מפני שיבה תקום (קדושים כג:יט)

The Bobov Rebbe, Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam Zt”l told over a story he heard from his saintly father Reb Benzion, known as the Kedushas Zion Hy”d.

Reb Benzion was once in the Galician spa town Krynica (known as the Pearl of Polish Spas). He had the opportunity to meet his uncle, the holy Rebbe of Sieniawa.  Just as Reb Benzion arrived the Rebbe was about to depart for his return journey.

The Gabbaim, who wanted to allow some petitioners to receive the Rebbe of Sieniawa’s blessing, tried to delay his departure to the train station and said to him: “There is no need for the Rebbe to hurry as there is still plenty of time”.  When the Sieniawa Rebbe heard this and launched a fiery speech, saying loudly: “When else should I hurry when there is no time left?!  One needs to hurry as long as there is plenty of time, for when one waits until there is no time left, this person is considered a lazy person – as it says in the Torah, “מפני שיבה תקום”. The Rebbe translated these three words: מפני before שיבה old age תקום wake up and repent! (The origin of this can be found in the holy Zohar, Part 3, Chapter 7).

The Bobov Rebbe used to zealously repeat this story he heard from his father, who used to describe the scene, how all the listeners in the room were impacted by the fiery words from the holy Rebbe and resolved to better their ways. This powerful story stayed with them for the rest of their lives.