4 Adar · Yahrzeit
Rabbi Leib Sarah – A Hidden Tzadik
Rabbi Leib Sarah was a Tzadik Nistar (hidden tzadik) - a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov (1730-1796). The Mekubalim say there is an allusion to him in the Sefer Raziel HaMalach.
Yahrzeit - 4 Adar
Burial place - the village of Yaltushkov, Podolia
Rabbi Leib Sarah spent his life traveling the world, freeing Jews from prisons wherever he went. «Pidyon Shvuyim» (redeeming captives) was his main occupation. The founder of the Chassidic movement, the Baal Shem Tov, valued him greatly.
When Leib Sarah was 13 years old, the Baal Shem Tov revealed to him that he had received an ibbur (an additional soul) from Rabbi Chaim ben Attar - the «Or HaChaim» (who had passed away two days earlier) - as a Bar Mitzvah gift.
Rabbi Leib Sarah became known early on as a miracle worker. From time to time the Baal Shem Tov would send him on missions to specific Jewish communities in need of help, and he was also responsible for collecting funds for the nistarim ("hidden tzadikim").
After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Leib Sarah joined the Baal Shem Tov's disciple and successor, the Maggid of Mezeritch. However, Leib Sarah spent most of his life traveling through Poland, Galicia, and the surrounding regions, wherever Jews found themselves in trouble.
The Origin of His Name
Sarah, a beautiful young woman, was the daughter of a Jewish tavern-keeper. She remained a modest, timid girl, obedient to her father and a help to her mother. One day the son of the local landowner saw Sarah and immediately fell in love with her. "Father," he said to his father that evening, "I have seen a Jewish girl who must become my wife. You must do everything to make her mine."
"Who is she?" the father asked, alarmed. "She is the daughter of your Jewish tavern-keeper," the son answered. The landowner, who could not bear to see his son so miserable, summoned the tavern-keeper the very next day and demanded his daughter.
"I don't even want to think what will happen to you if you refuse," he warned.
"Let me go home and think it over," the Jew replied. "I will give you my answer in a week."
The Jew returned home in despair. How could he tell his good, pious daughter the news? He was certain that she too would rather die than marry a non-Jew. The family gathered together to find a way out of their predicament. It was Sarah herself who came up with the final plan.
"What about Rabbi Yosef, the old melamed, Father?" she asked. He was an elderly man the tavern-keeper had hired to teach his young sons, and he had been with the family for the past several years. "What?" the father asked, confused.
"Why shouldn't I marry him? Then we will run away from here, and I hope the landowner will be powerless to do anything. Besides, his son will surely lose interest in me once I am married to an old man!"
The tavern-keeper did not want his beautiful young daughter to marry a man so much older than herself, but he could see no better way out. In the end, the old man was summoned. He, of course, had no objection to marrying the beautiful Sarah, even though it might cost him his life. The couple married quickly and quietly, and then left for a neighboring village. Three days later the landowner came for his answer. He was stunned to learn what Sarah had done to avoid marrying his son. He did not wish to pursue the matter further, especially once he himself had inquired and learned that the marriage had been her own idea - he found it hard to believe that a beautiful young girl would prefer an old man to a young, wealthy, handsome nobleman.
Sarah's husband, a tzadik nistar (hidden tzadik), had known all along that his employer's beautiful daughter was destined to become his wife. He had come to this particular village looking for work as a melamed in order to bide his time. He had had his doubts about it, fearing that Sarah's beauty might lead her astray. But in the end everything turned out for the best.
Right after the wedding, the melamed took his young bride aside and told her: "Since you chose an old man over the young duke who would have given you a life of luxury, you will be blessed and your name will become known throughout the land. I promise you that you will bear a child whose light of righteousness will shine everywhere, and through whom your name will be remembered."
The child born to them the following year was named Aryeh. As he grew, it became clear that he was destined for greatness. Aryeh's father did not live long enough to enjoy his little treasure, so Sarah raised the child on her own. It was she who raised him to love good deeds, made sure he studied Torah, and eventually lived to see him become known to all as Reb Leib Sarah.
The Trusting Chassid
Rabbi Zalman was fully prepared for a business trip to nearby Berditchev. Taking his money, he went to the market in search of a wagon that could take him to Berditchev and back. As soon as he started speaking with one of the wagon owners, Reb Leib Sarah approached him.
- "What are you doing here?" Reb Leib Sarah asked Zalman. He explained that he was heading to Berditchev to buy merchandise. "I am in great need of a large sum of money. Please lend me your money."
It was impossible to refuse the tzadik, especially knowing that he used such money to support the hidden tzadikim. Zalman gave him every last kopek, and Reb Leib Sarah could see the confusion on his face.
"Do you have any merchandise in your shop?" he asked.
"A little," Zalman admitted.
"Very well. Go and sell it." Zalman returned to his shop. Later, when his wife asked why he had not gone to Berditchev, he sheepishly made excuses.
Over the following days, Zalman managed to collect enough money from outstanding debts to make the trip to Berditchev to restock his merchandise.
About three months later, a stranger came into the spice shop to buy goods, taking a purse of silver coins from his pocket. In his hurry, he left the purse on the counter and rushed off with his purchase. Zalman ran after him, but the man was already gone. He searched everywhere for the customer but could not find any trace of him. Zalman put the purse away for safekeeping, hoping the rightful owner would return. Meanwhile, Zalman went to pray Mincha.
On his way, he met Reb Leib Sarah.
"Did you get your money back?" the tzadik asked, referring to the money lent three months earlier. Zalman shook his head, but immediately understood that the tzadik must be referring to the purse left in his shop. He hurried home at once and asked his wife whether anyone had come to claim a lost item. "No," she answered. Zalman went to get the purse. He opened it and found the sum was exactly the same as what he had given Reb Leib Sarah. Zalman hurried to find Reb Leib and thank him for returning his loan.
"Now is a fitting time. Ask me for whatever you wish." Zalman thought for a moment. "I would like to see one of the lamed-vavniks (36) hidden tzadikim," he finally requested.
"That is a very difficult thing for me. But I must keep my promise. Go home and prepare food for several days. You will be traveling with me."
Soon they were on their way, traveling over hills and valleys, passing through many villages, until at last they reached a town.
"Go and ask for the tailor whose repair shop is on that street. This tailor is one of the 36 hidden tzadikim. Tear your coat and go in to have it mended." Zalman followed his instructions. As soon as he reached the shop, he noticed an unusual carriage parked by the entrance. And when he went inside, he saw a distinguished rabbi sitting there, speaking with the tailor.
"What can I do for you?" the tailor asked Zalman. Zalman showed him the torn piece of his coat. The tailor took it and within a few minutes had mended it perfectly. Zalman took his coat back, but when he put down a ruble as payment, the tailor objected. "This repair isn't even worth a few kopeks. Why are you paying me so much?" He refused to accept the coin.
Zalman was just as insistent. "I am traveling through these parts. Your quick service is worth at least that much to me."
The rabbi sitting nearby spoke up: "If this man says that under his circumstances the work is worth a ruble, then you may certainly accept it." The tailor finally accepted the payment, and Zalman left the shop to return to Reb Leib Sarah.
"Do you know who the tailor's visitor was?" asked Reb Leib Sarah. "That was Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl."
(Siach Sarfei Kodesh)
Yom Kippur
Rain lashed down outside, but the great Chassid, Rabbi Leib Sarah, stubbornly pressed on with his journey. He was in a hurry - Yom Kippur was to begin in just a few hours. There was not much distance left to the village he was heading toward. There, a minyan (the ten men required to begin prayer) was already waiting for the rabbi. Two Jews who lived in a nearby forest were to join the eight villagers.
Rabbi Leib was already prepared for prayer - he had immersed himself in the river on whose bank the village stood, had eaten the pre-fast meal, and was now hurrying to the synagogue. Once inside, he began reciting the personal prayer he always said on the eve of the Day of Atonement.
One by one, all eight Jews entered the synagogue. Now there were nine of them. But there was still no minyan - it turned out that the two Jews living in the forest had been taken to the police station, accused of some crime.
— Perhaps we can find another Jew who lives nearby? — suggested Reb Leib.
— No, — they answered him. — There are no other Jews here besides us.
— But what if, — the rabbi insisted, — there is a Jew living here who converted to another faith?
The Jews were shocked to hear these words from the rabbi.
— The doors of the synagogue are always open to the sons of the Jewish people, — Reb Leib continued.
One of the Jews finally decided to answer.
— There is one, — he said. — The local wealthy man, who owns the entire village. But he renounced Judaism some forty years ago. The story is that the previous owner's daughter fell in love with him, and her father promised that if he would leave the Jewish faith and marry her, he would inherit all his wealth. And that is what happened. They have no children, and the man's wife died many years ago; he lives alone in a huge house. He is cruel and wicked by nature - and especially so toward Jews!
Where is his house? — the rabbi asked, having listened carefully to the story.
Upon receiving the answer, he pulled the tallit from his shoulders and dashed out of the synagogue toward the mansion. Approaching the door, he knocked and opened it. The wealthy man stood on the threshold. For several seconds the two stood facing each other in complete silence. The owner's first thought was to call the guards to seize this Jew and accuse him of brazenly breaking into his home. But the rabbi's gentle, clear gaze stopped him.
— My name is Leib Sarah, — the Chassid introduced himself. — I had the honor of personally knowing Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov. He once said that every Jew should repeat the words spoken by King David - "Deliver me, Al-mighty, from bloodguilt."
The word damim (blood) can also be translated as "money." My teacher taught that these words should be understood as "Deliver me, Al-mighty, from worshipping money as I would worship You..."
— My mother, whose name was Sarah, was a holy woman, — the rabbi continued. — When she was still young, the son of the local wealthy man wanted to marry her. He promised her much money and honor if she agreed. But she refused, choosing the true path. To escape the persistent young man, she quickly married an elderly cheder teacher. You were not so fortunate. You were broken by the lust for money and betrayed your faith. Think it over - there is still a chance to return and receive your reward in the World to Come. Today is the eve of Yom Kippur. The sun will set soon. The Jews who live here are one man short of a minyan. Come with me, and you will be the tenth. It is written in the Torah: "And the tenth shall be holy to G-d." Hearing these words, the wealthy man turned pale.
Meanwhile, the eight Jews were waiting for the rabbi in the synagogue. Suddenly the door flew open, and the rabbi appeared in the doorway, followed by the wealthy man, whose eyes were filled with tears. A tallit was silently placed over his shoulders. Rabbi Leib approached the Aron Kodesh and took out two Torah scrolls. He handed one scroll to the most respected Jew in the village and the other to the wealthy man. The prayer began.
That evening, the wealthy man who had renounced the faith of his fathers prayed fervently together with the other Jews. Tears streamed down his face. During the Neila prayer, as the minyan prepared to recite the Shema, the repentant Jew approached the Aron Kodesh and cried out loudly: "Hear, O Israel! The L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One!" Stepping aside, he began repeating the words "The L-rd is G-d!" His voice grew louder and louder. On the seventh repetition, his soul departed from his body...
That same night, the wealthy man was buried in the nearest town. Rabbi Leib personally prepared the body for burial, and for the rest of his life he remembered this man's yahrzeit and recited Kaddish for him every Yom Kippur.
(Sheindel Croll)
Rabbi Leib Sarah passed away on March 4, 1791 in the village of Yaltushkov in Podolia. In keeping with tradition, he insisted on being buried without special honors and even refused to have a tent erected over his grave. In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Rabbi Leib Sirkis of New York renewed and erected a tent over his grave in Yaltushkov.
A Story About Peace Between Two Kings
https://silatehilim.com/тикун-хацот-и-тайна-шалома-между-2-царям/
May the zechut of Rabbi Leib Sarah protect Am Yisrael!