R’ Pini Azriel’s, a grandson of R’ Isaiah Dinovitzer, used to travel to R’ Rafael Bershever and the Savraner Rav.
Once he came to R’ Rafael Bershever – who was very poor – to spend there the Shabbat. When the challah was given out, R’ Pini felt it was less than satisfactory.
He asked: “How did it happen that the challah is so bad?”
R’ Rafael replied: “They say that the challah’s quality is correlated to the guest’s”.
R’ Pini then replied: “Nu – I was last week by the Savraner Rav’s – there was the challah excellent –and I was a guest there too?”
R’ Rafael answered him: “One can only wonder at what a Jew can make of himself in 8 days”.
In the morning, the Kugel was served – which was extraordinarily superb. R’ Pini asked – they say that the Kugel’s quality is correlated to the guest’s – I do not understand. I’m the only guest.”
R’ Rafael called out – nu – “one can only wonder what repentance can help [accomplish]”
Y.F.
Pinchas Landau
