Editing Hillel Paritcher (section)

== Drawing Close to the Alter Rebbe ==
Reb Hillel was a Chernobyl chassid, until one day he heard a review of a Chassidic discourse from the Alter Rebbe delivered by Rabbi Zalman Zezmer, and it captivated him deeply. Fearing his Rebbe's reaction, which indeed later proved to be harsh and severe, he fled from Chernobyl and would travel from town to town where the Alter Rebbe was expected to visit during his travels. However, in every town he reached, the Alter Rebbe had already preceded him and left the city. Because of this, they never met face to face. On one occasion, Rabbi Hillel decided to be clever and arrived at a planned town before the Alter Rebbe's arrival, and hid under the table where the Alter Rebbe was expected to deliver his Chassidic discourse. He had prepared a difficult question about  [[Arachin|Tractate Arachin]] that he wanted resolved. When the Alter Rebbe entered, he heard him say in his holy tune, "The young man who has a question in Tractate Arachin should first evaluate himself, and only afterward come and ask." When Rabbi Hillel heard this, he fainted on the spot under the table, and only regained consciousness after the Alter Rebbe had finished his profound Chassidic discourse and had already left the city.

Rabbi Hillel never met the Alter Rebbe but only heard the echo of his voice.

Therefore, Rabbi Hillel merited to connect only with the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek, while Rabbi Zalman Zezmer remained his primary mashpia (spiritual mentor). Regarding his question about the resentment of the Rebbe of Chernobyl, the Mitteler Rebbe answered him that if he (the Rebbe of Chernobyl) is truly a Rebbe, then he certainly does not hold a grudge. He began studying the Tanya of the Alter Rebbe and decided to learn and teach the Chabad Chassidic teachings. He was fortunate and made swift progress, becoming one of the greatest Chabad mashpiim (mentors) for generations. He recorded many discourses of the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek with his illuminating explanations and interpretations, in the tradition of mashpiim whose purpose was to elaborate on the words of their Rebbes extensively and in logical order.