Thirty years ago, a prominent Jew, Reb Pinchas Blank was seriously ill. He was in such bad shape that doctors despaired of curing him. Under natural circumstances, there was no way he could recover. One night, Reb PInchas saw the Zvhiller Rebbe, Reb Gedalia Moshe came to him in a dream.
“Why don’t you come to my kever(gravesite)? Come to my kever and you will have a Yeshua!”
Reb PInchas woke up with renewed hope. He was too sick to go anywhere. So, he sent a messenger who donated money for the Zvhiller mosdos (institutions) and asked him to go to the kever of Reb Gedalia Moshe and pray on his behalf. To his great disbelief and to the amazement of the doctors, Reb PInchas was healed!
Nobody really knew the power of the Tzaddik’s promise until years later. It is a big segulah (virtuous ) to connect with the Tzaddik. In his lifetime, he never took money from anyone, besides for the Zvhiller modsos. Whoever gave money for the mosdos saw tremendous salvation.
How do we know that it really is worth praying at his kever?
The proof is in the pudding. So many people went and davened and hung up letters at the gravesite of Reb Gedalia Moshe. People from all walks of life flood the place. There are Chassidim, Sefardim, Litvaks, Mizrachi Jews and even irreligious Jews.
Ten years ago, the Kever was well-known only to Zvhiller Chassidim. Reb Pinchas Kornfeld heard about it from them. He revealed the secret and told his friends and relatives about it. Word spread far and wide and the site of the kever of Reb Gedalia Moshe gained popularity. Jews from all over Eretz Yisroel (Israel) came to connect with the Rebbe and beg him to intervene on their behalf. Jews from all walks of life, from every sect flocked to the kever and attained salvation and healing.
When you walk into the Kever, warm feelings envelope you with the countless notes stuck all over the walls, handwritten and typed, in color, in black with small fonts, large fonts, long stories and tiny notes. They are wherever you look, on every available surface.
One such note tells of a Jew from Petach Tikvah, who was wounded heavily in a traumatic car accident. He approached his insurance company to obtain compensation for his disabilities caused by the accident. He received a letter from the insurance company, informing him that he is only eligible for a small sum of money-which upset him greatly. He couldn’t work which felt bad enough but not being able to get adequate money from insurance felt like a slap in the face. He expressed his frustration to a friend, who encouraged him to visit the kever of the Zvhiller Rebbe. He heard about so many people who were helped by going so he promised to give 720 shekel to the zvhiller Mosdos. He sent someone to the kever to pray for him. Right after that, he contacted the doctor who wrote the report and he asked him to record it more accurately with greater detail and then he resubmitted it to his insurance company. It didn’t take long for the insurance company to contact him with a letter telling him that he will receive a much larger sum since it was established that he is seriously disabled!
Last year, thousands flocked to the Tzion (gravesite) of the Zviller tzaddik. Even the mayor and government officials came to pray there, on the day of the yahrzeit (anniversary of death). It was the 24thday of Cheshvan and the yahrzeit fell on Monday. Already Sunday afternoon, buses filled with people gathered at the site. The crowd was large and heavy security filled the area. The buses kept coming continuously and on Monday, the entire day.
One government official warmly acknowledged the site of the Zvhiller Rebbe’s kever as the third most popular place to visit. The Kosel (Western Wall) is the most popular place, the kever of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai takes second place and the third most visited site is the kever of Reb Gedalia Moshe of Zvill. People come all year to pray for salvation.
Women and men, girls and boys, young and old, Chassidish and Litvish with large Yarmulkes and small knitted ones-and even with no head covering at all- flock from all over to the Kever. Most light a candle and pray. Some have certain chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) that they recite. Many sit there and don’t move for hours, crying, begging for the salvation they need.
The Tzaddik doesn’t disappoint.
A couple who suffered for ten years with infertility was told by their doctor to stop wasting money on treatment since the situation was hopeless. Desperate, they travelled to the kever of the Zvhiller Rebbe and begged him to help. Ten months later, this couple joyfully welcomed their newborn son into their home!
Reb Yaakov Leib goldman, a descendant of the Zvhiller Rebbe related the story about a Jew who was confronted with a court case. The lawyer admitted that the chances of winning were slim. Everyone warmly advocated for the Jew who was a really righteous person. The judge would decide how much he would be fined and if he would be sentenced to jail time. The Jew promised money for the zvhiller institutions and then visited the kever of the zvhiller Rebbe on Monday, Thursday and the following Monday-which is the recommended practice when going to the kever. The court case proceeded and the Jew won the case with nary a fine or even probation! The lawyer was baffled and blown away with the ruling. Little did he know that the Zvhiller Rebbe had everything to do with it.
The only shul (synagogue) and school honoring the memory of Reb Gedalia Moshe of Zvill are those founded by Rabbi Yaakov Leib Goldman shlit”a in Monsey, New York. Many, who have donated to his institutions have had the opportunity to experience salvation.
Last year, Rabbi Goldman arranged a Melaveh Malka (meal marking the end of the Sabbath) for his shul in honor of the yahrtzeit. Many participants submitted “kvitlach” to place at the kever of the Rebbe. Each person wrote down what salvation he needed. People asked for all different types of blessing.
Of the participants, two asked to find their intended marriage partner. One was searching for four years, without success and got engaged only four months later. The other shul member also got engaged five months later!
One couple didn’t have children five years after their wedding. They wistfully dreamed of the day that they would cradle their own infant. The doctors said they need a miracle. They went through many medical treatments, with no avail. At the Melavah Malka, he submitted a “kivittel” and two months later, he called to say that there is news-boruch Hashem (Thank G-d)!
A guy, who was talented and smart found himself unemployed for several months and struggled to support his family. He donated money to the shul and they sent someone to pray on his behalf at the gravesite of the tzaddik. It wasn’t long before he was called down for an interview and got an amazing job!
These and many other incidents have increased attendance at the kever. When you support the Zhviller mosdos, you too can get helped!