17 Tevet · Yahrzeit
Rabbi Yaakov Kranz - The Maggid of Dubno
Rabbi Yaakov bar Zev Kranz (1741-1804) known as the Maggid of Dubno, was born in the town of Zhetel (Dyatlovo, near Grodno).
Yahrzeit - 17 Tevet
Resting place - Zamość, Poland
Rabbi Yaakov's parents were the rabbinical court judge of Zhetel, Rav Zev Wolf, and Rebbetzin Hinda, daughter of the rabbi of the town of Kobrin. The Maggid possessed extraordinary abilities that were evident from his early childhood. He was diligent in his studies and devoted all his time to the study of Torah, and first and foremost to the Talmud, the Rishonim (early commentators), and the Acharonim (later halachic authorities).
At the age of 18 he visited Vilna for the first time and was captivated by the profound wisdom of the rabbis of that city, which was not for nothing called the "Jerusalem of Lithuania." There he met the Vilna Gaon, to whom he presented several original Torah insights (chiddushim) he had developed through his study of Tanach, Talmud, and Midrash. The Gaon greatly appreciated the approach put forward by the young guest, and from that time a particularly close relationship developed between them.
From the age of 18 until the end of his days, he would always rise at midnight, go to the beit midrash (house of study), and there, sitting on the floor with his shoes removed, as on the day of Tisha B'Av, recite "Tikkun Chatzot" - the midnight prayer mourning the destruction of the Temple. Before dawn he would immerse in the pure waters of the mikveh, and he did so throughout the entire year, even on the coldest winter days. After completing the morning prayer, Rav Yaakov remained wrapped in his tallit and tefillin for the entire day, following the custom of the Vilna Gaon. Soon after his visit to Vilna, Rav Yaakov married and settled in Mezhirich (Ukraine), where his father-in-law's family lived. Studying in the beit midrash, he gave halacha lessons to the most gifted young men, and on the festivals and on Shabbat he would speak before the entire community with his Torah teachings and parables.
The main work of Rabbi Yaakov's life was the sefer "Mishlei Yaakov" - the Book of Parables. Indeed, this is a well-known genre within Torah, beloved by the prophets and Jewish sages, who found in it the shortest path to the hearts of all kinds of people.
Parable 29
It is written in the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 59:12): Rav Huna said: "When a person sets out to marry and hears the voice of barking dogs, he listens to what they are saying."
His words are not entirely clear. Perhaps he meant the following: Usually, travelers on the road stop for the night with honest people. But one who is traveling for the purpose of marrying wants to find out everything he can about his future wife - about her character and her hidden faults. Therefore he would prefer to stay with gossipers, who discuss everyone and everything, where he can learn all the details that interest him, whereas honest people will not say anything bad about others.
And this is what the sages meant: "When a person sets out to marry and hears dogs barking..." - they wished to explain why Eliezer stopped at the well outside the city rather than going to an inn. The reason is that at the well there usually gathered people of no particular distinction, mainly water-carriers and shepherds. And "barking dogs" is a figurative term for gossipers. He wanted to hear the local gossip.
(From the book "Mishlei Yaakov," published by Beit Sefaradi)