On any given Friday night throughout the Jewish calendar year, chasidim from all over the world, and of every stripe and denomination, would descend on the famed Pshevorsker Beis Midrash, at Mercatorstraat 56 in Antwerp, Belgium. Specially chartered planes would bring the eager masses to Antwerp before every Yom Tov, every simchah celebration, and especially for the High Holidays of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. They came to see, hear, and just bask in the holy presence of the Pshevorsker Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Leiser zt”l, who assumed the mantle of Rebbe from his father-in-law, Rav Moshe Yitzchok zt”l in 5736 (1976), and proceeded to lead his flock for more than two decades. Among the visitors who came on an almost continual basis were people seeking all sorts of salvation, advice in business affairs, and those requesting a blessing from the holy man. Hundreds of stories abound about Rav Yaakov’s piety, his wisdom, Divine inspiration (ruach ha’kodesh) and the many miracles that were attributed to him.
A truly remarkable story is related that, one year, on the Friday night of Parshas Naso, Reb Yankele – as he was affectionately known – was sitting at his tish surrounded by scores of his followers. It was his custom that after he had eaten and distributed pieces of fish – shirayim – he would deliver a Torah discourse. As the crowd hushed in anticipation, Reb Yankele suddenly found himself speechless; he had forgotten what he had prepared to say! Another moment went by and Reb Yankele had still not begun to speak. The chasidim continued to wait patiently and Reb Yankele did not wish to leave the people hanging without telling them something, anything. He thought hard for an appropriate thought and, all at once, a story came to mind, a story that he now repeated to the grateful chasidim.
Reb Yankele told of a couple, almost a century earlier, who were expecting a child. Unfortunately, they had lost several infants shortly after birth, and wished to secure a blessing for the longevity of this child. They sought a brachah from the great Chortkover Rebbe, Rav Dovid Moshe Friedman zt”l. The Rebbe told them that when their child is born, they should name the child after a person found in that week’s parshah, and by doing so, their baby would survive.
They were blessed with a baby girl in the week of Parshas Naso, a parshah notably replete with names of men, but none of women! The father approached his local rav for advice, and he was told to name his daughter after the mother of Shimshon HaGibor, mentioned in the week’s haftarah, whose name was Tzlelponis. The couple was hesitant to afflict their child with such a name, but then they remembered the Chortkover’s words, and did as they were advised.
Some time later, they traveled to Chortkov to inform Rav Dovid Moshe of the good news. When they told him the baby’s name, he smiled and told them they had chosen well. In fact, he said, the famous commentator, the Maharshal, Rav Shlomo Luria zt”l, writes (Bava Basra 91) that the name “Tzlelponis” is auspicious for counteracting evil spiritual forces. Through following the Rebbe’s advice, the couple had selected a name that was perfectly suited to protect her.
Reb Yankele finished his story and went silent. He could not recall any further Torah thought and he was happy that at least he had said over something. In due course, the tish concluded and everyone went home.
Later that night, a chasid came to Reb Yankele in a frantic state, asking urgently for the Rebbe’s brachah. His daughter, due to be married shortly, had slipped and had fallen, and she was now lying in a coma. Reb Yankele wondered why that night had been the first time he had ever forgotten his prepared divrei Torah; undoubtedly it was Divinely ordained that he recall that specific story, so that he should remember that the name Tzlelponis is a good omen for abolishing evil!
Turning to the distraught father, he instructed him to add the name Tzlelponis to his daughter’s name. The man did so on the following morning, and almost immediately, his daughter’s condition improved, and she made a full recovery.
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
