The first day of Sukkos is the Yahrzeit of the Nadvorna Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Leifer ZT”L who passed away in 1894 (5655). Thousands of Jews from Galicia, Hungary, Poland and Romania streamed to him for his counsel. His Torah teachings, Chassidic thoughts and stories about his life have been published in Maamar Mordechai, Ohr Mordechai, Gedulas Mordechai and Tiferes Mordechai.
Born to his father Rabbi Yissachar Dov Ber Leifer, the founder of the Nadvorna dynasty, Rabbi Mordechai was the great-great-grandson ot Rav Meir of Premishlan the first, and a great nephew of the second Rav Meir of Premishlan (the latter’s grandson) who became renowned as a miracle worker. Rav Meir Premishlan the second who served as Sandek at the baby’s bris, advised Rabbi Mordechai’s father to name his son Mordechai after Rabbi Mordechai of Kremnitz. Rav Meir Premishlan, the great uncle also revealed that the baby Mordechai was born with the Neshomo of Mordechai Hatzaddik and used to call him Mordechai Hayehudi.
At the age of Bar Mitzvah, Mordechai was sent by his parents who lived in Nadvorna in the Austrio-Hungarian empire (today part of Ukraine) to live with his great uncle in Premishlan, a large city in the Lviv region where he eventually served as Nadvorna Rebbe.
One year when a plague raged through the city, and many people were dying, measures were instituted by the municipality to protect its inhabitants from the epidemic spreading. As a result the municipality forbade the building of Sukkahs, possibly because they did not want the Jews eating and sleeping outside spreading germs. The Nadvorna Rebbe not only built a Sukkah, not caring about the prohibition but when he was given a summons, he ignored it completely.
The Gentile who issued the summons became outraged and demanded that the Rebbe demolish the Sukkah. The Rebbe responded that he didn’t build the Sukkah in order that it be demolished. He also added to the outraged Gentile that since he is the great-nephew of Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, he is sure that the Gentile will permit the Sukkah to remain standing.
At his wits’ end, the Gentile cursed out the Rebbe for his audacity. Besides what did he care who the Rabbi’s great-uncle was. This had nothing to do with him and the health precautions.
Rabbi Mordechai Leifer, the Nadvorna Rebbe then proceeded to relate the following story to the Gentile.
Many years ago there was a priest who had ten sons and a beautiful park with many outstanding trees. The priest decided to plant a beautiful garden within the park and had a number of trees chopped down. Soon after his garden was completed, his sons, one by one became ill and left this world. No doctor had been able to heal them. When the youngest and only son that remained alive became ill, the Priestbegan to panic fearing his now only son’s premature death. He was then advised to seek the counsel of Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, the holy man of the Jews.
Rabbi Meir explained to the Gentile that because he uprooted G-d’s trees, G-d has uprooted his trees, his sons. But since he had come to him, Rabbi Meir of Premishlan promised that he would pray on his behalf that G-d let him keep his youngest son and not cut short his life.
The prayers helped and the son survived.
“You are that son,” the Nadvorna Rebbe said. And it is because of my great-uncle’s prayers, you are alive.
The Gentile knew that his siblings had died prematurely and realized that the story the Nadvorna Rebbe had related to him was true.
“Please forgive me,” said the Gentile. I will not only let you keep your Sukkah intact, but you can build as many Sukkahs as you please and I won’t bother you again.”
Ami Nuggets column