Thursday, August 9, 2007

Beard,Beard, Where Was Your Jew?

Reb Elimelech Tress, better know as Mike Tress, was a successful businessman, who gave it all up to help rescue Jews during WW II. For the rest of his life, he devoted himself to helping his fellow Jews. He was greatly respected by all the Torah leaders of his time, including the Satmar Rebbe. A chosid of the Satmar Rebbe once had the nerve to ask him why he admires a man who doesn't have a beard, since Mike Tress was clean shaven.

 

The Satmar Rav answered him: "When Mike Tress goes before the heavenly court, they will ask him, 'Jew, Jew, where was your beard?' But, when you come before the Heavenly throne, they will ask you, 'Beard,Beard, where was your Jew?' "

2 comments:

John Giscala said...

R' Moshe Wolfson tells the same story in one of his tapes. However, it was a different chosid of the Slonimer Rebbe in Yerushalayim and it involved a dinner party with borrowed keilim which were not getoveled. What is your source for your version?

A Talmid said...

roza d'rosen- What was the actual story?
I heard mine from a Satmar friend, and have heard it many times since.