Weekly Chasidic Story 776 (s5773-05 / 24 Tishrei 5773) The Substitute Prayer Belt In memory of this miracle, Rabbi Eliyahu Hakohen of Izmir entitled the next book he wrote, Eizer Eliyahu ["The Helper of Eliyahu"]. Connection: Weekly Readings (2)--serpents this week and a specific verse next week.
The Substitute Prayer Belt
After he had completed his prayers, Rabbi Eliyahu began to untie the rope, when it suddenly uncoiled itself and slithered away! It turned out that the "rope" he had worn was actually a poisonous snake! In memory of this miracle, R' Eliyahu entitled the next book he wrote, Eizer Eliyahu ["The Helper of Eliyahu"]. When the chasidic rebbe, R. Moshe of Kobrin, would recount this story, he would always add the following postscript: "It is really not so wondrous that the snake neither bit not choked Rabbi Eliyahu. No living creature can harm a person who has not damaged his tzelem Elokim -- his Divine image. For it is written, 'The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth' [Gen 9:2]. And the fact that the snake did not try to flee while R' Eliyahu prayed is also not astonishing; the snake was afraid of the tzadik, so he stayed absolutely still. "The truly striking point about this story is Rabbi Eliyahu's greatness. In his tremendous devotion to G-d even before he began praying, he never noticed that the 'rope' he was picking up was actually a living snake." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Connection: Weekly Readings (2): serpents this week and a specific verse next week. Biographical notes: Rabbi Moshe Pallier of Kobrin [1784 - 29 Nisan 1858]
was a close follower of the Rebbe, R. Mordechai of Lechovitch and afterwards
of his son, R. Noach. In 1833 he became the first Rebbe of the Kobrin dynasty,
with thousands of chassidim, many of whom subsequently moved to Israel. His
teachings are collected in Imros Taharos.
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