כי מראש צורים אראנו…(בלק כג:ט)

When Maran Reb Aharon of Belz zt’’l was in Pest, Hungary, en route his escape to Eretz Yisroel, Reb Aharon visited some Rabbanim, including Reb Yisroel Weltz zt’’l and Reb Yonosan Steif zt’’l.  One of their homes had a long staircase, and on the way up, someone exclaimed, “This house belongs to a ‘Meshumad’ – an apostate.”

Reb Aharon was very troubled with the statement, badmouthing the Yid as if he had utterly forsaken Hashem, G-d forbid. Reb Aharon exclaimed, in the words of a verdict from the Rambam: “No matter which situation a Yid finds himself, he cannot be ostracized from Klal Yisroel!”