Rav Shraga Feivel of Gritza zt"l
הרב שרגא פייביל בן צבי הירש מגריצא זצ"ל
Tishrei 22 , 5609
Stories of Rav Shraga Feivel of Gritza zt"l
Rav Feivel of Gritza, (father of Rav Yechiel of Alexander) once approached the Seraph of Kotzk and said, “Good news! The wealthy Jewess Tamarel is supposed to arrive tomorrow and then we will have some money to relieve the abject poverty.
The Kotzker bellowed, “Money!!! Fech (Disgusting)!”
“From that moment on,” related Rav Feivel, “money disgusted me so, that I simply could not handle any without becoming so nauseous that I almost vomited. It took me over six months before I was able to even touch money again without becoming sick.”
Rav Chanoch Henich of Alexander once told the Kotzker, “Tonight I am preparing a seuda with fish and meat.” The Kotzker thundered back, “Meat? Fish? Who needs those?! Bread and borscht are plenty!”
“From then on,” admitted Rav Henich, “I could taste no flavor in any food save bread and borscht for the rest of my life. Every other food was loathsome to me, all except bread and borscht.” When he traveled on Shabbos to the Gerrer Rebbe, the Chiddushei HaRim, he ordered that they cook borscht for Rav Henich so he could delight in the taste of Oneg Shabbos, otherwise what would he enjoy? (Bais Kotzk 29)
