My father’s enchantment with this tzaddik who is relatively unknown in our generation stems from the fact that Rav Mordechai Slonimer is related to our family. In addition he was a talmid of my father’s great-great-grandfather Rav Yitzchak Hirsch Pomerantz-Rubinstein (av beis din of Simyatich) and Rav Mordechai claimed that his power to give brachos was a result of a brachah he had received from his rebbi.

It is therefore no wonder that as the date of our trip drew near my father urged my husband and me to hire a private driver to take us to Slonim. Although Slonim was not on the general itinerary we decided to separate from the group for a few hours to daven at the kever of Rav Mordechai Slonimer. Little did we know that our trip to Slonim would prove to be one of the most memorable experiences of our lives.

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