Reb Yehuda Assad zt"l

Reb Yehuda Assad zt”l 

160th yahrtzeit – 23 Sivan 

Buried – Dunajská Streda, Slovakia

Story:

Reb Yehuda Assad was one of the most famous Hungarian rabbanim. He led a well-known yeshiva in his hometown and was famous for fearlessly fighting against the maskilim of his time.

There was once a Yid in Reb Yehuda Assad’s town who owned a bar. Goyim would come there to drink whisky, and this was how he earned his living.

One day, a goy became very drunk. The Yid tried to help him leave the bar, but while he was pulling him outside, the goy suddenly collapsed in his arms and appeared to die. The Yid became terrified. He thought that people would accuse him of killing the man, and he would be punished.

The frightened Yid quickly ran to Reb Yehuda Assad and told him what had happened. As soon as the Rav heard the story, he put on his coat and went together with the Yid to the bar. Reb Yehuda walked over to the goy and tapped him lightly. Suddenly, the goy stood up and slowly stumbled out of the bar toward his house.

The moment the goy stepped onto the doorway of his home, he collapsed and died. Such was the great koach haTorah of Reb Yehuda Assad! 

Fun Facts:

Once, Reb Yehuda Assad was part of a delegation of important rabbanim going to meet the Austrian emperor Franz Yosef. As they entered the palace, Reb Yehuda suddenly saw what looked like a holy tzadik standing nearby. He quickly told the other rabbanim, “Let’s ask this tzadik to join our delegation!” The rabbanim started laughing and showed him that he was looking into a mirror! The “tzadik” he saw was actually himself.

The famous picture of Reb Yehuda Assad (see above) was taken after he passed away! He did not let himself be photographed, but some of his students really wanted his picture, and also wanted to sell a picture to raise money to marry off his orphaned children. They dressed him in fine clothing and placed a Gemara in his hand, and took a picture.