One of the most famous and greatest Chabad chassidim, Reb Aizik Homiler was a chossid of the first three Chabad Rebbeim. At his final encounter with the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe placed his head on Reb Aizik’s shoulder and stood in this position for half an hour, until he sent him off.
Reb Yitzchak Aizik of Homil, known as Reb Aizil or Aizik Homiler, was one of the most famous and greatest Chabad chassidim ever to live.
As a young man, he came to the Alter Rebbe, and after the Alter Rebbe’s histalkus, he became a dedicated chossid of the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzeddek. He was an exceptional gaon in nigleh and maskil in Chassidus, and wrote seforim in Chassidus.
Reb Aizil served as the Rov in Homil for 58 years, and passed away on the 26th of Iyar, 5617 (1857).
*
Even as a young man, the Mitteler Rebbe was held highly by Reb Aizil. Once, after a farbrengen, Reb Aizil said to the Alter Rebbe, “Hashem I know from you, Chassidus I know from your maamorim, but an enjoyment in Chassidus I have from your Reb Ber (the Mitteler Rebbe).” The Alter Rebbe’s face shined.
*
Once, the Mitteler Rebbe asked Reb Aizil why he isn’t active in influencing the other chassidim. Reb Aizil replied that he barely has a moment for his own avoda, how then could he find time to influence others. The Mitteler Rebbe replied: “Aizik, Aizik, why don’t you learn from me? When I see that I am hopeless, I make sure at least to help others.”
*
Reb Aizil often visited the Tzemach Tzedek in Lubavitch and the Rebbe’s sons would come out of the town to greet him. The Tzemach Tzedek showed Reb Aizil deference, allowing him to enter his room whenever he desired.
Once, in the middle of a cold winter, Reb Aizil arrived in Lubavitch, and at his request, the Tzemach Tzedek recited a maamar on the topic of brachos. After maariv and a meal, Reb Aizil sat down to learn. The Tzemach Tzedek said to his sons, “Look at grandfather’s soldier. Even after a long icy trip, an old man makes sure to keep up his set shiurim.”
*
One day, during his early years in Homil, Reb Aizil farbrenged with the local baalei batim and told them: “The true ‘mizrach’ is at the back of the shul, where the melamdim sit. You should listen and learn from the words of the melamdim just as you listen and learn from the Rebbe’s words.”
From that day on, the baalei batim began to appreciate the chassidishe melamdim, and the town of Homil became bright.
When the Frierdiker Rebbe related the above, he added: “In the past, people would study not only the words of a Rebbe but the words of a chossid. The young people would listen to the old folk, the baalei batim would listen to the melamdim – and things were brighter.”
*
In one letter Reb Aizik describes his intense yearning to recognize the oneness of Hashem and his journey to reach it:
“I exerted myself tremendously to comprehend this emunah, until finally, with the help of the [Alter] Rebbe’s son, [the Mitteler Rebbe], my understanding began to increase. However, I was unable to maintain this perception, and I would write many tzetlach to the [Alter] Rebbe begging him to explain the matter to me in a clear and lucid manner. The Rebbe, however, kept on pushing me off, causing me tremendous pain.
“Finally on one occasion, the Rebbe acquiesced and said he would recite Chassidus for me privately, and a crowd of about ten people gathered in the room. Hearing the words of the Rebbe, I stood trembling, oblivious of whether it was night or day. As soon as the Rebbe finished speaking, a bright shining powerful emunah shot into my heart like an arrow, and I had a strong desire to run in the streets and shout out this great revelation, but for whatever reason, I decided against it.
“By Hashem’s name, I tell you that I am not exaggerating even one bit…”
*
Reb Aizil once came to Chernigov, and the local chasidim prepared a festive meal in his honor. During the meal, Reb Aizil repeated a maamar of Chassidus and as soon as he was done, the students of Chassidus (the maskilim) left to review his teachings. The baalei batim on the other hand continued with the meal.
One of the balei batim then turned to Reb Aizil and said, “We all heard your teachings of Chassidus, understood them and will review them when we get home. Why do these maskilim rush out to review the maamar right away?”
Suddenly, the bell of the post office next door rang. The manager of the post office quickly got up and ran out to see what was the matter. Reb Aizil turned to the questioner and said, “You see, we all heard the bell, but only the post office manager cared about it because it’s his livelihood. So too with these Chassidim, since Chassidus is their life, they care about it and hurry to review it immediately.”
*
Reb Aizil once overheard two of his students beginning a new mesechta. Reb Aizil called them over and rebuked them for not having made a siyum over the last mesechta that they finished. “It shows that you don’t hold the Torah dear,” he said.
*
After learning several pages of Gemara, he would immediately review them, and he explained, “For someone who anyways learns all the time, what should his Iskafya be? To review what he has learned.”
*
Each year before Chanukah, the esteemed gaon and chossid Reb Aizik Homlier, would personally clean and shine the Menorah. Such was his love and endearment for this mitzvah.
*
At a Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen Reb Aizil once posed the following question: “Who was granted a salvation on Yud-Tes Kislev? The Alter Rebbe? – For him it made no difference where he was. Even in the rigors of Tainy Soviet he lacked nothing. Did someone say that he didn’t have Shabbos clothes to change into? – Even that he was not lacking, because he had a handkerchief, and every Friday afternoon he would tear off two tiny strips with which to keep his socks up, so you see that each week he had new garters in honor of Shabbos.
“Who then was granted a salvation on Yud-Tes Kislev? – it was the Almighty who was granted a salvation – laHashem hayeshua, because through the Alter Rebbe’s release the light of G-dliness has been revealed and disseminated far and wide in this world! Let us then dance together…” And at that, the chassidim went off in a lively dance.
*
A yid once came to Reb Aizil and asked him to teach him Chassidus since he had heard that Chassidus is a segula to counter machshavos zaros (unwelcome thoughts).
Reb Aizil replied with a mashal:
“The king’s treasure houses contain a collection of all sorts of vessels made of pure gold, even a manure shovel. Now, if someone tried to take that gold shovel to clear away manure, he will be the subject of immense ridicule.
“The same is true of Chassidus. To use it against machshavos zaros is like to use the king’s golden shovel for manure. It works, but is that what it is for? Chassidus is far beyond that!”
*
In his later years, Reb Aizil would not easily agree to recite Chassidus. Listeners would have to beg him repeatedly before he would submit. He would excuse himself saying that it was now more difficult for him to share what was on his mind.
In the final year of his life, Reb Aizil refused outright and said, “I am unable to articulate that which I am thinking, and just to speak concepts [in which I am not engrossed] I am incapable.”
*
A chossid once approached Reb Aizil and asked him to recite for him Chassidus, saying that it was a matter of life and death for him.
Reb Aizil replied, “Reciting Chassidus ‘costs’ me fifty ruble. Now, if I came and asked you for fifty ruble, would you just give it to me?” The man was quiet and the conversation continued on to other matters.
At the end of their conversation Reb Aizil said to the man, “Look at how you lied to me. If Chassidus truly mattered to you, would you have let me get away?”
*
When the Mitteler Rebbe passed away, the Tzemach Tzedek refused at first to assume the position of Rebbe. The leading chassidim turned to Reb Aizil, an eminent elder chossid, to accept the mantle of leadership. Reb Aizil acquiesced. He donned his special white garments and went outside to ascend the wagon which would take him to the gathering of chassidim.
As he climbed the wagon, he suddenly recalled the Alter Rebbe’s words, when once handing him a piece of shirayim, “Aizele, Aizele, eat the kugel, but don’t desire to become a Rebbe.” Reb Aizil understood this as an order, and he retracted.
He later recounted that at the moment he placed his foot on the step of the wagon, he felt an incredible expansion of his mind and heart.
*
At the end of what would turn out to be Reb Aizil’s final visit to the Tzemach Tzedek, in the early hours of the morning, the Rebbe walked Reb Aizil out to his carriage.
At first they showered each other the standard wishes of nachas from children and the like, but then the Rebbe placed his head on Reb Aizil’s shoulder and Reb Aizil placed his head on the Rebbe’s shoulder. They stood in this position for half an hour (!).
Finally, they lifted their head and Reb Aizil spoke, “Be well! It seems that we won’t see each other again until Moshiach comes.” The Tzemach Tzedek walked behind the carriage and raised his hands as he exclaimed, “Go in peace! Go in peace!”
Indeed, Reb Aizil did not live to see the Tzemach Tzedek again.
For sources, visit TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com
I thought the story about becoming a Rebbe was about Hillel Paritcher?
Reb Hillel was called half a Rebbe.