David and Meir had been childhood friends. From the earliest they could remember, they were partners in Torah study. After they both married, David mysteriously disappeared and Meir didn't see him for many years. Meir did, however, hear that David had joined the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov and eventually became the Rabbi of Nikolayev.
Meir eventually inherited his father-in-law's business and divided his time between business and Torah study. On one of his many trips to a fair in a far-off city, he was staying in an inn where he saw a group of chasidim rejoicing.
"What are you rejoicing about?" asked Rabbi Meir.
"Rabbi David of Nikolayev is here," they answered him.
Rabbi Meir realized that they were speaking of his childhood friend, and asked the chasidim where Rabbi David was. They pointed to a closed door. Rabbi Meir knocked on the door. "David, open the door for me!"
Rabbi David opened the door and recognized his old friend. They fell on each other in great excitement.
"Why did you go to the Baal Shem Tov?" Rabbi Meir began.
"Remember when you and I used to discuss that we wanted to learn Torah lishma - for its own sake - but we were not able to reach that level? I heard that in the Besht's circle, they learned Torah lishma."
"And what made you stay, once you got there?" asked Rabbi Meir.
"When I came to the Baal Shem Tov," answered Rabbi David, "I didn't find what I was looking for at first. But the chasidim encouraged me to stay a while longer. I stayed the eve of Shabbat and managed to be in the Baal Shem Tov's room when he read the holy book, Song of Songs.
Truly, it was something to hear. I felt as if a tumult was being made in the heavens. But I still wasn't convinced that this was the place for me.
"Yet, the Baal Shem Tov's chasidim convinced me to stay on, at least until they observed the yartzeit (anniversary of the passing) of one of his parents. That entire night, the Baal Shem Tov would remain in his room repeating the six books of the Mishna by heart. The chasidim were certain that this phenomenon would convince me. I waited until the night of the yartzeit, and there was truly something to be awed by. However, I still was not convinced.
"Stay until the night after the yartzeit, the chasidim told me, 'for the Baal shem tov will fast for the entire day and then, at night, he will make a big meal for the greatest of his students. If you attend this meal, it is impossible that you won't be totally drawn to the Baal shem tov.' 'But prepare yourself well,' they warned me. 'Most people fall asleep during the meal.'
"I agreed to stay. I rested well in preparation for the evening. I even said special prayers to help me stay awake. At the meal, the Baal Shem Tov sat at the head of the table, surrounded by his chasidim. He began to expound on the meditations for immersing in the ritual bath (mikva). "One of his students stood up and said, 'Rebbe, the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria) explains this concept differently.'
"The Baal Shem Tov's face went a fiery red, and then a deathly white. Immediately, I became exhausted and could not stop myself from falling asleep. While asleep, I saw many people running somewhere. I asked the people where they were going and they told me that in a few minutes the Baal Shem Tov was going to expound on some deep concept. I, too, began to run.
"We arrived at a large building and I saw two seats in the middle of the hall. I was told the seats were for the Baal Shem Tov and the Arizal. I managed to stand right near the Baal Shem Tov's chair.
"The Baal Shem Tov began to expound on the mediations for immersion in the ritual bath. After he finished his lecture, the Arizal asked him many questions and the Baal Shem Tov answered him. Thus proceeded the exchange until the Arizal acknowledged the truth of the Baal Shem Tov's words.
"Immediately thereafter I awoke to find myself once again at the festive meal with the Baal Shem Tov. The Baal Shem Tov once again began to expound on the meditations for the mikva and the same disciple said once more, 'But the Arizal explains differently.'
"The Baal Shem Tov looked straight at me and said, 'David, stand and tell us what you saw!'
"And that," concluded Rabbi David, "is how I became a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov." When Rabbi Meir heard this story, he decided to travel together with Rabbi David to the Baal Shem Tov and eventually became one of his greatest chasidim.
