Sent to learn in Lubavitch at a young age, R. Leib Sheinin was completely removed from the material world, absolutely devoted to learning and davening. When the baaleibatim in Bobroisk considered R. Leib “crazy” but not R. Avrohom Pariz, R. Avrohom concluded that he wasn’t devoted enough.
R. Aryeh Leib Sheinin was born in 5649 in Bobroisk and was sent to learn in Lubavitch at a young age. He was known in Lubavitch for being completely removed from the material world, absolutely devoted to learning and davening, to the extent that the Rebbe Rashab is said to have referred to him as a beinoni, as defined in Tanya.
After his marriage, R. Leib served as a mashpia in Zhebin and then as the rov of the town of Dokshitz. He was killed by the Nazis on Lag Baomer 5702.
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R. Avrohom Pariz related:
“I was walking down the streets of my hometown Bobroisk on a break from yeshiva in Lubavitch, when I was called into a shul to complete a minyan for Mincha. When I entered the shul, I saw my good friend Leibeh Sheinin wearing tefillin and davening baarichus. When I asked why they didn’t count him for the minyan, they replied that he’d been sitting there since the morning, oblivious to his surroundings. Clearly he had lost his mind, and is unsuitable to be counted for a minyan…
“That’s when I realized the distance between myself and Leibeh Sheinin: they still considered me ‘normal.’ That stirred me to become more dedicated to davening.”
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Though the Frierdiker Rebbe sent R. Leib to serve as the rov of Dokshitz, many townspeople were unhappy with a true chassidishe rov who didn’t follow baalibatishe protocol. They complained to the regional governor and described him as a “batlan” who is unfit for the position. The governor asked to meet R. Leib, but when he saw his striking appearance, he confirmed that he should be the rov.
During the machlokes in town, R. Leib gave a Shabbos Hagodol derashah in which he spoke about the opening Mishna in Pesachim, “Any place where one does not bring chometz, he does not need to check.” R. Leib explained it in chassidishe style: chometz refers to negative traits and pride. Since you did not deposit by your friend, you shouldn’t be checking there for negative traits. Instead, check inside yourself…
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