The great Reb Dovid of Lelov was a talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin. One year, he came to his Rebbe for Rosh Hashana. Before tekias shofar, everyone was waiting, but the Chozeh was not coming out of his room.
Reb Dovid, who was a very close talmid, went into the Rebbe’s room to see what was going on. The Chozeh told him that unfortunately, there was a heavy decree in Shamayim against Klal Yisroel, and he was working to have it annulled.
At the time, Reb Dovid was raising an orphan in his home named Yitzchak, who would later become known as Reb Yitzchak of Vorka. He had come together with Reb Dovid to Lublin for Rosh Hashana, and now he too entered the Rebbe’s room.
The Chozeh looked at the boy and asked Reb Dovid who he was. Reb Dovid explained, and the Rebbe then turned to the child and asked him what he was learning.
“Hilchos eidus (the halachos of witnesses),” the boy answered. “Do you have any chiddush to say over?” the Rebbe asked.
“Yes,” Yitzchak replied. “The halacha says that a relative cannot serve as a witness. I understand why a relative cannot testify in favor of his relative, since we are afraid that he might lie in order to help him. But why can’t he testify against his relative?”
“Do you have an answer?” asked the Rebbe. “Yes,” said Yitzchak. “The passuk says when speaking about witnesses, וְעָמְדוּ שְׁנֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים – ‘The two men shall stand.’ A relative who testifies against his own relative is not a person!”
The Chozeh smiled and said, “Let’s go to tekias shofar. The decree has been annulled! Hashem is our dear Father. What kind of relative sees the bad things that his relative has done?!”
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 98 – Rosh Hashana.
