I dont understand how its possible for a person to be such an anav that he calls himself "an empty hole, not a man" and then describes how in a dream they sent him a message to write a sefer....

Unbelievable!

Interesting story about anivus that I just heard at Melave Malka [google shows this story [url=http://www.torah.org/learning/parsha-insights/5759/matos.html?print=1#]here[/url] I'm copying and pasting it]:

On his way to becoming Rav of Frankfurt, Reb Avraham Abish [known as "Reb Abish'l Frankfurter"- obviously at the time of our story he wasn't yet known by that name, but for lack of another name, this is what I'll call him] stopped at an inn (or Kretchmer) where he was given a room to share with a merchant.

A robber furtively entered their room that night and stole valuable spoons from the merchant. Early the next morning, Rav Abish arose, prayed and resumed his journey. When the merchant awoke, he saw that his roommate had left and realized that his valuable spoons were also missing. Unaware of the towering stature of his roommate, he assumed that the quiet, simple-looking man had stolen them. He dashed to the station where the wagon drivers would await customers and hired the fastest driver. Having been offered double fare if he'd catch up to the 'thief', the driver whipped his horses and pursued the unsuspecting Rav Abish.

Finally overtaking the bewildered Rav Abish, the merchant began to shout at him to return his spoons. "I don't know what you're talking about!" cried Rav Abish. "I never saw any spoons and I certainly didn't take them!"

The merchant grabbed Rav Abish and pulled him off his wagon, demanding that he reveal where he had hidden the spoons. When Rav Abish didn't reply, he tied the poor, innocent man to a tree and began to whip him mercilessly. When the merchant saw that his torment wasn't loosening his tongue, he stalked off to the inn, leaving poor Rav Abish behind, still tied to the tree.

Rav Abish finally managed to untie the bounds and, bruised, battered and humiliated, he made his way to Frankfurt. There he was greeted by a large crowd who had come to honor their new Rav. He disguised his pain and returned their smiles and greetings.

The next day, Rav Abish delivered a brilliant two hour shiur {lecture} which awed the townspeople. Afterwards, people crowded around their new Rav to discuss various points with him.

Among them was none other than the merchant from the inn who kept wondering why the voice had sounded so familiar to him. Suddenly he realized that the 'thief' he had tied to a tree and beaten was none other than the new Rav of Frankfurt. Horrified, he shrank into his seat, wondering if the Rav would ever forgive him.

He finally gathered the courage and approached the Rav with his head bent in shame and remorse.

Rav Abish immediately recognized the man standing before him. Though he was still standing in front of hundreds who were admiring his brilliance, the Rav gave no thought to his own dignity. He ran to the merchant and cried over and over, "Please believe me, I never took your spoons. Please, please believe me..."

[In my version of the story, Reb Abish'l didn't run over to him, rather the merchant came to beg forgiveness and Reb Abish'l "shrank into his seat" crying out, please don't hit me, I promise I didn't take your valuables...]

Point is. Here is one of the biggest Rabbanim in the world, surrounded by hundreds of admirers. Still he doesn't realize that this rules him out as a suspect of thievery...

Machshovo wrote on 03 May 2012 18:02:


Hmmmmm probably DIDN'T get the characters right. There seems to have been a major feud between those two particular tzadikkim, although it is very rarely discussed. Anyone with more info on the subject, is invited to share it with me.

TehillimZugger wrote on 06 Aug 2012 11:55:

Just found an earlier mekor

Which reminds we of the old Ropkichsazer joke

ZemirosShabbos wrote on 09 Aug 2012 14:23:


You wrote one already once

ZemirosShabbos wrote on 06 Mar 2012 19:37:

טובה הארץ מאד מאד

TehillimZugger wrote on 14 Aug 2012 18:53:


(failing to gain entry to your hallowed bachurim thread i will reply here)

i identify with the reasoning you mention.

even us middle-aged balding pot-bellied married folks driving 15-passenger vans are susceptible to saying things like "the only reason i am looking for you-know-what is because [the artichoke casserole was missing Italian tomato sauce, you'll see once the casserole turns out right] i will be perfection incarnate"

wishing you the best

p.s. pass the artichoke muffins please

I heard a 70 year old say that he is entirely convinced that ALL his problems are his wife's fault. She is the cause of his difficulties. The only thing that he still has yet to figure out is who's fault these same issues were during the ten years BEFORE he got married....??

He got married when he was 10 years old???? ??? :o ;D ;D ;D

He was married 60 years??

eat another falafel, and pass me an artichoke muffin while you're at it

After the falafel, I now have the pshat.

Between the ages of 39 to 59 he was married and divorced 3 times.
When he was 59 he adopted a dog.
At 69, his dog died, and he decided to get married again.
Now everything makes sense.

Gevura wrote on 16 Aug 2012 15:35:

seriously, I thought you were good at math?
he got married when he was 27, his problems started when he was 17, now what?

[where's my artichoke muffin?]

I do not appreciate having you guys make choizek of my friend...

> > >

Shteebz, is that even more shocking? :o :o ;D