ולקחת סלת ואפית אתה שתים עשרה חלות (אמור כד:ה)

The wife of Reb Naftuli Viener (Gottesman) zt”l, Mrs. Esther Raitza a”h, would bake the י”ב חלות for Maran Reb Aharon of Belz zt”l after he arrived in Eretz Yisroel. She had already fulfilled this custom while Maran was in Vienna for medical reasons, before World War II. She would immerse herself spiritually in this holy task, sifting the flour thirteen times (as was done in the times of the Beis Hamikdash with the Lechem HaPanim). Maran greatly appreciated her devotion and effort.

Once, in Eretz Yisrael, the gabbai decided to give the honor of the י”ב חלות for Shalosh Seudos to another individual, placing that man’s challos on the table instead. From the women’s gallery, Mrs. Esther Raitza noticed that these were not her challos. It deeply pained her, but she could do nothing—she could only watch as Maran would, chas v’shalom, use challos other than those she had prepared with such devotion.

When Maran Reb Aharon of Belz entered for Shalosh Seudos, he looked at the challos and asked the gabbai whether the challos that Reb Naftuli Wiener had brought were set aside. “No,” replied the gabbai.

“Where are the challos?” asked Reb Aharon.

“They are not here,” answered the frightened gabbai.

“If so,” said Maran, “we will not begin Shalosh Seudos!” He sat down in his place, while the gabbaim hurried in all directions searching for Reb Naftuli Wiener’s challos. Once they were found, they were immediately brought to the table and placed there, and Maran proceeded to wash.

Mrs. Esther Raitza watched the entire episode, tears in her eyes, and said quietly: “Only Hashem and the holy Rebbe know how many tears and effort I invested in these challos, and Baruch Hashem, they were not put to shame.”