The Seer [Jacob Isaac] of Lublin [d.1815] sensed that a great soul was growing in Sokol. Since there were several lofty Lubliner Hasidim – among them R. Joseph Elazar one of the finest of the Lubliner Hasidim – he instructed through his followers that R. Shalom finds great favor in his eyes and he would like him to be among his own. The Belzer was distraught. He did not want to part from his master and teacher R. Solomon Lutzker nor did he want to tell him about it since he did not wish to shame him.
The Lubliner, however, did not leave him be and told him several times to come. R. Shalom then became afraid that the Seer would take affront and he finally talked it over with R. Solomon Lutzker. When R. Shalom told his master what was going on R. Solomon began to weep: “He has the whole world after all – what does he want from me? I have one mule and he wishes to take it from me!” But he did not consent, and R. Shalom remained in Sokol.
Once R. Solomon Lutzker called R. Shalom and said to him: “Listen! You are a young man with a wife and small children. One needs to fear the great Seer of Lublin. Go in health.” When R. Shalom arrived in Lublin he found there world-class tsadikim, great and brilliant scholars – but the Seer showed him great honor and on the Sabbath, he gave him the sixth Aliyah [=the sixth person to be called up to the Torah].
I.F.
Sanzer Rebbe
