As I Heard Them

“You sign your letter as the grandson of R. Mordechai Yoel from Homil. Therefore, would you be so kind as to send your recollections of your grandfather and great-uncle, as it is the wish of my father-in-law, the Rebbe [Rayatz], may he be well, to collect all known details about the elder chassidim? With time, this will also benefit the community at large.” The Rebbe, 12 Cheshvan 5709 (1948) This short postscript to R. Zalman Duchman instigated his twenty-one year-long practice of penning concise stories and memories to the Rebbe. In 5723 (1963), at the Rebbe’s encouragement, Reb Zalman published these stories in Yiddish in book form. L’Sheima Ozen (“which my ears have heard”) became widely known for its exclusive material and authentic style. In this English translation, we strive to convey Reb Zalman’s unique style of recounting each story, without embellishment and with genuine warmth – as he heard them.