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Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl Born: Chernobil, Ukraine, 1786 Died: Chernobil, Ukraine, 1871 Rabbi Aharon was one of the eight sons of the famous tzaddik Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl, and the grandson of the tzaddik Rabbi Menachum Nachum of Chernobyl his childhood teacher. After getting married, he wished to continue living in Chernobyl near his father Rabbi Mordechai, but he ordered him to leave town and travel to other cities to lead Jewish communities. Only after being forced to leave, R' Aharon left. Upon the death of R' Mordechai in 1837, R' Aharon returned back to Chernobyl and took over the place of his father. R' Aharon established a large chassidic following in Chernobyl. He was known to have ruach hakodesh (divine inspiration) and power in his eyes to know the life of an individual person, from his time of birth untill the present . The Threat... A renowned businessman by the name of Heilprin was privy to the doings of the nobility. Through his contacts he had heard that a certain aristocrat threatened that if the Jews didn't give him 20,000 rubles by the Passover holiday, he would punish them with terrible edicts. He immediately posted a letter to the holy Rabbi Aharon of Chernobyl requesting that he and his brothers, also notable scholars and rebbes, exert themselves to raise the enormous sum. The response of R' Aharon amazed everyone. When he read Heilprin's letter he said simply, "Why is he bothering me with these fantasies?"
The rebbe's secretary was shocked, "But Rebbe, this is a grave matter for all the Jews!"
R' Aharon, however, paid no attention. Heilprin dispatched a messenger to speak directly to Reb Aharon, but the
messenger received the same response. "Please, Rebbe, give me something in writing that I can present to my
employer, or else he may refuse to believe that I even saw you." The rebbe agreed and told him, "Go back to your employer and tell him to
worry about business and forget about this thing." May the merit of the tzaddik Rabbi Aharon of Chernobil protect us all, Amen. |