A Shabbat Story: The Rabbi They Called “Servant”: A Story of Miracles and Humility

In the summer of 5591 (1831), Rabbi Avraham Chaim, son of the great Rabbi Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz and the rabbi of the town of Linsk, passed away. His death left the position of town rabbi vacant. Most of the townspeople wanted to appoint his only son, Rabbi Menachem Mendel, even though he was not yet thirty. But a group of townspeople refused. Some were uncomfortable with his young age, while others objected because he was part of the Chassidic movement.

When the holy Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch of Rimnov heard about this tension, he got personally involved. He put in great effort to support Rabbi Menachem Mendel and see him properly installed in the place of his father and grandfather. Yet, despite all this, some townspeople continued to resist and refused to accept the new rabbi’s authority.

Realizing the dispute was not calming down, Rabbi Hirsch decided to travel to Linsk himself. The town was close to Rimnov, and he hoped that his presence would bring peace. When he arrived, he called all the townspeople together and asked them to sign an official letter appointing Rabbi Menachem Mendel as the new head of the town’s beit din (rabbinical court).

Everyone came and signed except for one wealthy man. This man arrogantly refused, stating that he would not sign under any circumstances. Rabbi Hirsch sent his assistant to him with a message in Yiddish: “Tell him that Hirsch the ‘Servant’ is calling him to come.”

Rabbi Hirsch often signed his name as “Servant” in humility. Before becoming a leader himself, he had devotedly served his own teacher, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimnov. His title was not one of shame, but of honor and deep humility.

The wealthy man mocked the message and laughed at the request. Even after a second message was sent, he still refused. When Rabbi Hirsch heard about this, he said, “If he will not sign, we will no longer need his signature.” The man still ignored this warning.

Later, Rabbi Hirsch approached Rabbi Menachem Mendel and said he wished to immerse in the mikveh (ritual bath). The two of them walked to the river, but when they got there, they saw that the water was completely frozen due to the severe cold.

Rabbi Hirsch then began to share a story from the past. “When I was serving my teacher, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Rimnov, a similar thing happened, the river was frozen. My teacher asked me, ‘Hirsch, what is the name of the angel of fire?’ As soon as he asked, a hole appeared in the ice and boiling water came up, steaming so much that we couldn’t even touch it.

“Then he said, ‘Hirsch, what is the name of the angel who brings coolness?’ And immediately, the water became warm, just right for immersion.”

As Rabbi Hirsch finished this story, a miracle occurred before the eyes of the people standing there. First the water began to boil, then it cooled and became comfortably warm. Both Rabbi Hirsch and Rabbi Menachem Mendel immersed in the river’s water.

When they returned to town, they were told of a tragic event. The same wealthy man who refused to sign had gone to draw water from a well. He leaned too far in, fell in, and drowned. May Hashem protect us.

The very next day, the entire community, led by Rabbi Hirsch, gathered to formally appoint Rabbi Menachem Mendel as the town’s rabbi. All the leaders were present. The crowd joyfully and respectfully declared together, “Long live our master, our teacher, and our rabbi.”

It was a moment not only of leadership being passed down, but of a town learning to trust, to believe, and to honor those who serve with humility and holiness.