The inspiration for this smokey and aromatic herring is one of the most beloved Chassidic Masters; Reb Meshulam Zusha of Annipol (An-e-pole) (1718-1800). The Rebbe Reb “Zisha” as he is sometimes called, is the younger brother of the famous Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk (La-zh-ensk), author of Sefer Noam Elimelech. It is commonly said that that the title to Rav Elimelech’s sefer is an homage to his holy brother, for the word “Noam – Sweet” (heb.) translates into Yiddish as the word “Zis“. Reb Zusha was born in the town of Tarnow, now Poland to Reb Eliezer and was named after his maternal grandfather. He soon became a student of the great luminary and disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, The Maggid of Mezeritch (Meh-ze-rich). In Mezeritch, along with nine other elite students – together known as the “Chevraya Kadisha – The Holy Brotherhood”, Reb Zusha developed his unique humbleness and fiery devotion to God. He had an intense love for every person he met allowing him to share in their joys, and to bear their burdens alongside them. His humbleness and sincerity attracted many who not only saw him as their Rabbi and guide, but also as a friend. Truly fulfilling the words of the sages “Make for yourself a Rabbi, and acquire for yourself a friend” (Avos 1:6)
Together with his brother he would travel around Poland, connecting to the most distant of souls and raising sparks, awakening the Chasidic spirit latent within even the simplest Jews. Many famous stories about the two brothers occurred while they were journeying through the Polish countryside, passing through every little village and bringing its people to serve God. Although Reb Zusha never wrote his own books, after his passing on the 2nd of Shevat 5560 (January 22nd 1800) his son, Rav Tzvi Menachem Mendel published his fathers writings under the title “Menorat Zahav”. He is buried next to Rav Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch in Hannopil, Ukraine. Reb Zusha’s seemingly simplistic demeanor complimented with his unique style is conveyed by this herring’s distinct, discernible flavors; a smokey, herb-y blend, with a flicker of something aromatic and sweet in its aftertaste.
Teachings and stories from Reb Zusha of Annipol:
Since the beggining of creation, the world and all its inhabitants recieve a steady flow of blessing from Above. A person with a clear head undertands this, and does not become worried about any facet of his work and livelihood. He knows with certainty that the uninterrupted channel of blessing will continue to shower down to Earth and is bound to reach his “pockets”. But, if a person is lacking in faith and becomes worried about his money and job then the channels of blessing are blocked off. The only way God will reopen these channels is in response to dilligent Torah study and sincere prayer.
All one really needs though is faith.
“The life of Sarah was 127 years, these were the years of the life of Sarah” (Genesis 23:1)
This repetitive verse is explained by Rashi that it is teaching us all the years of Sarah’s life were equally good. But how could this be so when indeed Sarah lived a life of hardship; spending over 90 years without a child, or the famine that forced her and Avraham to move to Egypt. How can Rashi say that all her years were equally good? Perhaps Sarah, who was a righteous woman, accepted all the pain and suffering she endured with love and understanding. That she not once complained to others about her misfortunes. She lived her life under the principle of “A person is obligated to bless upon the bad just as he blesses upon the good.”(Berachos 9:5) Sarah knew with all her heart that nothing evil comes from God.
Rashi was correct in saying the years of her life were equally good, for she looked at it as though all that happened to her was good.
Reb Zusha of Annipol and his Holy Brother Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk wandered together across the polish countryside in the early 1700’s. They were on a mission to awaken the hearts and souls of others and bring them closer to their creator.
Once, they took lodgings in the home of a local villager on a cold winters night. The man of the house was away and only arrived home late in the evening. When he got in, he lit a candle and began to mend and patch the holes in his coat. “Hurry!” the brothers heard his wife call out, “hurry up and mend it! You only have as long as the candle burns.” When the brothers heard that, they immediately turned to each other and exclaimed, their faces full of wonder, “Did you hear that? What a lesson! Fix it as long as the candle still burns. As long as the flame of the soul burns bright there is opportunity to mend any blemish on it, get to it before the flame is gone.”
From Naftali Engel, Parshas Terumah:
In a couple weeks we will read in the Parsha about the Jews’ ultimate fall – the Golden Calf, the Eigel. When Moshe came down from Mount Sinai and saw the great misdeed of the Jewish Nation he shattered the Luchos, the Luchos which in this weeks Parsha Moshe was commanded to place in the Aron; “Place the testimony (The Luchos) that I will give you into the Aron” (Exodus 25:16)
So HaShem told Moshe to put these Luchos into the Aron, which will be in the Holiest place on earth and he goes ahead and smashes them. Seems like Moshe also failed, no longer could he place these now broken Luchos into the Aron. Yet, that’s not the case. The Gemara in Bava Basra (14b) tells us that the broken Luchos were indeed placed into the Aron. Why were these shattered, destroyed Luchos placed into the Holiest vessel, in the holiest room, in the holiest structure in the world? There’s obviously a lesson to be learned here. Maybe we can understand with a story.
The two holy brothers Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk and Rav Zusha of Annipol were once traveling across Poland when they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and were accused of robbery. They were immediately thrown into jail without trial. Together in a cell they sat and Rav Elimelech became very sad, his brother took notice and asked him what was wrong, Rav Elimelech said “There is a pail that we would use to go to the bathroom in the cell. Therefore I cannot Pray Maariv…” Rav Zusha glanced over his shoulder at the bucket, saying, “My brother, my holy holy brother, we should rejoice in this. For the same God that told you to Daven Maariv is the same God that said you cannot Daven in the presence of a toilet – either way you go you are still fulfilling His will!” Rav Elimelech processed this incredible concept and quickly got up to sing and dance with his brother over the joy of fulfilling this obscure mitzvah. Their singing and dancing woke up some other inmates, who, oddly enough, were compelled to join into the brothers’ song and dance, and soon after, the entire prison was in song and dance until they woke up the warden. He barreled into the cell block, furious, “What’s all this commotion about?!” he growled. The inmates all pointed to the cell with Rav Elimelech and Rav Zusha, Rav Zusha pointed at Rav Elimelech and Rav Elimelech slowly pointed at the bucket. “That! You’re all singing and dancing over a bucket of …?! I’ll show you stupid Jews.” And the warden removed their “source of happiness”, the bucket which caused them to rejoice. And then, the brothers rejoiced even greater with their Maariv.Many times in life things don’t go as planned, I don’t think I even need to give examples because I’m sure you can come up with at least five of your own. Sometimes we can be doing so well, and then we suddenly fall, even to the lowest we have fell in a while.
This is what we can learn out from the broken Luchos being placed in the Aron as well. It shows us that even the times when we fall, when we smashed hard into the ground, we are still dear to HaShem. He still wants a connection to us and to our brokenness, HaShem, the most Merciful God is willing to place our shattered hearts and stained souls into the holiest place on earth, literally, only because of His great love for us. We can serve HaShem in our failure because He wants us to serve him always, not only when things are good. The same God that commanded us to Daven that Maariv is the same God that makes us feel like skipping Maariv (or to not do something else/ do something bad), and even with that feeling, that “low”, you can rejoice in serving God, for only from a low place can you rise high. For even if you fail to conquer the darkness that brings you down, even if you are rolling in the mud struggling to get up you can always find HaShem in the struggle itself, remember “A broken heart will never be despised by God.” – Sanhedrin 43b
More coming soon
Recommended reading for Reb Zusha:
Recommended Listening for Reb Zusha:
The Herring:
This smokey and sweet herring is prepared with zaatar, a blend of sun dried hyssop, salt, sesame seeds and dried sumac. Besides its culinary use Zaatar is also believed to have healing properties. The strong herb flavor is balanced with the natural sweetness and intoxicating aroma of whole cloves.
Each container is prepared individually by hand, ensuring a consistent quantity and quality throughout.
Product Information:
Container Size: 12oz. – about 20 – 30 pieces of herring per container.
Ingredients: Herring, Canola Oil, Zaatar, Onions, Salt, Spices
Allergy Information: Contains Fish. Contains Sesame. Gluten free.
Kashrus: OK Certified. K-ID: BBB-QFZF