever stayed in a guesthouse opposite a lake.  One evening, a group of young bochurim came to swim in the lake.  The Barditchever was standing on the terrace facing the lake and said he smelled a whiff of kedusha coming from the lake – one of the young boys was the future Savraner Rebbe.

While swimming in the lake, this holy child told his friends that a tzaddik was in town and that we should go and greet him. The boys dressed quickly and went to mekabal panim – to greet the Barditchever Rav.

When they arrived, the Barditchever asked, ‘This Child,’ “Do you know how to learn?” The young Savraner answered yes. The Barditchever asked which Gemara he was learning, and he answered which. The Barditchever Rav then asked a question, and the child explained. The Barditchever Rav asked a stronger question, and he answered. This scenario was repeated eight times, each response being ‘better than before.’

The last answer was so sharp and strong that Barditchever Rav expected the child to become animated, flail his hands, and show facial expressions while delivering his brilliant answer. Still, the boy didn’t budge from his place.

The Barditchiver wondered aloud, “How can you deliver such a brilliant piece without becoming animated or moving your body?” The holy child answered, “It says in the Torah את ה’ אלקיך תירא…, Chazal explained that the word את was added for Talmidei Chachamim. And my being within a tzaddik’s presence, I needed to answer like that!”

The holy Barditchever Rav  kissed the young Savraner Rebbe on his forehead and complimented, “You are well-learned!”

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