The Shabbos March

by Dovid Zaklikowski for Hasidic Archives

After the prayer services on Shabbos morning, Rabbi Shmuel Shlomo Leiner (1909–1942), the Radziner Rebbe, instead of going to the festive meal, called out toward the door: “I need to go somewhere in the city. Whoever wants to join can join.”

His disciples understood the message, and hundreds of men flooded into the streets, trying to keep up with their chassidic leader. Seeing the fascinating sight of a sea of hats rushing down the streets, many others joined the procession.

After some time, they arrived at the business center of Warsaw, known for its stores selling quality products. Most of the shops were owned by Jews who, though not always religious, still closed their businesses in honor of the holy day in the early 1930s.

Among the many shuttered stores, however, stood one open: a barbershop. Inside were only the owner and a single customer. By the time Rabbi Shmuel Shlomo stood in the doorway, half of the customer’s hair had already been cut. With visible pain in his eyes, he turned to the owner with chassidic warmth and wished him a “Good Shabbos,” then did the same for the customer.

Seeing what their leader had done, the disciples followed suit. To the surprise of the two Jewish men, instead of the scorn they might have expected, they received the warm wishes of hundreds, each blessing them with a “Good Shabbos.”

After standing frozen in shock for a few minutes, the two began to feel shame. The customer, with half his head shaven, was the first to make a beeline for the door. Soon after, the owner followed. It was said that the barbershop never again opened on the day of rest.

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