Rav Zev Wolf of Zhitomir zt"l
הרב זאב וולף מזוטאמיר זצ"ל
Adar 14 , 5558
Rav Zev Wolf of Zhitomir zt"l
Rabbi Ze'ev Wolf of Zhitomir [14 Adar 1800] was one of the inner circle of disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch. He is the author of Ohr Hameir, one of the early foundation texts of general Chassidus.
http://www.ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=rebbeBios
Stories of Rav Zev Wolf of Zhitomir zt"l
In Zhitomir lived a mohel (one who performs circumcisions) and shochet (kosher slaughterer) who was a close follower of the well-known Rebbe, Rav Ze’ev Wolf of Zhitomir, one of the inner circle of disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch. Once he was invited to be the mohel at a bris mila (circumcision ceremony) in a nearby village. Since the bris was scheduled to take place early on Sunday morning, he decided to travel there on Motzo’ei Shabbos. On the way, however, he got lost when the path went through a dark forest.
After a long time wandering about, he saw in the distance a shining light. Immediately he set out in that direction. As he got closer, he saw a house. He went in, and there was a crowd of men sitting around a long table, with a distinguished-looking old man at the head. The latter was expounding Torah, and everyone was listening intently. The Chassid listened too, and was quite impressed by the brilliant insights.
Shortly after, several of the listeners came over to him and said, “Nu? How do you like our Rebbe’s words of Torah? Do you approve?”
“Yes!” answered the Chassid enthusiastically. Several times now they approached him, and the same dialogue was repeated. Finally, he left and found his way.
The mohel’s custom was to go to his Rebbe’s house every day, in order to gaze at his holy face. That Sunday, upon his return, he went directly there. This time, however, the Rebbe’s attendant did not allow him to enter. Then, on Monday and Tuesday, he again refused to let him in. Surprised, the Chassid finally asked him, “What is going on? Why won’t you allow me to see the Rebbe?”
“Because the Rebbe told me not to,” replied the attendant.
“Oh, no!” exclaimed the Chassid in dismay. “Why not? Surely there is a reason. Please, have mercy on me! Ask the Rebbe what I have done. What is my sin to deserve such a terrible punishment – to be denied access to the Rebbe?”
The attendant went in, and soon returned with a reply. “The Rebbe said to tell you that the house in the forest belongs to the Evil Forces. Since you approved and accepted their words, you became connected to them. Therefore, he cannot admit you in his presence.”
The Chassid was crushed. “But the Rebbe must know how I can rectify this,” he said to the attendant. “Please, please go in again and ask him what I should do.”
Back came the answer, “You have to go again on a Motzo’ei Shabbos to that forest and find that house. Then, each time they expound Torah, respond, ‘Feh, feh, feh,’ and spit. That is how you can escape their clutches.”
The Chassid set out that very Motzo’ei Shabbos. He found the house in the forest, and the same people were sitting around the same table with the same elder again saying amazing words of Torah. Again, the students approached him to ask what he thought. Although the depth and creativity of the Torah were overwhelming, he thought of his beloved Rebbe and his wretched exile from him and regained control of himself. “Feh, feh, feh! Impure, impure, impure!” he screamed and spat emphatically.
Everyone froze. There was absolute silence. All heads turned toward him, and a few approached him menacingly. “Wait,” their leader said to them. He addressed the Chassid, “Who are you to dare to speak thus?”
“I am a follower of the holy Rebbe, Rav Ze’ev Wolf of Zhitomir.” The leader turned again to his ranks.
“Bring the record books of our Torahs,” he exclaimed. “All the Torahs that were spoken and written with improper, self-serving intentions are contained there. If his Rebbe’s name appears in our books, this follower of his is ours to do with as we wish. If not, we have to let him go.”
Two huge tomes were brought out. Every page was turned and examined. Nowhere appeared the name of Rav Ze’ev Wolf of Zhitomir. Incredibly, he had never once wavered from learning Torah purely for the sake of Hashem and His commandments.
The mohel left the house in the forest in peace, trembling in excited anticipation of his return to Zhitomir, and to once again be privileged to see the Rebbe’s holy face.
(Source: Living Jewish: Translated and adapted by Rav Yerachmiel Tilles from Rishimas Devorim Vol I – Rav Yehuda Chitrik’s four-volume series. [I also heard an almost identical story told by someone who heard it from a Vizhnitz Rebbe, but the Rebbe in the story was Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, not the Zhitomirer. I added some details from that lengthier version. —Y.T.])