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Сила Теилим

29 Nisan · Yahrzeit

Rabbi Moshe Aharon Polier of Kobrin

Rabbi Moshe Aharon ben Yisrael Polier of Kobrin was a Chassidic rabbi, a disciple of the Tzadikim Mordechai and Noach of Lechovitz; after the passing of the latter, he became the rabbi of the Chassidic community of Kobrin and its surrounding areas. Yahrzeit - 29 Nissan Resting place - Kobrin, Belarus Rabbi Moshe was especially known for his virtues of truthfulness, humility, and bearing suffering with love. He did not insist on fasting or ascetic practices. His sayings were brief and to the point, and he influenced and educated his Chassidic community through proverbs and examples. He placed great importance on the personal connection between a Chassid and the Tzadik, who is "like a branch of a tree," but "the Tzadik will be held responsible for every step the Chassid takes toward him." He wrote encouraging letters to Chassidim when they were in trouble. He had followers in Eretz Yisrael among the Chassidim of the Kolel of Lechovitz. His successor in Kobrin was his grandson Noach Naftali; his sayings and teachings, titled "Ma'amarim Tehorim," were published together with his grandfather's sayings in "Amarot Tehorot" (1910). Kobrin Chassidism declined in his time due to competition from the growing Slonim community. Noach Naftali was succeeded by his sons David Solomon, who remained the Chassidic rabbi in Kobrin, and Aharon, who settled in the town of Domachevo. David Solomon's son, Moshe Aharon, led the Chassidim of Kobrin until the Holocaust, during which he perished in 1942. David Solomon's son-in-law, Baruch Yosef Zak, the last to hold the title "Rabbi of Kobrin," led a group of Kobrin Chassidim who emigrated to the United States.   Sipurei Tzadikim - Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin
A Fish in Water
Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin used to tell this story: "Once, as a child, I was playing with other children on the first day of the month of Elul. Then my older sister said to me: 'How can you be playing today - after all, the month has begun in which we prepare for the Day of Judgment, when even the fish in the water tremble?'
After she said those words, I was seized with trembling, and I shook for several hours without stopping. And even today, when I remember this, I feel like a fish in water on the first day of Elul, and, like a fish, I tremble in anticipation of redemption."
Charity
Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin came from a family living in a village, and his parents earned a meager living through hard labor. When he was a child, there was a year of famine in Lithuania. Poor people, leaving the towns, moved to the countryside in search of food. Every day, hungry people passed in great numbers through the village where Moshe's parents lived. His mother ground grain with a hand mill, baked bread every morning, and distributed it to the hungry.
One day more people came than usual, and all the bread that had been baked was already given out. But the oven was still hot, and there was dough left in the trough. The mother quickly shaped a few more loaves and put them in the oven. Meanwhile, the hungry people complained about being kept waiting, and a few insolent ones even began to curse. Hearing all this, Moshe's mother burst into tears. "Don't cry, Mother," the boy said. "Let them curse. You just keep doing your work and fulfilling G-d's commandment. Perhaps if they were praising you and showering you with blessings, you wouldn't perform it as well."Becoming a SoldierRabbi Moshe of Kobrin used to tell this story: "Once, when I was small, I happened to be at my teacher's, Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitz, for Purim. In the middle of the meal, he exclaimed: 'Today is a day of gifts, the hour has come to distribute presents. Whoever comes to me will receive whatever measure of Divine service he deserves.' His students began to ask for all sorts of spiritual gifts. Each one received what he desired and was satisfied.Finally the Rebbe asked: 'Well, Moshe, what would you like?' And, overcoming my shyness, I answered: 'I don't want anything for free. I would like to become a plain soldier and earn everything that is due to me.' Not All at Once The Rabbi of Kobrin used to tell this story: "When my teacher taught me something, I did not want to hear anything beyond it - until I had mastered what he taught me. Only then was I ready to open my ears again." The Faithful Disciple Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitz was a disciple of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin. When the old Rebbe passed away, his disciples, Rabbi Mordechai and Rabbi Asher of Stolin, divided the communities of his Chassidim between themselves. However, they could not agree on Kobrin, which each of them wanted to obtain. So Rabbi Mordechai proposed the following solution: 'I know a Chassid in Kobrin, Rabbi Moshe,' he said. 'Arrange it so that within a year he comes to you. If he comes, Kobrin is yours. During this year you may use any means to draw him to yourself, and I will do everything possible to push him away.' So they agreed. The next time Rabbi Moshe came to Lechovitz, his teacher did not even greet him. Yet Moshe did not ask him a single question and did not doubt anything: he remained faithful to Rabbi Mordechai as before. And although Rabbi Asher invited him over, sought his favor in every way, and made the most tempting offers regarding life in this world and the World to Come, Moshe remained unshaken. And so his teacher won Kobrin. Angels and People The Rabbi of Kobrin once raised his eyes to the sky and exclaimed: "Angel, little angel! It's not at all hard to be an angel up there in the heavens. You don't need food or drink, you don't have to raise children or earn money. Come down to earth, start worrying about sustenance, about children, about money - and then we'll see how well you can lead an angelic life. If you can manage it then, go ahead and boast. But not now!"   The Answer The Rabbi of Kobrin loved to tell the story of how an elderly general answered Tsar Nicholas. The general had served in the army for half a century and was already very old. Once, during maneuvers, the tsar rode up to him and said: "I see you're still quite spirited. What, is your blood still hot?" To this the general replied: "It's not a matter of feeling, Your Majesty, but of duty."   Books Once the Rabbi of Kobrin said: "If it were up to me, I would hide away everything written by the tzadikim. For when a person knows so much, his wisdom often exceeds his deeds." The Essence of Everything The Rabbi of Kobrin taught: "At the end of the Book of Ecclesiastes we read: 'Fear G-d and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man.' And whatever conclusion you ultimately reach, you will always hear only one thing: 'Fear G-d!' - and nothing is more important than this. There is nothing in the entire world that does not serve as an example of how one should fear G-d and serve Him. All of it is commanded." Up and Down Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin taught: "When you walk across a freshly plowed field, the furrows alternate with the ridges. It is exactly the same with your service to G-d. Sometimes up, sometimes down; sometimes the evil inclination gains the upper hand, sometimes you overcome it. The main thing is that you have the last word." For the Sake of the King "And if one of you should suddenly fall from the heights he has attained," the Rabbi of Kobrin would tell his students, "and be cast into the abyss, he must not despair. Let him harness himself once again to the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven and renew his efforts. When the Saxons were fighting the Russian army here in our lands, a Russian soldier once knocked a Saxon soldier off his feet. 'Beg for mercy,' he shouted, 'or you will die right now!' 'Never!' the Saxon rasped. 'I will never bring shame upon my king!' Then the Russian soldier shouted even louder: 'Beg for mercy, or your head will roll!' But before the steel of the blade sank into his throat, the Saxon repeated: 'I will never bring shame upon my king!' Just Do What You're Asked Before drawing water to prepare the dough for matzah, the Rabbi of Kobrin said to those standing around him: "A king teaches his soldiers various combat techniques, but in the heat of battle they forget all these subtleties and simply fight. When it comes to how one should draw water, there are various secrets here too. However, if I am asked to draw water, I simply do what I am asked." A Dress That Didn't Fit The wife of an important officer ordered a tailor to sew an expensive dress. But after trying it on, she said the dress was too tight and threw the tailor out the door. The tailor went to the Rabbi of Kobrin and begged him to teach him what he should do so as not to lose the favor of his wealthy clients. "Go back to her," said the tzadik, "and offer to alter the dress. Then unstitch it and sew it back together - exactly as it was." The tailor did as he was told. With an air of humble shyness, he brought back the supposedly altered dress, and this time it was pronounced a success. This is one of the stories that Rabbi Moshe liked to tell about himself. The Soul and the Evil Inclination The Rabbi of Kobrin taught: "The soul said to the evil inclination what Abraham said to Lot: '...if you go left, then I will go right, and if you go right, then I will go left.' But if you should ever advise me to go right together with you, then I would rather go left." Bitter, But Not Bad The Rabbi of Kobrin taught: "When a person suffers, he should not say: 'How bad things are for me! How bad things are for me!' Nothing that comes from G-d can be bad. Instead, he should say: 'It is bitter for me!' After all, there are medicines made from bitter herbs."  
May the merit of the Tzadik protect Am Yisrael! (https://www.geni.com/people/Rabbi-Moses-ben-Israel-Polier-of-Kobrin/6000000026616160944, Chassidic Tales. The Later Masters, Martin Buber)