He Just Sat There Looking at the Sky

Reb Moshe Yitzchak of Yasi, a chossid of the Alter Rebbe and Mitteler Rebbe, was returning from the mikvah one erev Shabbos, when he suddenly looked up to the sky and became very excited. The incident remained a mystery for years until the Tzemach Tzedek explained it.

Reb Moshe Yitzchak (in some sources: Yitzchak Moshe) of Yasi was of the younger chassidim of the Alter Rebbe and later a chossid of the Mitteler Rebbe.  He was very mekushar to the Mitteler Rebbe, and the Mitteler Rebbe said that Reb Moshe Yitzchak was one of the three chassidim in whom he fulfilled Hashem’s true intention (“ehr hot oisgefirt di kavana Elyona”).

After the histalkus of the Mitteler Rebbe, Reb Moshe Yitzchak became a chossid of the Tzemach Tzedek and the Tzemach Tzedek would recite ma’amorim for him in yechidus.

*

The Tzemach Tzedek once asked the son of Reb Moshe Yitzchak if he remembered anything about his father.  The son shared a story of which he did not know the meaning.

“One Friday afternoon, when my father was returning from the mikvah, he was walking on the street when he suddenly looked up to the sky and became very excited.  He asked to sit and a chair was brought from a nearby store. Bystanders thought that the hot bath had hurt him and they asked if he wanted a doctor.  ‘No need,’ Reb Moshe replied, ‘Just leave me alone’.  

“He sat for about half an hour, leaning on his hands with his eyes closed.  He then looked once more at the sky, got up, and carried on his way.  To this day, we do not know what it was all about.”

The Tzemach Tzedek inquired about the date of the event, and the Rebbe started to laugh at the answer.  The Tzemach Tzedek explained, “At that time was the Z’lobiner chassunah (the famous chassunah of the grandchildren of the Alter Rebbe and Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev).  While under the chuppah, the Alter Rebbe said the ma’amar “Ki Al Kol Kovod Chuppah.” All the malochim gathered in shomayim to hear the ma’amar.  Your father merited to hear the ma’amar as well…”

*

At the time of the arrest of the Alter Rebbe, all the chassidim were busy trying various ways to save the Rebbe.  Among other things, the chossid Reb Moshe Yitzchak bought potatoes and began making mashke from them.  He explained, “It is beyond any doubt that the Rebbe will soon go out of jail and there will be a great and wondrous geulah. There will be a great need for mashke, so I am starting on it already…”

For sources, visit TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com