Legacy of the "Noda B'Yehuda": A Tale of Justice and Consequence

The Legacy of the "Noda B'Yehuda"

My friend, Rabbi Zvi Yechezkel Michelzon, the Av Beit Din of Plonsk, shared this with me. He mentioned Rabbi Moshe Zvi, the authority here, who knew a pious and wealthy man from Chechmovo who spoke ill against our revered teacher, the great and holy Rabbi, author of the Noda B'Yehuda, Av Beit Din of Prague. This was regarding his writing on the 'L'shem Yichud' in his book, and related matters (see Noda B'Yehuda, First Edition, Yoreh De'ah, Chapter 96).

The matter reached Rabbi Avraham, who was then the rabbi in Chechmovo, and he decreed to excommunicate the slanderer until he traveled to Prague and asked for forgiveness with a quorum of ten people at the grave of that righteous individual. Thus it was done, as the entire town of Chechmovo distanced themselves and stayed out of his four cubits. He had to wander from his city for about a year until he returned from Prague, when the excommunication was lifted. However, the once wealthy man became impoverished and reliant on others until he passed away soon after, may we be spared.

Authored by Rabbi Yekutiel Aryeh Kamehler. From "His Servants a Blazing Fire" (Hebrew version, 2000) Volume 1, Page 11.