A Shabbat Story: He Didn’t Tell His Wife the Truth Out of Love

A great figure in his generation, Rabbi Shalom Rokeach known as the holy Rebbe of Belz was the founder of the Belz Hasidic dynasty, which continues to inspire Jewish communities across Israel and around the world.

His memory is honored each year on the 27th of Elul, the day of his passing.

He became known by the title “Sar Shalom,” meaning “Prince of Peace.” This title came from an incident involving the great tzaddik Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov, author of Bnei Yissaschar. Rabbi Tzvi wrote him three letters. The first two times, the ink mysteriously spilled, ruining the letters. He took this as a sign that he had not shown enough honor in his greeting. On the third try, he addressed Rabbi Shalom as "The Prince of the Upper and Lower Worlds" and this time, the letter stayed intact.

Rabbi Shalom's greatness was rooted in his deep love and dedication to Torah learning. There’s a remarkable story that as a young man, he once heard that anyone who studies Torah for a thousand consecutive nights without missing even the nights of Pesach or Yom Kippur merits to be visited by Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet). Young Shalom took this teaching seriously and devoted himself to this incredible spiritual mission.

Years later, his son-in-law, the tzaddik Rabbi Chanoch Dov Henich of Alesk, was asked if the rumor was true that his father-in-law had stayed up learning Torah for one thousand nights and was visited by Eliyahu. Rabbi Chanoch simply answered, “I myself stayed up with him and we learned together for over three thousand nights... not counting the nights he learned alone or I learned alone.”

One story that shows the heart and humility of these great men happened when Rabbi Chanoch’s wife, the Rebbetzin, who helped support their home by selling scarves to non-Jewish women, was unable to travel to the city to restock her merchandise. She asked her husband, Rabbi Chanoch, to go in her place. Even though she usually protected his precious time for Torah study, she needed his help this time.

Rabbi Chanoch agreed and decided he would also use the trip to buy some Torah books he had long hoped to own. She gave him a clear list of what to buy and where, and he went to the market.

On his way back, he stopped the wagon near the shul to daven. His heartfelt prayer took a few hours. While he was praying, a thief took the opportunity to steal everything from the wagon.

When Rabbi Chanoch realized what had happened, he was determined not to cause his wife any distress. He quietly returned to the market and bought everything again, this time on credit. He even made sure to ask the wagon driver not to tell anyone about the theft.

Weeks later, a man with both hands paralyzed came to Rabbi Shalom of Belz in tears. He admitted that he had stolen something from one of Rabbi Shalom’s descendants and was now suffering the consequences. He wanted to return the goods and be healed.

Rabbi Shalom sent someone to investigate, but none of his descendants knew anything about a theft. Rabbi Chanoch hadn’t told anyone, and the wagon driver had kept his promise. Only after Rabbi Shalom’s daughter asked her husband did the story come out.

Rabbi Shalom told the paralyzed man to ask Rabbi Chanoch for forgiveness and a blessing. After Rabbi Chanoch davened for him, the man’s hands were healed and he returned the merchandise.

This story, like so many from our sages, teaches us about quiet humility, the power of compassion, and the beautiful ways our Torah legends lived with kindness, faith, and responsibility.