THE CHOZEH'S BATTLE TO HASTEN THE GEULA

The tzaddik, R’ Yaakov Yitzchok Horowitz, known as the Chozeh of Lublin, passed away on Tisha B’Av after a protracted battle to hasten the Geula. * It was a heavenly battle in which the tzaddikim of that generation were involved and the Satan himself was the adversary.

By Menachem Ziegelboim

The Chozeh’s resting placePART I

All his life, the Chozeh of Lublin (1745-1815) burned with anticipation of the redemption of the Jewish people. Chassidim relate that every night, before the Chozeh went to sleep, he would ask his shamash (aide) to wake him up immediately if Moshiach arrived.

However, the Chozeh did not suffice with just waiting for the Geula. He made many attempts to hasten Moshiach’s coming, even to the point of mesirus nefesh.

One year, the Chozeh was engaged in his prayers and supernal unifications until he was sure that the hour for the Geula was nigh. He revealed to his great disciple, the Yid HaKadosh, R’ Yaakov

Yitzchok of Peshischa, that as far as the simple Jews were concerned, the Geula would have already come. It was the “men of deeds” who were delaying it because of their arrogance.

The Chozeh made another attempt to hasten the Geula, this time together with other tzaddi- kim so that with their joint efforts they would succeed. He called to Lublin his good friend, R’ Mendel of Rimanov. The Chozeh hoped that the tzaddik from Rimanov would spend five Shabbasos in a row with him and they would be able to achieve all the necessary spiritual unifications.

However, the Satan intervened. Friday night, the Chassidim at the Chozeh’s table were used to speaking to one another, while at R’ Mendel’s table the Chassidim sat in awe. When R’ Mendel saw the conduct of the Chassidim, he was annoyed and rebuked them, “Yidden, derech eretz!” At once, there was silence and fear.

The Chozeh, who was wont to act in a pleasant and welcoming manner to everyone, tried to calm them down. “How can you frighten such Jews?” he asked R’ Mendel.

On the second Shabbos, R’ Mendel became sick and did not come to the table. The plan to join forces in lofty intentions and unifications for five Shabbasos in a row was thwarted. The next day R’ Mendel left for home.

But the Chozeh remained undeterred. He continued with his attempts to hasten the Geula.

PART II

After a number of further attempts, the Chozeh’s final effort to hasten the Geula was scheduled for Rosh HaShana 5575/1814.

A few months earlier, he made all the necessary preparations. He knew that because of this attempt, a war was being waged in the lower realms and in the heavenly realms.

Before Rosh HaShana, the Chozeh asked his great disciples, “Who wants to go with me to war?” His great disciples acceded except for R’ Naftali of Rop- shitz who left the beis midrash, since he was afraid to join an offensive war against the Satan.

In the end, the Chozeh enlisted these disciples to his aid:

R’ Klonimus of Neustat, author of Maor V’Shemesh, and R’ Naftali Hertz of Berzhan. Together with them were the tzaddikim R’ Yisroel of Kohznitz and R’ Mendel of Rimanov. The tzaddik, R’ Dovid of Lelov, was the shofar blower while the Chozeh read the t’kios.

An urgent letter was also sent to R’ Menachem Mendel of Kosov, author of Ahavas Sholom, saying he should come to Lublin and help with the intentions and unifications.

The Defender of Israel (R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev) had passed away a few years earlier, and he had promised he would not rest in his grave and would not agree to enter Gan Eden to sit with the other tzad- dikim who basked in the glow of the Sh’china until he brought Moshiach. Apparently Hashem Himself had enticed R’ Levi Yitz- chok to enter Gan Eden where he had forgotten the Jewish people who were suffering in exile. Therefore, the tzaddikim decided that they would send an emissary to remind him of his oath. Surely he would gird his powers to hasten the Geula.

The tzaddikim then had to decide who would be the emissary to the heavens above. They cast a lot among themselves and it fell to the Chozeh to ascend above. The tzaddik accepted this assignment and began preparing for his passing from this world in order to meet with R’ Levi Yitz- chok.

When the Yid HaKadosh heard about this he sent a message to his master, the Chozeh, to let him know that he did not think it was proper that the Chozeh depart this world. This would disband the group of tzad- dikim who were hastening the Geula and “the threefold strand (the Chozeh, the Kozhnitzer and the Rimanover) will not quickly be broken.” He decided that he himself would be the emissary, the trusted envoy, to carry out a mission which was synonymous with death.

The Chozeh accepted his disciple’s suggestion, and a short time later, the Yid HaKadosh passed away at a young age on Chol HaMoed Sukkos 5574.

The first glitch occurred even before Yom Tov began. At the last moment, R’ Chaim of Kosov, son of R’ Mendel, arrived in Lublin. This was because R’ Mendel’s Chassidim did not allow him to leave them during the days of judgment and mercy of Tishrei so he sent his son instead. The Chozeh was very happy with R’ Chaim, but he was not who he had in mind when he wanted to enlist other tzaddikim in the battle.

The tzaddikim strained to confuse the Satan during the t’kios and disrupt his accusations, thus paving the way to hasten the end of galus. The one who blew the shofar was R’ Dovid of Lelov. All knew that with this small sho- far that he held, R’ Dovid had to arouse the Great Shofar, the sho- far of Moshiach. They also knew that the Satan would not sit with folded arms and that he would make great efforts to overcome his enemies who tried to destroy him.

Terrifying thoughts filled the hearts of the many Chassidim who were present in the Chozeh’s beis midrash. The Chozeh knew that the war was at its height, but he was confident that he could overcome the obstacles that stood in his way and that he could pave the way for Moshiach.

The Chozeh pulled his tallis over his head, down to his chest, as he soared heavenward with his awesome intentions. Two of his great disciples stood at his side, trembling in fear. They understood that during these very moments a powerful war was being waged on several fronts against the sitra achra. The Chozeh delayed, his holy body trembling, not in fear of the battle but in fear of Hashem, of the light of the Sh’china.

It was only after a long wait that they finally heard the Chozeh command, “T’kia!”

R’ Dovid of Lelov said the bracha in a broken voice and he put the shofar to his lips and tried to blow, but could not make a sound. R’ Dovid was known as an experienced shofar blower, but this time he could not get it to make a sound. R’ Dovid tried another shofar, cleared his throat, tried various positions, but no sound emerged. All knew that this was the work of Satan. The Chozeh’s face was fiery and he yelled, “The Torah says you shall blow!”

Then suddenly, R’ Dovid was successful and the t’kios emerged clearly. That was the first achievement in the war against Satan.

Good news also came from Kozhnitz. They heard that the Maggid who was sick and weak had gotten up and with superhuman power had cried out on the night of Yom Kippur, “Master of the universe, tell us ‘I forgive you as per your word,’ and hasten the Geula. Lest You say there lack tzaddikim in the world, we have R’ Mendel of Rimanov who is a genuine tzaddik. Do we lack an Urim V’Tumim in our generation? We have the holy Chozeh. Are there no baalei t’shuva? There is me, Yisroel of Kozhnitz, with my frail body, who is ready to do t’shuva for all the Jewish people.”

Then the Maggid of Kozhnitz cried out jubilantly and told the congregation to sing, “And Hashem said, I forgive as per your word.” When R’ Yisroel of Ruzhin heard about this, he said, “I am convinced that the Maggid heard in heaven, ‘I forgive as per your word,’ for otherwise, he would not have begun praying Maariv.”

When the Chozeh heard of the Maggid’s success, he said joyously, “If only we shall hear good news from Kozhnitz, for the sick one made a commotion in all the worlds.”

PART III

The days of judgment and awe passed. Now the efforts had to be continued during the happy days of Sukkos and the peak day of joy, Simchas Torah. There are no loftier days than these, auspicious for bringing Moshiach. R’ Mendel of Rimanov sat in his sukka full of joy and said to his Chassidim, “Pray for me that the year 5575 pass and then the Geula will come.”

When the Chassidim heard “Who knows what’s doing by the Rebbe in Lublin.”

In Lublin there was heartbreak and despair. The singing and dancing stopped. All went out to search for the Rebbe who had disappeared out the window. Hours of searching commenced until R’ Eliezer of Chmelnik, the son-in-law of R’ Tzvi Hirsch of Stoshov, saw in the distance the figure of a person writhing in the brush. Since it was dark outside, it was hard to see who it was. As R’ Eliezer advanced, he heard a groan. He could not identify the Rebbe’s voice and called out, “Who are you?”

The answer was, “Yaakov Yitzchok ben Mattil.”

R’ Eliezer began to scream and shout which brought the rest of the group running. The great disciple, R’ Shmuel of Korev, carried the Rebbe’s head. On the way, R’ Shmuel heard the Rebbe whispering. He leaned closer and heard the Rebbe say “Tikkun Leah,” from the Tikkun Chatzos. R’ Shmuel looked at his watch and saw that it was 11:30, the time when the Rebbe would say Tikkun Chatzos every night. Even in this state, he did not veer from this practice.

The disciples heard the Rebbe sigh, “Oy, why didn’t you tell me the Maggid of Kozhnitz passed away before Sukkos? If I had known that the band of tzad- dikim had disbanded I would not have continued. You should know that if not for the Maggid of Kozhnitz, nothing would have remained of me from my fall. The Maggid came from the supernal world and spread his tallis under my head, which is why I was only injured.”

That is when R’ Yehuda Leib of Zaklikov, one of the elders of the group in Lublin, remembered that the Chozeh’s master, R’ Elimelech of Lizhensk, had whispered to the Chozeh on his last trip to Lizhensk, “You always need to pray, ‘do not cast me aside in my old age.’”

“Oy,” sighed the Chozeh, “if the Yid HaKadosh was still alive, this would not have happened.”

As a result of the fall, the Chozeh was ill and could not leave his bed. His great disciple, the baal t’shuva, Dr. Chaim Dovid Bernhard, was brought to see him but he was unable to help. He tried to diagnose the source of the problem and asked where it hurt. The Chozeh said, my left thigh. Dr. Bernhard tried to heal him but the Rebbe dismissed his attempts. “All of the sitra achra united against me,” he said. “The generation is not yet worthy.”

The Chozeh remained in bed from Simchas Torah until Tisha B’Av when he passed away. Only then did his disciples understand what he meant, “We did not merit a joyous Simchas Torah and therefore did not merit a joyous Tisha B’Av.”

The Satan’s work was easier in Cracow and Berzhan. We already mentioned the rock shattering the window of R’ Klonimus. In Berzhan, R’ Naftali Hertz was dancing with all his might when a fire broke out in his home and burned the woman who helped in the house. The dancers fled the house and only R’ Naftali Hertz continued to dance, but he no longer had the power to bring the Goel.