Rav Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes zt"l
הרב זאב וולף בן אברהם קיצעס זצ"ל
Cheshvan 12 , 5549
Rav Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes zt"l
Rabbi Ze'ev-Wolf Kitzes [12 Mar-Cheshvan 5548]. served as Rabbi of the community in Toltzin, and later held the position of Av Beis Din (chief rabbinical judge) in the town of Medzibuzh, even before the town had become the founding center of the Baal Shem Tov's chasidic movement. When the Baal Shem Tov moved there,his initial reaction was one of great opposition, although after a short while he became one of his greatest followers. Rabbi Ze'ev-Wolf Kitzes was well-known as a highest level Torah scholar, and as extremely meticulous in all areas of mitzvah observance. He is buried in Medzibuzh, immediately to the right of the Baal Shem Tov.
http://www.ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=rebbeBios
Stories of Rav Ze'ev Wolf Kitzes zt"l
Once the Shpoler Zeide was traveling with an older companion who had known the Ba’al Shem Tov. The Zeide asked his companion to tell him a tale about the holy Ba’al Shem, and this is the story he related:
It was on Yom Kippur after Shacharis when the Ba’al Shem called over his talmid, Rav Zev Wolf Kitzes, and whispered something in his ear. It was a bright, sunny day until Neila, at which time the heavens suddenly became overcast and menacing. They davened Neila and Maariv but were unable to say Kiddush Levona because the moon was hidden by so many clouds. This did little to ruin the joyful mood of the talmidim, however, and so, on Motzo’ei Yom Kippur, after the Ba’al Shem recited Havdola and they had tasted something, the talmidim began to dance and dance. Soon their joyful eruption of dance infected the Tzaddik and the Ba’al Shem joined them in the dance.
As they danced, one of them noticed that Rav Zev Wolf was missing. “Where is Rav Zev Wolf?” he asked, but the Ba’al Shem made as if he did not hear him. Afterward, they all lay down to sleep in their own beds.
At this time, Rav Zev Wolf appeared and began to knock on his Rebbe’s window, calling, “Rebbe, Rebbe, come and say Kiddush Levona! The clouds have gone and the moon is shining brightly!”
The Ba’al Shem arose, as did all of his talmidim, and together, with great simcha, they all recited Kiddush Levona. When the Ba’al Shem finished, he and Rav Zev Wolf began to rejoice and dance happily. All the talmidim and Chassidim danced, understanding that something special, unique and different was happening. Afterward, the Ba’al Shem sat and, as was his custom, revealed to them what had been occurring in the supernal realms that Yom Kippur:
“This morning, as I davened Shacharis, I sensed that a heavenly tribunal had convened and delivered a dreadful prosecution against me. They reached their judgment and handed down the verdict that I must leave this world. This judgment, I was told, would be sealed when I saw the sign that during Neila the heavens would be filled with such clouds that we would be unable to recite Kiddush Levona. This is what I whispered to Rav Zev Wolf and that is why he was missing. After hearing my words, he busied himself with exertion, davening that Hashem rescind the decree. When he finally succeeded, the clouds dispersed and we were able to say Kiddush Levona.”
When the older traveler finished his narrative, the Shpoler Zeide said to him, “This tale has the hallmark of a true story.” (Orach Tzaddikim Skver p. 344–345)
On Acharon Shel Pesach, tov-reish-samech-dalet, Rav Yisrael Chortkover told the following story of how Rav Zev Wolf Kitzes decided to travel to Eretz Yisrael. He came to his Rebbe, the Ba’al Shem Tov, for his farewell blessing. The Ba’al Shem wished him farewell and blessed him sheyisa lesholom – that he should go in peace. “However, Rav Zev Wolf, take care – know what to answer!“ he warned. Rav Zev Wolf wondered at his Rebbe’s odd remark and went on his way.
He boarded his ship and set off on his trip. During the journey, the ship stopped and anchored at a certain small island. Most of the seafarers went to purchase food and drinks and quickly headed back to the ship. Rav Zev Wolf, on the other hand, took the opportunity for some personal hisbodedus. So absorbed in dveikus was he that he failed to notice the ship leaving without him.
As he wandered forlornly, he discovered a path and followed it to a secluded little house. There he found an old bearded Jew who greeted him warmly and asked him why he appeared so downcast and upset.
“How can I not worry? My ship has set sail without me!”
“Don’t worry, Rav Wolf,” the old Jew assured him. “Here we have a minyan and a mikve; you shall spend Shabbos here with us. After Shabbos surely more ships will come and you can sail with them.”
And so it was that Rav Zev Wolf spent Shabbos there on the island. After Shabbos a small fleet of ships arrived and the elderly Jew accompanied his guest to see him off. Rav Zev Wolf was distracted and worried – would he be granted passage on this ship or would he be stuck here further? He was so distracted and worried that he paid little heed to his companion. The elderly Jew turned to Rav Zev Wolf and asked, “Rav Wolf, I almost forgot to ask you – how do the Jews fare in your land?”
“Hashem has not forgotten them,” Rav Wolf answered distractedly. “He forsakes them not,” and so saying, he thanked his host and boarded the ship. After the ship had set sail and Rav Zev Wolf had somewhat calmed down and gathered his wits, he began to think over what had happened and what he had answered his host.
“Oh no!” he suddenly exclaimed, remembering what the holy Ba’al Shem had admonished him to remember. “What have I done? What did I answer? Why didn’t I properly relay what life is like for us Jews in Golus – the exile, the sufferings, the wants and lacks and privations!?” He decided to forsake his trip to the Holy Land; instead, as soon as he arrived, he turned and quickly headed to his Rebbe.
When he arrived in Mezhibuzh and came to the Ba’al Shem, the Tzaddik greeted him and extended his hand in Sholom Aleichem, saying, “That elder was none other than Avrohom Avinu! Every day Avrohom Avinu stands before Hashem and says, ‘Ribbono Shel Olam, how are my children?’
“Hashem answers, ‘I do not forsake them, and here is proof: Rav Zev Wolf is traveling to Eretz Yisrael. He is an ehrlicher yid – ask him!’” continued the Ba’al Shem. “Had you told Avrohom Avinu about our plight, our suffering in Golus, Moshiach would have come and redeemed us! However, you did not properly heed my advice or pay attention to my words! Now Golus will continue, and in our sins the exile will be prolonged until Hashem has mercy upon us!”
(Orach Tzaddikim Skver p. 344–345)