By Dovid Zaklikowski for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
In the summer of 1899, the Rebbe Rashab – Rabbi Sholom Dovber, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, was staying in a resort town, as recommended by his doctors, to improve his health. There, the Rebbe lived in the home of a simple but pious man, who scrupulously cared for his every need.
It happened around this time that the Chassidic teacher in Beshnokovitch, whose name was also Dovber, was suddenly seized with the desire to hear a Chassidic discourse (maamar) from his Rebbe. He traveled to Lubavitch, only to discover that the Rebbe was not there. His desire was strong, however, and he continued on to the vacation town. But when he arrived, he learned that the Rebbe was not speaking publicly.
Bitterly disappointed, Dovber prepared to return home. As it was too late to depart the same day, he stayed over in the same house with the Rebbe. The master of the house sensed that his new guest was unhappy, though Dovber at first refused to say why. After much nudging, however, he finally revealed the cause. “I worked so hard to come, and still, I cannot hear the Rebbe.”
The simple man, who felt close to the Rebbe, immediately went to him and described the teacher’s feelings. “When I see someone in pain whom I could assist, I make every effort to do it,” he told the Rebbe.
Not long after, the Rebbe emerged from his chamber and delivered a discourse to a surprised and delighted audience of two.
Later, Dovber said that the experience had brought him great joy. The simple man, envying the scholar his intellectual delight, turned to the Rebbe and asked if he would experience his share of this pleasure in the World to Come.
Perhaps, the Rebbe told him, “but you should know that every time someone recites Tehillim (Psalms), a new commentary is written in Heaven.”
From then on, the simple man made a point of reciting Tehillim with deep concentration.
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Rab Mendel Chein הי”ד (son of Radatz Chein) told the story to the Frierdiker Rebbe. Then the Frierdiker Rebbe told the story at the Sedder (1st night of pesach) 5690 to Rab Sh. Zalman Hablin.
Was not dobver, was R peretz Chein from Bishenkovitz.
And was R Mendel Chein who saw the posheter id in a bes medresh reading Tehilim with such chayus and emotion so he asked about it and he told him all the story.