Amidah-Slonim-Avot-Owns All

The 28th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Mordechai Kastelanitz of Lecovitz, the father of the Slonim Chassidic dynasty: The Polish nobleman, Radziwil, who owned the little town of Nishwitz, chanced to be out of funds while in Warsaw. He entered a Jewish banking house and asked for a loan. The clerk refused on the plea of not knowing him. The nobleman asked, “Did you ever hear of a town named Nishwitz?”

“Yes,” answered the clerk.

“Do you know to whom it belongs?”

“Surely I do. To the Rebbe of Lecovitz,” said the clerk.

The noblemen left in disgust. (Lustiger Hauz Freind, page 122)

The Kotzker Rebbe commented on the verse, “No meal-offering, which you shall bring to God, shall be made with Leaven; for you shall make no leaven, nor any honey, smoke as an offering made by fire to God (Leviticus 2:11).” In your devotion to God be neither tasteless like leaven, or, too sweet mannered like honey. (Siach Sarfei Kodesh, II, 23)

“Konei haKol,” He, God, owns all.