וגם מקננו ילך עמנו…כי ממנו נקח לעבוד את ה’ (בא י:כו)

One of the holy chassidim that used to travel to Belz to spend Rosh Hashanah with Maran The Sar Shalom of Belz zt’l, was Rebbe Elimelech of Tulist z’’l.  After Rosh Hashanah, Reb Elimelech would travel to the Rebbe Reb Mier’l of Premislan zt’’l.

The Sar Shalom used to say Divrei Torah before blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.  One year, The Sar Shalom spoke about the miracles of יציאת מצרים – Egypt’s redemption, repeating the p’sukim in Parshas Bo when Hashem sent Moshe to redeem the Yidden from Mitzrayim. Pharoah. Pharaoh asked, “מי ומי ההולכים” – who are the ones that are going?” And Moshe Rabbeinu answered, “בנערינו ובזקיננו נלך בבנינו ובבנותינו בצאננו ובבקרינו נלך”…Our youngsters, elders, sons, daughters, sheep will go,” And Moshe continued, ‘וגם מקננו ילך עמנו…כי ממנו נקח לעבוד את ה’ – and our livestock will go with us too.”

Right after the Divrei Torah, The Sar Shalom blew the shofar.

After Rosh Hashanah, Reb Elimelech traveled to Premislan.  When he came into the Rebbe, Reb Meir’l asked, “Elimelech, please repeat the Vort that the Belzer Rebbe said before blowing the shofar.” Reb Elimelech repeated the Vort, and the Rebbe Reb Meir’l was awed by the words. He couldn’t get over how the Belzer Rebbe, with his holy wisdom, could break through the heavens and annul the evil decree hovering over the Yidden.

Reb Meir’l explained that the מקטריגים  – heavenly accusers placed an evil decree on the little children, so The Sar Shalom said בנינו ובבנותינו נלך, and the decree was annulled.

So the Mekatrigim tried to put an evil decree on the Yidden’s livestock, but the Belzer Rav vetoed it by saying וגם מקננו ילך עמנו…כי ממנו נקח לעבוד את ה’”

Reb Meir’l concluded, “Since the Belzer Rebbe didn’t talk about the birds, the decree was placed on the birds.” And that is what happened.  A plague raged upon the birds but didn’t harm the people or animals.