R av Saadiah Gaon it is said would do teshuvah each day: As his awareness of the Creator continuously grew and developed so too did his regret at the way he’d served his King up until that point.
Sometimes I look back at a time when all I knew about Reb Shayele of Kerestir was that his picture was said to be a segulah to ward off mice: If you saw his face on the wall of a falafel store or shawarma joint you’d know not to go there with your wife. That was it.
And when I contemplate how ignorant I was I feel shame.
This Shabbos thousands of people will be descending on the tiny village of Bodrogkeresztur in Hungary’s scenic Tokay region. Kerestir itself will be transformed its schoolhouse municipal building and private homes rented out by fortunate locals simple folk who’ve discovered that the presence of the czudde-rebbe the wonder-rabbi buried on the hill overlooking the town is as valuable to them as an oil deposit or diamond mine. Reb Shayele promised that just as people were helped while he was alive so would they continue to find salvation at his home. The house purchased and restored hums with activity throughout the year but on this Shabbos of the yahrtzeit — 3 Iyar — the magic of that bygone time returns.
