Weekly Chasidic Story #974 (s5776-46 / 19 Tammuz 5776)

Worse Than an Apostate?

Much to the chasid's surprise, Rebbe Shlomo of Karlin laughed. What was so funny? His clarifying explanation was even more perplexing:

Connection: Seasonal: Tammuz 22 (this year: July 28) is the 224th yahrzeit of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin

Worse Than an Apostate?

A chasid of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin once set out on a journey to visit his Rebbe.  When, for various reasons, he saw he would be unable to reach Karlin before sundown, he realized he would have to find a place to stay for Shabbos.  He had made it as far as a tiny village on the outskirts of Karlin.

After making inquiries, the man learned that there was only one Jewish family living in the village.  He knocked on their door and explained his predicament.  "Of course you may stay with us for Shabbos," the Jew said, "but unfortunately, my young son is very ill.   It will not be a pleasant experience for you."  But the Chasid had no other choice.  He accepted the man's invitation.

Tragically, the child died on Shabbos.  The parents were inconsolable in their grief.  Their cries and moans were truly terrible to hear.  The father was even more heartbroken than the dead boy's mother, so much so that the bereaved woman, struggling with her own grief, tried to console her husband.  Nothing she said, however, could offer solace.

"Would it have been better for the boy to live and grow up to be a thief?" she asked.  "Better for him to have died in childhood than end up like that!"

The father was unmoved.  "Would it have been better for the boy to live and grow up to be a murderer?" she asked.

The father did not respond.

"Would it have been better for our child to grow up to be an apostate?" she demanded.  Still, the father was untouched.

"And if he had grown up to be like your brother?" she asked.With these words, the father was consoled. 

"You are right," he agreed.  "It is better for him to have died than to grow up to be like my brother."

The guest was shocked.  Who could this brother be, and what sin did he commit to be worse than a thief, a murderer, or even an apostate?

The rest of the day passed.  When Shabbos was over the couple resumed their mourning.

After Havdalah the chasid hired a wagon to take him to Karlin.  Disappointed that he had not been able to spend Shabbos with the tzadik, he was also terribly saddened by the suffering of the dead boy's parents.  Furthermore, he could not stop thinking about the man's brother – who could be more evil than an apostate Jew?

When he arrived in Karlin the Rebbe asked the chasid where he had spent Shabbos.  He explained how the difficulties of the journey had prevented him from reaching Karlin before sundown, and told the Rebbe he had been forced to stay with the only Jewish family in a nearby village.  Curiously, the Rebbe expressed a marked interest, asking all about the members of the family.

The Chasid then told the Rebbe about the death of the child, and repeated the odd exchange between husband and wife that had so piqued his interest.

Much to the Chasid's surprise, the Rebbe laughed.  What was so funny to the Rebbe?  His clarifying explanation was even more perplexing:

I am the person she meant," he declared;  "I am that man's brother!"

This incident took place while the controversy between Chasidim and those opposed to the movement (“Misnagdim”) was raging at fiery pitch.  Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin, ostracized by his family, was considered by them to be an instigator and troublemaker, leading innocent Jews astray.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the excellent rendition of Basha Majerczyk,  in her translation of "Extraordinary Chassidic Tales" by Rabbi Rafael Nachman Kahn, volume 2.

Biographical notes:
Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin [1738-22 Tammuz 1792], was a student of the Maggid of Mezritch and Reb Aharon the Great of Karlin, whom he succeeded in 1772. Most of the Chassidic leaders of the next generation in the Lithuanian region were his disciples. He died Al Kiddush HaShem, stabbed by a Cossack while in the midst of the Amida prayer.

Connection: Tammuz 22 (this year: July 28) is the 224th yahrzeit of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin — and the 20th of my mother, Ella bas Eliyahu HaLevi.

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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