Story #927 (s5775-50 / 16 Elul 5775)

The Paralyzed Fingers

"During our stay," the Baal Shem Tov commanded the innkeeper, "you will have to lock all the windows and the doors to the inn. You must not open them for anyone, even an important person.

Connection: Seasonal--Wednesday is the 317th anniversary of the birth of the Baal Shem Tov (and the 270th of the Alter Rebbe of Chabad).


The Paralyzed Fingers

There was a very rich man who lived with his family in the state of Walachia. Without warning, both of his wife's hands became paralyzed so that she could not move her fingers at all. The man, who was very rich, spared no expense in taking her to all of the most famous physicians that lived in and near their city. But alas, none had any idea as to the cause of her illness or a suggestion for a cure.

The husband was not willing to give up. He traveled with her in their carriage from one distant city to another in the hope of finding a physician who could heal her.

As they traveled, they stayed at inns along the way. At each inn, the condition of his wife and their search for a physician was a frequent topic of discussion. Many fellow travelers suggested that they visit Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, a famous miracle worker who lived in the town of Mezibush, deep in the Carpathian Mountains. The couple had never heard of the Baal Shem Tov and were hesitant to visit him, especially since he lived so far away. But after months of traveling, they agreed that since they were unable to find a doctor who had even an inkling as to the cause of her illness, they might as well visit the Holy Rabbi.

As soon as they arrived in Mezibush, the husband and wife immediately went to meet with the Baal Shem Tov in his study. After they talked for a while, the Baal Shem Tov told them to remain in the community.

The couple found a comfortable inn and stayed for several weeks. During this period of time, they met with the Baal Shem Tov on several occasions. Each time, the Baal Shem Tov told them to stay longer. The husband and wife were both skeptical as to whether the Baal Shem Tov could heal the wife, but they really didn't have a better option. And besides, wherever they went in Mezibush, there was always someone that told them a miracle story about the Baal Shem Tov. Also, everyone assured them that the Baal Shem Tov would heal her.

Finally, after a number of weeks had already passed, the Baal Shem Tov asked Alexi, his wagon driver, to harness the horses to his wagon and prepare for a long trip. Then, he told the man to put his wife in their carriage and to follow him. The man didn't have any idea where they were going but he immediately harnessed his horses to his carriage, put his wife in and followed closely behind the Baal Shem Tov's wagon.

After several days of travel, the wagon and the carriage stopped in front of an inn whose innkeeper was one of the Baal Shem Tov's followers. The noise of the wagon and carriage brought the innkeeper and his wife out to welcome the unknown guests. When the Baal Shem Tov got down from the wagon, the innkeeper was beside himself with joy when he realized it was his Rebbe. The Baal Shem Tov asked the innkeeper whether they could have several rooms for the night.

"Of course Rebbe," the innkeeper answered without hesitation.

"There is one thing," the Baal Shem Tov continued, "during our stay, you will have to lock all the windows and the doors to the inn. And most importantly, you must not open them for anyone, irrespective of who it is, even if it is a very important person. If anyone does manage to force his way in, you may tell him that the Baal Shem Tov ordered the doors and windows locked and then point me out to them."

The innkeeper was perplexed by this request, but he promised to carry out every detail of the Baal Shem Tov's instructions. So Alexei unharnessed the horses from the wagon and the carriage, put them in the barn and fed them. Meanwhile, the Baal Shem Tov and the couple carried their bags into the inn. Even before they got settled in their rooms, the innkeeper locked all of the windows and the doors to the inn.

After dinner, they all went to sleep except the Baal Shem Tov who sat at the dining table in the main room and studied from a Holy book. Also, the wife with the paralyzed hands couldn't sleep, so she sat next to the warm oven in the corner of the main room. The Baal Shem Tov cautioned her that if he should ask her to do anything the next day, she must do so immediately.

Coincidentally, on that very same day, the regional Governor who owned the inn was visited by his brother whom he had not seen for many years. They rejoiced at seeing each other by eating and drinking to excess. Being somewhat tipsy from the drinking, the Governor started to brag to his brother, "I built an amazingly beautiful inn on my property. It's not very far from here. You must go over and see it before you leave."

"Who runs the inn?" inquired the brother.

"Moishke, one of my Jews, runs the inn," answered the Governor.

"Those Jews again," retorted the brother, "they run everything. I can't stand them."

"Brother, please don't speak that way. The Jews manage everything on my estates and they do a very good job," said the Governor.

Just then, someone came to see the Governor on official business. The brother asked, "Since you'll probably be busy for awhile, could I borrow one of your horses and ride over to look at your inn?"

The governor was happy that his brother was going to see his pride and joy. "Quick," he ordered one of his servants, "saddle up my finest horse for my brother and give him exact directions to the inn."

Since the inn was located near the Governor's mansion, the brother rode off without a warm coat. After riding for some time, a light snow began to fall. Soon, the light snow fall turned into a heavy snowstorm. The brother got lost and rode for several more hours in the snow before arriving at the inn, nearly blue from the cold. Relieved that he had finally arrived at the inn, he jumped off his horse and tried to open the door. But it was locked. He could see people in the inn through the windows, so he started to knock with all his might on the door.

The innkeeper yelled through the door, "I'm sorry but I can't open the door because Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov is here."

The Governor's brother started to plead with him, "Please open the door, can't you see it's snowing and I'm freezing to death."

But the innkeeper answered, "I can't let you in because the Rabbi said to keep the doors and windows locked."

The Governor's brother started to pound frantically on the door with his fist while yelling to let him in.

Finally, the Baal Shem Tov motioned the innkeeper to open the door.

The governor's brother burst into the inn and rushed over to the hot oven to thaw out his nearly frozen hands and feet. When he finally warmed up, he asked: "Who is this Rabbi that wouldn't let me in?"

The innkeeper and his wife told him, "The Baal Shem Tov," and pointed towards him.

The Governor's brother looked at the Baal Shem Tov who was still reading and not paying the slightest bit of attention to him. This disregard by the Baal Shem Tov made the man even more angry as he walked back and forth across the room, all the while glaring at the Baal Shem Tov.
"Who is this Rabbi Baal Shem Tov," he screamed at the innkeeper, "that you did not open the door for me until I almost died of the cold?!"

The innkeeper and his wife again meekly pointed towards the Baal Shem Tov.

The Governor's brother became overwhelmed with anger. He drew his sword and shouted at the Baal Shem Tov, "Prepare to die you fool!" Then he rushed towards the Baal Shem Tov with his upraised sword.

At that very moment, the Baal Shem Tov called out to the paralyzed woman, "Lift up both your hands!"

She raised her paralyzed hands. Immediately her fingers began to move. At the same time, the Governor's brother stopped in his tracks as his sword fell out of his hand. He could no longer move his hands or fingers and he could see his hands beginning to curl and gnarl before his eyes.

"Please help me Rabbi," he screamed, "I'll do anything. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. My hands are paralyzed. My fingers won't move. Help me. I beg of you."

The Baal Shem Tov answered, "I cannot help you. The transference has occurred and it cannot be reversed."

When the couple returned to Mezibush, everyone crowded around to ask what happened. All the woman could say was "Baruch Hashem - Blessed be G-d Al-mighty," and wiggle her fingers to everyone's delight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of Tzvi-Meir Cohn on //BaalShemTov.com, of a story found in Shivchei HaBesht and translated in In Praise of the Baal Shem Tov by Ben Amos and Mintz.

Connection: Seasonal--Wednesday is the 317th anniversary of the birth of the Baal Shem Tov (and the 270th of the Alter Rebbe of Chabad).

Biographic note:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer (18 Elul 1698-6 Sivan 1760), the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed the Chassidic movement and his own identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 1734. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.


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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