ותכהין עיניו מראות (תולדות כז:א)

Reb Pintcha of Piltz zt”l lost his eyesight at an elderly age and claimed it was an “הקפדה” – grudge from the Rebbe Reb Bunem of Pershischa zt”l.

It happened when Reb Pintcha was five or six years old, and his father took him to the Rebbe of Pershischa, who had lost his eyesight in his old age.  Chassidim passed by the Rebbe and extended their hand in greeting.  When little Pintcha passed by the Rebbe, he did not extend his hand.  The Rebbe Reb Bunem asked him: “What is with you, my child? Why do you not give me Shalom – are you not greeting me?”

The young lad replied: “If the Rebbe does not see, how does he know I did not extend my hand in greeting?”

The Rebbe smiled and did not reply.

When father and son left, Reb Pintcha’s father told him that even though the Rebbe does not physically see, “he sees better than you and me”.”

Throughout his life, Reb Pintcha was afraid of the adverse effect the incident with the Rebbe Reb Bunem would have on him, even though he was a mere child then.  Still, when it became hard to see, he claimed he was punished for this prank.