Chassidic Story #265

Brave by Definition

All winter long, starting two weeks after Simchat Torah, Jews include a petition for rain in the daily prayers. When the Master of the Universe responds generously and gives copious rains to His land, all is well, but when this is not the case, the Land of Israel and its inhabitants suffer.

One year there was a dearth of rainfall. The dry ground yielded but little produce, and food prices were sky-high. Even the wealthy were pressed to pay for all their needs, while for the poor, starvation looked them in the eyes. And yet, it was even worse for the Torah scholars who were always dependent on the yeshivas for their livelihood. The many yeshivas were supported by the generosity of the wealthy citizenry, who now couldn't afford to give with their usual open-handedness.

The leading rabbis of Jerusalem met and decided to dispatch a delegate to raise money from their brethren abroad. But who would go? No one was anxious to accept upon himself the task. In the end they agreed to draw lots.

The choice fell upon Rabbi Avraham Galante. He was a man noted for his piety and vast knowledge, but he had never traveled abroad and had no experience with foreign ways. Nevertheless, he accepted his mission and traveled to the port city of Yaffa, where he boarded a ship headed for Constantinople.

The grueling voyage took many weeks, and when the sailors finally saw land, a strange sight met their eyes. Instead of the busy activity of a port, they saw distraught people running to and fro. Others stood on rooftops, while militia patrolled the empty streets.
The ship's captain and crew were frightened. They were reluctant to land. Rabbi Galante, however, was determined to go ashore, for Constantinople, with its well-to-do and generous Jewish community was his main destination. It was specifically there that he had been sent and he was determined to fulfill his mission.
Rabbi Galante begged the captain for a small rowboat, explaining the importance of his mission. Soon a small craft carrying the rabbi and one sailor set out for the shore.

No sooner had Rabbi Galante stepped ashore when he was approached by two soldiers who cried out, "You must return to your ship! Two great lions have escaped from the Sultan's private zoo and are running through the city. The Sultan wants them alive, and we are terrified to approach them."

Just then, they heard a blood-curdling roar, and the panic-stricken soldiers fled, leaving the rabbi standing alone. The famished lion sprang towards him, anticipating a long-awaited meal, but just as suddenly, it froze in its tracks and crouched down at his feet. People standing on the surrounding roof-tops turned away to avoid the horrible sight, but when they saw that a miracle was occurring, they craned their necks to get a better look.

To their great astonishment, Rabbi Galante was holding the lion by the mane and leading it quietly down the street toward the royal palace. Rabbi Galante's path took him past the second lion. Rabbi Galante gently called to it, and the lion turned and docilely followed him down the street. When they reached the Sultan's private gardens, Rabbi Galante deposited the two lions in their cages and locked the bars securely.

As he turned to leave, Rabbi Galante was approached by the Sultan and his ministers who now dared to leave the confines of the palace. The rabbi was invited to accompany them to the royal quarters. As they stood together the Sultan turned to Rabbi Galante and inquired, "Who are you, and what are your powers that you have dared and succeeded to capture my escaped lions?"
Rabbi Galante explained that he was from Jerusalem where the people were enduring a famine. He had come to collect funds with which to help his beleaguered brethren.
The Sultan was amazed. "I thought you must be an animal-tamer or a sorcerer. But if you are what you claim to be, merely a Torah scholar, I don't understand how you accomplished this feat."

"Your Majesty," replied Rabbi Galante, bowing respectfully, "I am a weak old man, and I certainly make no use of magic, for it is forbidden to us. I will explain to Your Majesty the teachings of our Sages, and you will be able to understand how I was able to control these wild animals.
"We have been taught that the definition of a brave person is one who can conquer his evil impulses. All of my life I have fought against my evil inclination, and I have succeeded in purifying my heart up to the point that I fear nothing except the Al-mighty.
"Also, Your Majesty, the Creator instilled in beasts an innate fear of people which is manifest only when people act as they should. But, when a person sullies his G-dly image, the roles are reversed, and the person fears the beast instead."

The Sultan was impressed by the rabbi's words. He instructed his servants to bring a large sum of money from his treasury and give it to Rabbi Galante as a token of his gratitude and esteem. After a brief visit with the local Jewish community, Rabbi Galante returned to Jerusalem, having accomplished his mission of mercy and having sanctified the Name of G-d before the Sultan and all his people.

[Supplemented by Yrachmiel Tilles from the version in L'Chaim #185 & 533.]

Biographical note:
Rabbi Avraham Galante of this story is either the former chief Rabbi of Safed who passed away in 1696, or a descendant of his or of his nephew, the leading Rosh Yeshiva in Safed, Rabbi Moshe Galante. (These two, in turn, were the descendents of the famous Galante brothers, Avraham and Moshe, who were major disciples of the Ramak and then of the Ari.)