Rabbi Zev Wolf of Zhitomir

Rabbi Zev Wolf ben Reb Shmuel HaLevi of Zhitomir Yahrzeit - 5 Sivan, Erev Shavuot Resting place - Zhitomir He was one of the greatest talmidim of the Maggid of Mezritch, and was close with Rabbi Aharon of Karlin and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk. He is the author of "Ohr HaMeir," one of the foundational texts of Chassidus. He is not as well known because he did not leave behind a dynasty. Among Chassidim, "Ohr HaMeir" is one of the most revered sefarim. Reb Wolf's way was never to show any outward sign of emotion during his service of Ha-Shem; he was extremely reserved - for example, he never clapped his hands and never spoke loudly or emotionally. He would say that showing something outwardly is only appropriate when it matches what you truly feel inside. Reb Wolf said that in his entire life he never showed any sign of emotion - except once. Here is how it happened. One Erev Shabbat, he was in the Beit Midrash together with many other tzadikim, while the Maggid of Mezritch sat in his room next to the Beit Midrash reading the parasha according to "Shnayim Mikra V'Echad Targum." (He always did this behind closed doors, without anyone watching.) On that day, the door to the Maggid's room happened to open, and all the talmidim saw him in a state of tremendous kedusha - such light was radiating from the Maggid's face. The brothers Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg and the Haflaah, and the brothers Reb Meilech and Reb Zusha, ran out of the Beit Midrash in fear. Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev hid under a bench, feeling that his neshama was about to leave him. And Reb Wolf, upon seeing this awesome sight of the great Maggid reading the parasha, simply clapped his hands. Reb Wolf said that with that single clap, he did teshuva for the rest of his life. Just one clap. Praiseworthy is the one whose teshuva is accomplished through such an act. What can be learned from this is that even those who follow tzadikim can express the experiences of the neshama through outward emotion. May the zechut of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael! http://zchusavos.blogspot.com/2007/05/reb-wolf-zhitomir-does-teshuva-for.html