Today, the 12th of Adar, marks 53 years since the histalkus (passing away) of the fiery tzaddik Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz zt"l (of blessed memory), one of the greatest Ovdim (servants of Hashem) in Breslov in the previous generation.

Rabbi Shmuel was born in the year 5665 (1905). He drew close to Rebbe Nachman zt"l (of blessed memory) before his wedding, and because of this, he suffered from immense opposition and persecution. In the year 5692 (1932), he traveled to Uman on a journey filled with hardships. This was already after the Communist Revolution, and the trip involved actual mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice). After staying in Uman for several months, Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz was arrested by the Communists, who suspected him of espionage and nearly executed him. Through the kindness of Hashem, he was saved from them through the intervention of Rabbis and the British Ambassador in Moscow. He was released from prison on the 10th of Iyar and deported to the Land of Israel. He worked extensively in printing and distributing the books of Rebbe Nachman and in copying the talks of Rabbi Avraham ben Rabbi Nachman and from the treasures of Anash (the Breslov community) in general. He founded the "Beis Medrash for Torah and Prayer of the Breslov Chassidim." Overall, he radiated the light of our holy Rebbe with tireless efforts and immense mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice), serving Hashem with self-sacrifice all his days.

Rabbi Aaron Berlin, the Rabbi of the Breslov Beis Medrash in Flatbush, USA, and one of the first students of Morinu HaRav Rabbi Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), related in an interview to the information line: "When I was a young man, I would travel almost every Erev Rosh Chodesh (eve of the new month) to Meron together with Rabbi Berland. On one of the trips to Meron, I saw Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz zt"l (of blessed memory) sitting and observing Rabbi Berland for a long time while he was praying the Shemoneh Esrei (the standing prayer). I clearly noticed that he was concentrating on hearing and seeing him. I waited for a good opportunity, approached him, and asked him to tell me what he thought of Rabbi Berland. After I nudged him, he said to me: 'Know that of all the people I have seen in my life, I have not yet seen one whose prayer is with such fire and with such a mind (intellectual depth); I have never seen such a thing!' So I said to him, 'What do you mean? You have seen all the giants of Breslov (from the previous generation), and you haven't seen anything like this?!' Rabbi Shmuel answered me: 'All the great Ovdim (servants of Hashem) I saw in Poland and Uman—ultimately, they were righteous men, but within the category of human beings. But here, we are talking about an angel of G-d; you are not talking about a human being. There is no comparison at all; it is completely different.' And he added to me: 'I have also never seen such a mind.'" Anyone who knew Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz knows that he was very careful with his speech, and if he said such a thing, then it truly was so, without exaggeration.

To hear the full interview, call the information line at *9148 and press 1/2/1/04 upon entering the system.