[Side comment:] R. Katz related that he heard from a Jew whose father was present at the event himself.
When the Malakh was accepted [as preacher] in Fastov, he was paid ten gulden a week and he lived in great poverty. He sat all day in seclusion and prayed and studied. During the day he covered his face with his tallit and when he was not wearing the tallit his face was covered with a curtain. He did not perform the functions of a preacher – he never spoke a word with anybody. He just sat in his room. Once a day they brought him in a dove for his meal and that was enough for him.
However, the townspeople and the householders became angry – why is it that we have no benefit from the town’s preacher? So the gabbai (sexton) once dared to go to the Malakh’s room and told him about the townspeople’s complaint. “So what do they want?” the Malakh asked. The sexton replied that as next week there will be a circumcision, the Angel should show up. He promised to do so.
When HaMalakh arrived on the day of the circumcision a terror fell upon the townspeople so that most people fainted and there was barely a quorum left for the circumcision. the Malakh named the child Leib. It is said that this Leib was unusually strong and mighty like ten lions.
I.F.
Yirmiyahu Katz
