Rabbi Yitzchak Kalish of Vorka - the Vorker Rebbe

Rabbi Yitzchak Yisrael ben Shimon Kalish of Vorka - the Vorker Rebbe (1779-1848)   Yahrzeit - 22 Nissan Resting place - Vorka   Rabbi Yitzchak Kalish was introduced to the world of Chassidus by his father, Rabbi Shimon Kalish. At a young age he became a devoted chossid of such great Rebbes as the Chozeh (Seer) of Lublin, Rav Dovid of Lelov, and Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa. After the passing of the latter, he chose the Kotzker Rebbe as his mentor, becoming one of the Kotzker's closest friends and disciples, together with Rav Yitzchak Meir of Ger and Rav Henoch of Alexander. The Vorker Rebbe's character was distinguished by his gentleness and directness, as well as his passionate ahavat Yisrael - his love for every Jew, regardless of standing or reputation. His generous spirit and vast knowledge of Torah made the Vorker Rebbe one of the most respected Rebbes among Polish Jewry, and he was chosen as the official leader and representative of all the Chassidic groups. Whenever he intended to show someone his displeasure with a situation ("anger"), he would put on special garments for the occasion. In 1846, he turned to Sir Moses Montefiore of England, asking him to intercede with senior officials of the Tsarist government, which ruled eastern Poland following its third partition in 1795, in order to secure the repeal of an anti-Jewish decree. It is known that among the Vorker Rebbe's disciples were 114 leading Chassidic Rebbes. All his Torah teachings and accounts of his life are collected in a book called "Ohel Yitzchak." Today's Rebbes of Amshinov, Jerusalem, and Brooklyn - descendants of Rav Yitzchak of Vorka - have built flourishing Chassidic centers and yeshivas that perpetuate the spirit of Vorka Chassidus.   Limud - "And the kohen shall be unclean until evening" (Bamidbar 19:7). Rabbi Yitzchak of Vorka explained that the essence of the Red Heifer (i.e., the entire procedure of purifying spiritual impurity) embodies the whole concept of the commandment "Love your fellow as yourself." His grandson, Rav Mendel of Vorka, explained that this is because the kohen, who himself participated in the purification process, became impure as a result of the very process that purified the person who came to him. To give something up oneself in order to help another is the highest form of love for one's fellow. When a person truly loves another, he takes pleasure in all the sacrifices made for that person's sake.   Solitude Solitude is good for the soul; in fact, it is good for everything. But the key to solitude is to be alone while still in the company of others. Those who are completely alone and silent cannot claim to have conquered their appetite for speech. (Rabbi Yitzchak of Vorka)   Sipurei Tzadikim - Working on Oneself In his younger years, Rabbi Yitzchak of Vorka was a wealthy man. He had a habit of periodically traveling to visit the Seer of Lublin. During one such visit, the Seer said: "If a reasonable opportunity arose to take up a position as a private tutor, it would be good to take it." Rabbi Yitzchak was certain that the Seer was mistaken and actually meant someone else - why would a man of his wealth be interested in the meager salary of a tutor? Out of respect, of course, he kept his thoughts to himself and, after saying goodbye, left the Rebbe's study. A few minutes later, a peasant from near Ternigrad came to see the Seer of Lublin and wept bitterly. His sons were growing up rough, because they lacked a good schoolteacher. He was willing to pay any amount, as long as his boys had a conscientious teacher. "If you can pay forty gold rubles," said the Seer, "then I suggest you hire that young man who just left this room, and your sons, please G-d, will learn well." The peasant went out, found Rav Yitzchak, and told him that he agreed to pay the sum specified by the Rebbe, on condition that he leave with him at once. Now Rabbi Yitzchak was convinced that the Rebbe had indeed meant him. What he never understood was why the Seer had intended to make a schoolteacher out of him. Nevertheless, he accepted the Rebbe's instruction without hesitation. Before leaving Lublin, he managed to write to his wife, explaining why he had not yet returned home. A few days later he received her reply: "You acted wisely in accepting this humble position, because the French (who were then at war with Russia) passed through the town and plundered all our property." Rabbi Yitzchak now began teaching Torah to the peasant's sons. However, they were not quick learners and did not understand a word. Greatly frustrated, he traveled to Lublin and told the Seer of his difficulties. "Pray for them," the Seer advised. He did so, and from then on he saw progress in his work. Now, in the village there was a regular minyan of exactly ten men, and it once happened that one of the men refused to join the others in prayer because of a grievance he held against one of them. One of the other villagers quoted the blessing that the Patriarch Yaakov gave to his son Yissachar: the Torah says, "He saw that rest was good... and bent his shoulder to bear" [Bereishit 49:15], and commented: "This implies that if a person understands that peace of mind is a good thing, he is willing to endure anything, because whoever bears all the vicissitudes of life with equanimity and never becomes angry at another has true rest." When the term of his employment came to an end, the villager asked him to stay. Rabbi Yitzchak said: "Since I came here only by my Rebbe's instruction, I must ask him whether I should continue here." One day in Lublin, his Rebbe told him that he no longer needed to be a teacher. The Seer added: "Tell me, did you perhaps hear some quotable Torah insight in the village?" Receiving no answer, the Seer asked again: "Do you mean to say that in half a year there you heard nothing at all?" Then Rabbi Yitzchak remembered the villager's remark about patience and peace. He repeated it to the Rebbe, who said: "If so, then you heard a great deal." Many years later, when Rabbi Yitzchak had become a well-known Rebbe, he told this story and concluded: "Soon after this happened, I became wealthy again and gave away the wages I had earned as a tutor. But that villager's teaching about peace and patience - I am still working on it to this day."   May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael! https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/201-Rabbi-Yitzchak-Kalish-of-Vorki