The Boyaner Rebbe of Chernovitz (R. Menahem Nahum) once told the following story:
The Ruzhiner used to go take walks in the forest and there to pray the afternoon prayers [minhah]. Each time he would take with him a different son. Once the Shtefeneshter went with him. When they came to Mahala near Boyan the Ruzhiner saw a gentile carrying a large fish. The Ruzhiner said to his servant Leib – “Go down and buy that fish.”
But R. Leib said that he had no money. The Ruzhiner replied – “If so, then go to the leaseholder [arender] and borrow money – but buy the fish.”
When the fish was bought the Ruzhiner took it in his hands and looked at it for a long time – then he placed the fish under his feet and returned home. The Shtefeneshter used to relate that when the Ruzhiner Pressed the fish with his foot he heard the fish crying: “Oh, woe is me! Oh, woe is me!”
When they arrived back home in Sadagura the Ruzhiner told them to cook the fish for Friday night. When they brought the fish to the table, the Ruzhiner handed out leftovers [sherayim] to all his children and said the following: “You know who this fish is? In it is reincarnated a great saint – so we must rectify him. I would even tell who this saint is but his grandchildren, who came for the Sabbath, are sitting here so I do not wish for them to become embarrassed.
I.F.
Shalom Nahman of Mezritsh heard from the Boyner Rebbe written to Moses Narshen a Boyner Hasid
