המול לכם כל זכר (לך יז:י)

Every male among you should be circumcised

Maran, The Sar Shalom of Belz zt’’l, traveled to visit Rebbe Uri of Strelisk zt’’l.  On the way, Maran stayed in a guesthouse overnight. When Maran ascended the wagon to leave in the morning, a woman from the guesthouse wished Maran, “יהי רצון…it should be G’d’s will that Eliyahu Hanavi should meet you.”

The Sar Shalom continued his journey, and as they approached Strelisk, they passed a small village. The villagers realized that Maran was a holy person and asked him to partake in a Bris Milah taking place in their village.

Maran asked if they would honor him to be the Sandek, and they answered that they already honored their Rav. Maran asked who could be the Mohel, and they responded that they already ordered a Mohel from a different village. Maran continued, Who will be the shaliach tzibbur (Chazzan) for Shachris? They answered that they have a steady chazzan that davens for them. So Maran requested the honor of davening ברכת השחר until הודו, and they consented.

Maran started to daven the morning prayers with such spiritual enthusiasm and in a crystal clear voice like he was accustomed to. The simple village Yidden never merited such an awe-inspiring davening that when Maran finished saying Korbonos, the chazzan asked Maran to continue davening.

The spiritual effects of the davening were so strong that the Rav asked Maran to serve as the Sandek, and the Mohel asked Maran to serve as Mohel, and that’s how Maran was honored with all Kibbudim – honored positions at a Bris.

When Maran left the village, he exclaimed: “It’s amazing! Eliyahu Hanavi comes to every Bris, but the revelation that I had of Eliyahu Hanavi today, I never merited before. It must be in the merit of the brachah I received from that simple woman.  From here, one can learn how great a brachah from a Yid can be when he wishes it from the depth of his heart!”

Filed under Parshas Lech Lecha | The Holy Sar Shalom