ומדוע תתנשאו על קהל ה’ (קרח טז:ג)

Why do you exalt yourself over the congregation of Hashem…

It was the last Motzei Yom Kippur in Belz during WWII when a young chassid received a telegram from home commanding him to return immediately. The young man was perplexed about what to do.

(Belzer Chassidim knew it wasn’t a good omen to shake hands and take farewell from the Rebbe before the famed “Hamavdil Tish” conducted Motzei Yom Kippur.)

Since the Frierdige Rav zt’’l was very stringent about this custom, his son, Maran, Reb Aharon zt’’l, was very rigid about it.

The yungerman approached Reb Moshe zt’’l, the son of Maran, Reb Aharon, to consult what he should do – since he needed to leave and wanted to bid farewell to Maran.

Reb Moshe suggested that he stand by the entrance, and when Maran passes, he should ask Maran what to do.

When Maran passed, the Yunderman told Maran that he received a telegram to return home immediately. Maran told him: “Oy, but my father was makpid – stringent not to give a hand before ‘hamavdil’…” And Maran added, “אבער א איד טאר נישט אויספירן, אבער דער טאטע ז’’ל האט דאך נישט געגעבן די האנט פאר המבדיל. אבער פונדעסטוועגן, א איד טאר נישט אויספירן – A Yid isn’t allowed to always have his way, but my father didn’t give a hand before hamavdil. Even so, a Yid isn’t allowed always to have his way.”

And so, Maran wrapped his hand in a towel and bid farewell, “Go home – לחיים ולשלום!”

Filed under Parshas Korach | Rabbi Aharon of Belz | The Frierdige Rov