Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Tell Sippurei Tzadikim

Simcha Raz, the biographer of Rav Aryeh Levine ["Tzadik In Our Time"], relates that in 1970, he was in New York and wanted to meet the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He made an appointment and was told to come at 2:30 am on Motzei Shabbos and that he had 10 minutes to be with the Rebbe. When the appointed time came he was ushered in. The Rebbe received him at the door they stood talking for 15 minutes. The Rebbe asked him after he introduced himself if he is the same Simcha Raz who wrote an article in a certain publication about R' Aryeh. He said that he is that Simcha Raz. He asked if R' Aryeh left any divrei torah that he wrote. Mr. Raz said that he hadn't [he didn't know that he had] but he repeated various divrei Torah that he heard from R' Aryeh's mouth. After 15 minutes the Rebbe said "Let's sit down".

They say down and the Rebbe asked him to tell about R' Aryeh. Mr. Raz told him story after story and before he knew it an hour passed. The gabbai came in to get him out but the Rebbe said "I want him to stay". The Rebbe bent over and said "Do you have any more stories? I have never heard anything like this!!" Mr. Raz sat, despite his discomfort in staying overtime, and related story after story and another hour passed. The gabbai came in again and started scratching the back of Mr. Raz to tell him to leave. The Rebbe said "Leave him alone. I want him to stay".

The Rebbe said "If you know stories of tzadikim you must publicize them."