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He maintained this practice on Shabbatot and Holidays as well. On Shabbat night, when it is forbidden to read by candlelight, he reviewed his learning by heart. Even on the night of Passover, after he had finished leading the Seder, he sat and learned Torah until sunrise.
The light of the candle which emerged from Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer's window all night signaled to the Jews of the town that their Rabbi was faithfully at his watchpost, and this gave them a feeling of security and inspired them with fear of G-d.
Only on one night of the year did Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer refrain from studying Torah. This was on the night of what they called Nittel, commemorating the death of "that man," the 25th of December. According to the Kabbalah, the powers of impurity intensify to the utmost on that night, and they are liable to feed off from the powers of holiness. In order to not allow them to do so, it is proper not to learn Torah at that time. On that night the Rabbi would make an account of his yearly income, in order to compute how much to apportion for the poor who knocked on his door every day.
In the Rabbi's town, Ostrah, next to the market square, lived a goy by the name of Vladimir. He hated Jews and his only goal was to see their downfall and particularly the downfall of their Rabbi the Maharsha. He had already made several attempts to harm the Jews of the town. On one night, for example, he tried to drive the cattle of his Christian neighbor into the yard of the great study-hall in order to instigate a libel and persecution against the Jews. The Count's night guards were astounded to see a herd of cows tramping through the old streets of Ostrah, and quickly arrested the thief. Vladimir was thrown into prison and all of his pleading was of no avail. Only the intervention of his friends, who had connections with the authorities, saved him from long imprisonment. Aside from this attempt, jewelry and other valuables that had disappeared from Christian townspeople were found in his possession. Under interrogation, he confessed that he had intended to plant these in the homes of Jews in order to incriminate them. This plan was also foiled and the incident was recorded in the log of the captain of the guard. Vladimir's hatred of the Jews intensified all the time. His instinct told him that his failures were the result of the spiritual power of the Rabbi of the Jews, who doesn’t stop his learning even for a moment. Several tines Vladimir snooped around the Rabbi's window and tried to concoct some plot.
Once, on the night of Nittel, Vladimir passed by Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer's window and discerned that the Rabbi wasn't absorbed in his learning as usual, but with paperwork. He pondered over the phenomenon, and then came to the conclusion that the reason for the Rabbi's behavior, like that of many Jews, was because this night is sacred for the Christians.
Over the next Christian year, he wove a scheme in his mind, and toward the end of it, he strode over to the authorities in order to testify that the Rabbi of the Jews doesn't learn Torah on the night of Nittel, as opposed to the rest of the year, because he considers this night to be defiled. The police kept a watch the Maharsha for several nights and saw that, indeed, he learned Torah ceaselessly every night.
On the night of Nittel, a company of policemen, led by Vladimir, started over to the Rabbi's house. On that night, Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer sat at his table and calculated his contributions to the poor, as he did every year. Suddenly, one of the books from his large library landed on the floor with a loud noise. The Rabbi hurried over, bent down, picked up the book, kissed it and, with great respect and reverence, returned it to the shelf. After a few minutes the same thing happened. The same book fell from the bookshelf and the Rabbi hurried over again to return it to its place.
When this happened a third time, the Rabbi was most amazed and decided to see what was written in the book which fell again and again. He understood that there must be some heavenly purpose behind this, and therefore opened the book curiously and began to delve into it.
At that moment, the group of policemen burst through the door of the Rabbi's home and entered his room. They were confounded by the sight of the Rabbi, who was occupied with his learning, just like on every other night of the year. They apologized, retraced their steps, exited and closed the door. Then they proceeded to give Vladimir a sound beating for daring to harass them again with a false accusation against the Jews. And this time they sent him away for a long imprisonment...
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu The Path of the Righteous is as the Light of Dawn
From the book The Father of Israel
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
