Why Reb Moshe Yisroel Did Not Go Home

Reb Moshe Yisroel, was the head of the jewish court in Reivitz and Klementov.

One year, he decided to spend Shavuot as a guest of Reb Yissachar Dov, known as the Saba Kaddisha (the Holy Grandfather) of Radoshitz. He spent an uplifting Shavuot with the tzaddik and prepared to return to his community immediately after Shavuot.

Being in a hurry to return home, he called on the tzaddik in the morning after the festival in order to receive his blessing for the journey. When the tzaddik asked for the reason for his haste he explained that there was some urgent matters awaiting him at home. The tzaddik thereupon wished him Shalom and the rav went to his lodgings to prepare for his journey.

While he was still at the inn, the shammesh of the tzaddik visited him. He drew up a chair to the table where the rav was sitting and ordered two bottles of wine in honor of the rav. This was most surprising as it was not customary for the shammash of the tzaddik to take time out of his busy schedule to socialize with even the most important chassid.

“What’s so special about today?” asked the rav.

The shammash replied: “When you left my rebbe’s study, he told me, ‘Go and tell the rav of Reivitz that it is not the proper thing for the parents of the bridal couple – the mechutanim – to leave the place where the wedding was celebrated before the bride has been brought to shul (synagogue). (There is an age-old custom that after the wedding the bride is led to the synagogue with pomp and ceremony on the Shabbat following the wedding.)

Now Shavuot, the time of the giving of the Torah, is our marriage with the Torah. As it is plainly written in the Book of Songs by King Solomon referring to Shavuot – ‘On the day of his wedding’. If so, then the Shabbat after Shavuot is the day when we have to lead the bride to shul. And since I heard from the mouth of the rebbe that you are a mechutan, I would like to drink L’Chaim with you!”

Hearing this, the rav decided to remain in Radoshitz for Shabbat. When he entered the study of the Saba Kaddisha to receive his greeting, the tzaddik smiled and said: “It is proper for a mechutan to stay around for the Shabbat when the bride is brought to the synagogue!”

Adapted from A Treasury of Chassidic Tales on the Festivals by Rabbi S.Y. Zevin translated by Uri Kaploun. Pg. 402-403