Yahrzeit/Hillula of Rabbi Zev Wolf Kitzes - Baal Tokea

Zev Wolf Kitzes (1685 - 1775) was a renowned Hasidic rabbi.

He served as rabbi of the Tulchin community of Vinnitsa.

Later he moved to Medzhibozh, where together with Rabbi David Purkes he led a group of Hasidim who preceded the Baal Shem Tov.

When the Baal Shem Tov arrived in Medzhibozh, Kitzes and Purkes opposed him.

However, they later accepted and supported his leadership.

Kitzes was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov.

He was the Baal Tokea (the one who blows the shofar) in the Baal Shem Tov's beit midrash.

Rabbi Yitzchak Michelovich of Radvil writes that Kitzes was known for his piety and scrupulous observance of the mitzvot, to the point that "he even immersed [in a mikveh] a needle."

A book called "Meah Shearim" mentions that Kitzes strictly forbade eating meat whose shechita took place in his absence, even if his rabbi, the Baal Shem Tov, was present.

There are many sipurim about him in "Shivchei HaBesht" ("In Praise of the Baal Shem Tov").

Rabbi Zev Wolf was a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the Baal Tokea, the one who blew the shofar during the Baal Shem Tov's beit midrash. A book called "Meah Shearim" mentions that Rabbi Zev Wolf Kitzes strictly forbade eating kosher meat when he was not present, even if his rabbi, the Baal Shem Tov, was there. The Master Key "Rosh Hashanah is coming soon," the Baal Shem Tov said to his disciple, Rav Zev Wolf, "and I want you to prepare the 'kavanot' - the important thoughts to concentrate on - for the blowing of the shofar." Rav Zev studied the various meanings and hidden connotations of the shofar sounds, writing them all down for himself for Rosh Hashanah. He put the note with the kavanot in his coat pocket and considered himself prepared. But this form of preparation did not satisfy the Baal Shem Tov, so he made the list disappear. When Rav Zev approached the bimah to blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, he began searching for the note and could not find it. He could not remember the kavanot or anything he had learned. Through tears and pain, he was forced to blow the shofar, trying to remember at least something. After the prayer, the Baal Shem Tov called him over and said: "In the king's palace there are many doors and portals, and each has its own key. However, there is one tool that can open them all. Kavanot, proper concentration, are the keys that open the gates of Heaven, and each gate has its own particular kavana. But a broken heart is the tool that can penetrate all the gates and chambers of Heaven." (Sipurim Amitiyim) Rav Kitzes is buried in Medzhibozh next to the Baal Shem Tov. May the merit of this tzadik protect Am Yisrael!