(לא תעשה לך פסל וכל תמונה (יתרו כ:ד

During government elections in the Lemberg parliament, Maran Reb Yehoshua of Belz zt’’l instructed the community to support a certain nobleman who was friendly to the Yidden. The community followed his guidance, and the nobleman was elected as poritz for parliament.

Delighted by his victory and grateful for the support, the poritz invited Maran to visit him in his new palace, not far from the city of Belz. Maran accepted the invitation. The palace was built in aristocratic splendor, with seventeen interconnected rooms, each leading to the next. Maran was led through all seventeen beautifully decorated rooms until they reached the last, mostly empty room, where the poritz wanted to present Maran with a gift in appreciation. In one corner, a light shone upon a custom portrait of the Sar Shalom of Belz zt’’l, carefully commissioned by the poritz during the Sar Shalom’s lifetime. Upon seeing the image of his holy father, Maran was awestruck and unsure how to respond.

The poritz ceremoniously presented the portrait to Maran and arranged for it to be sent with his servants in a royal carriage to Maran’s home in Belz.

Once home, Maran Reb Yehoshua was in a great dilemma. He had never seen such an honor given to his father, yet he worried: if the poritz visited, he would surely inquire about the portrait. What could Maran say? If he refused or explained, the poritz might become angry and act against the Yidden. The thought tormented him, and he walked anxiously around his house.

Eventually, Maran dozed off. In a dream, his saintly father appeared and said, “What is troubling you? You know I do not have peace in this world while an image of me exists below. I brought the poritz to your city knowing he owned a portrait of me and that it would reach you. I command you to burn this portrait. I promise you, the poritz will forget all about it.”

Maran awoke and immediately followed his father’s instruction, burning the portrait. True to the promise, the poritz never mentioned it again and forgot the gift entirely.