Weekly Chasidic Story #666 (s5770-51 / 21 Elul 5770)

Jacob & Ivan; Israel & Peter

Many visitors had come to spend the Days of Judgment in the nearness of the saintly Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev.

Connection: Seasonal - Saturday night starts the Selichot prayers before Rosh Hashana (for Ashkenazic Jews; the Sephardim have been saying for three weeks already, since 2 Elul)

 

Jacob & Ivan; Israel & Peter


It was Erev Rosh Hashanah in Berdichev. The spirit of holiness hovered in the air. Each heart was throbbing with the thought of the imminent Day of Judgment; each mind was occupied with thoughts of repentance. The "balance sheet" of good deeds and misdeeds in the passing year did not quite tally--every one found himself "in the red."

Too much time was wasted which could have been spent in the study of the Torah; perhaps more help should have been given to the poor --and how much of it was given from the pureness of the heart? And what about all that loose, and sometimes even mischievous, gossip? G-d only knows how many misdeeds, large and small, have accumulated during the year. It's high time to get wise.

Well, thank G-d for the special selichot prayers of the final week of the year. Here is a chance to pour out one's heart to G-d, the last opportunity to turn to G-d with real supplication, before the year is over. And the All-Merciful One will surely understand and forgive, and the new year will most definitely be a better one.

Such were the thoughts uppermost in everybody's mind, as the Jews of Berdichev hastily rose while it was still dark from their warm beds to go to shul for the extra long selichot prayer before the Day of Judgment. It was still very dark outside, for sunrise was hours away. They did not wait for the shamash [synagogue attendant] to wake them up on this last day of the year. As they hastened to the synagogue, the fresh autumn air drove the last vestiges of sleepiness from their eyes. They now met the shamash, going on his beat, knocking with his long staff at the dark shutters of the stragglers who had overslept, and calling out, "Holy flock, arise to the service of G-d!" And soon enough the cracks in the shutters revealed kindled lights inside, for no one --but no one-- was going to stay in bed on this solemn morning.

The narrow streets were soon filled with old and young men, and boys of all ages. Many went to the mikvah for immersion, and came out feeling purified and inspired. There were many visitors in Berdichev, who had come to spend the Solemn Days in the nearness of the saintly Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev. They now made their way to the Rabbi's house, in order to accompany him to the synagogue.

As they approached the Rabbi's home, they saw him at the door, on his way out. They were amazed to see that he was holding a basket, from which the slim neck of a vodka bottle was sticking out invitingly. The tantalizing smell of newly baked kichlech [cookies] and fresh herring could not be ignored. "…What on earth is the Rabbi going to do with the refreshments at this hour?" they wondered, as they followed him in silence at a respectful distance.

They approached the synagogue. The windows blazed with light, and one could see through the windows that the synagogue was already crowded with worshippers from wall to wall, waiting for the Rabbi.

But the Rabbi went past the synagogue! The wonder of his followers grew with every step. "Where is the Rabbi going? Can he possibly be so engrossed in meditation that he did not notice the synagogue?"

On and on the Rabbi strode, until almost to the outskirts of the town. The Rabbi was heading for the large inn, and his followers were close on his heels. Now he entered the inn and his followers with him.
The large hall of the inn was filled with the smell of stale tobacco, and empty vodka bottles were strewn all over the place. On the floor of the dimly lit hall lay sleeping men, crowded like sardines --farmers, traders, wayfarers and beggars-- many snoring in a medley of sonorous tones and whistles. The Rabbi bent over a sleeping man, whose tzitzit strings were showing from under his jacket, with his skullcap hinging precariously on his head. He was a lean man, a bundle of bones held together by a pale skin which seemed ready to break at several points.

Gently, the Rabbi woke him, whispering: "Reb Yid - Mr. Jew, your throat is dry; you must have been napping too long. Wake up and take a gulp at this schnapps! I have a chaser too: fresh herring and kichlech, a treat!" The Jew opened his eyes wide with amazement, threw a glance at the refreshments, but recoiled in horror.

"I don't know you, my friend, but have you no G-d in your heart? Would I drink any liquid before I've washed my hands, never mind hard liquor? Would I eat before I have said my morning prayers? You must be joking!"

The Rabbi moved on to the next sleeping Jew. Gently he shook him by his shoulders and repeated his offer in a most enticing way, but the reply was the same. The Rabbi fared no better with the third and fourth. Then the Rabbi bent over a sleeping, corpulent, country yokel.

"Ivan, do you want a schnapps and some refreshments?"

Ivan rose quickly. The word "schnapps" acted like magic. "Give it here!" he said, and he gulped down the glass of vodka in one shot. Eagerly he swallowed the piece of herring, and a kichel, which he ate with relish and licked his lips. "Thanks, pal," he murmured, and when no more was coming, he turned over on his other side and was soon snoring merrily again.

The Rabbi moved on to the next sleeping farmer. "Stephan, do you want a drink?" The story repeated itself with Peter and Vladimir and so on, until the basket was empty.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak quickly stepped outside. All was quiet, as the Berdichever Rebbe lifted his eyes to heaven and said, "Master of the Universe! Look at your children! Jacob gets up in the morning, and his first thought is of you! He would not let anything pass his lips until he has sung your praises! But Esau's first thought is of food and drink!"

His mission accomplished, his face beaming with satisfaction, the Rabbi turned to his followers. "And now, holy flock, let's go to the house of G-d. Now we can face our Maker with confidence, and pray for a good, sweet new year!"
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[Source: Lightly edited by Yerachmiel Tilles from berdichev.org.]

Connection
: Seasonal - Saturday night starts the Selichot prayers before Rosh Hashana (for Ashkenazic Jews; the Sephardim have been saying for three weeks already, since 2 Elul)

Biographic note
:
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Deberamdiger of Berdichev (1740 - 25 Tishrei 1810) is one of the most popular rebbes in chassidic history. One of the closest disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch, he is best known for his love for every Jew and his active efforts to intercede for them against (seemingly) adverse heavenly decrees. Many of his teachings are contained in the posthumously published, Kedushat Levi.


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Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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