On a Tzadik's Yahrzeit, Halakhah Follows His Opinion Alone

On a Tzadik's Yahrzeit, Halakhah Follows His Opinion Alone

The Talmud states: “The righteous are even greater after their passing than during their lifetime.” (Tractate Chullin 7b, Babylonian Talmud) During his life on earth, a tzadik's power is limited by his physical body. Once he ascends to the Heavenly Yeshivah, however, his soul rises to higher spheres, and he gains greater power to influence others, help them improve, and elevate their prayers to the Almighty. A tzadik's kever becomes a link connecting our prayers and appeals to the Creator, because when we pray at a tzadik's grave, he is present there with us on a certain “level of the soul.”   On a Tzadik's Yahrzeit, Halakhah Follows the Tzadik Once, a chassid who had been childless for many years came to the Alter Rebbe (of blessed memory) to ask for a blessing to have children. Ba'al HaTanya said that he could do nothing to help him, but if the chassid managed to reach Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin (zechuto yagen aleinu) before shkia, and the tzadik blessed him, he would have children. The Rebbe said that the chassid should follow through. The chassid listened and traveled to Karlin, managing to reach the Rebbe of Karlin before sunset. He entered Rabbi Shlomo's room happily, and Rabbi Shlomo said to him: “I am prepared to bless you—for 130 rubles.” In those days, this was an enormous sum. Understanding what amount was involved, the chassid said that he needed to consult with his wife. By the time he traveled home, spoke with his wife, discussed the sum, and returned, the sun had already set—it was shkia. He entered Rabbi Shlomo's room and said: “My wife and I are prepared to give you this amount.” The Rebbe replied that it was already too late—it was shkia, the time had passed, and he could no longer help him. The terrified chassid asked: Why? What had changed? Could a mere ten or twenty minutes really make a difference? Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin replied: “Before shkia, it was still 20 Tevet—the Rambam's Yahrzeit. On a tzadik's Hillula, a halakhic ruling is established in Heaven according to his view, even if not everyone follows his opinion. On a tzadik's yahrzeit, however, halakhah follows his view alone. Once, you insulted a talmid chacham. According to halakhah, there is no forgiveness for this. A gezeirah (punishment) was therefore decreed against you Above: childlessness. But according to the Rambam, this sin can be atoned for—the required atonement is equivalent to 130 rubles. Had you given that money on the Rambam's yahrzeit, then according to the Rambam's view you would have atoned for the sin, and I could have blessed you to have children. But since you arrived late, come back next year.” (From Rabbi Shlomo Deitch, head of the Tzemach Tzedek Kollel, with thanks to Ora Z.)   At the Kever of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai Once, the Admor of Sanz—Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam—traveled with his chassidim to the kever of the Tanna Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai. They recited Tehillim and then prayed Mincha, since it was already beginning to grow dark. After Mincha, the Rebbe's mood changed—something was troubling him. When his disciples asked what had happened, the Rebbe explained: “Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai says in Masechet Berakhot (chapter 4, Mishnah 1) that one must pray by Plag HaMincha—one hour or one and a quarter hours before nightfall (there was a machloket regarding this). Even though we do not follow his opinion, it would have been chutzpah to pray Mincha at his kever after the time he had established. We must return tomorrow and rectify everything.” The next day, they returned to the kever of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai. This time, they arrived earlier in the afternoon and prayed Mincha before Plag HaMincha, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai. After they finished praying Mincha, the Rebbe once again felt the burden lift from him. He had rectified what he considered an affront to the great Tanna Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai. (Sefer “Maggid” by Rabbi Paysach Krohn)