R. Jacob Joseph, the first Ostroh Rebbe was the son-in-law of R. Hayim Ber of Satinow – a wealthy man and a follower of R. Baruch of Medzibuz.
About how he became R. Hayim Ber’s son-in-law they relate the following story.
Once R. Hayim Ber traveled to a fair with a lot of merchandise but business went very badly and he lost a lot of money. He said: “Master of the World! You grab (my money) I also want to grab (good deeds [mitzvot]).
It happened that a nobleman went bankrupt and they sold off his fortune. They also sold off an expensive silver chandelier for seventy-two candles. R. Hayim Ber bought the chandelier as a gift for R. Baruch of Medzibuz.
When R. Hayim Ber came to Medzibuz, R. Baruch was in the mikveh. So R. Hayim Ber entered his house שמג discarded the old chandelier and hung up the new silver one and he bought the finest candles and lit them.
When R. Baruch returned home from the mikveh and saw the new chandelier he said: “This was certainly something perpetrated by R. Hayim Ber.” He called him and said: “Since you brightened my eyes may God also brighten your days with a son-in-law who will brighten the world.
I.F.
Kinever Rebbe
