Name, the names of the angels associated with it and ruled by it, the methods of using this Name and its related angels, the conditions required for it, and the dangers awaiting anyone unworthy who attempts it...
He provided them with a lengthy explanation with hidden mysteries and concealed secrets until the two scholars felt their souls uplifted and nearly left their bodies from the intense, awe-inspiring spiritual light...
At that point, he stopped and offered them a small glass of vodka.
The little glass of vodka worked wonders, and in an instant, they were fully present back in the physical world! A relieved thought passed through their minds:
Rabbi Mordechai of Neschiz, as if naturally continuing, said:
They could not hide the confusion they felt, and Rabbi Mordechai smiled and said:
Rabbi Mordechai began his tale: “When I was a young married man, I used to seclude myself in the forests and pour out my heart before the Creator. One day, as I was walking as usual into the forest, I heard from among the trees a heart-rending sound of crying... I immediately went toward the voice. When I arrived, I saw a young man afflicted with boils from head to foot, wallowing in the dirt and crying, pleading to the Blessed G-d: ‘Please, merciful Father, I can no longer endure these sufferings. Please, I beg You, take my soul from me...’
Tears filled my eyes, but I did not know how to help him, for I had not learned the secret of drawing down salvations... My heart filled with such compassion for the young man that I literally felt his pain — as if I myself had that very affliction! From the intensity of the anguish, my soul departed from me!
My soul left my body and ascended high to heaven. When they saw me in heaven, a tremendous commotion erupted. 'What are you doing here?!' they cried. 'Myriads of Jewish souls are depending on your leadership! You must go back down and continue your mission!'
I refused and said, ‘I cannot bear the suffering of this young man. I do not want to be in a world where I cannot help Jews!’ In Heaven, they agreed with me and said: 'You have already accomplished something with your supplications—this young man will be healed! From now on, we will make an agreement with you: every time you feel another's pain exactly as if you were the sufferer, you will bring about salvation for him!'
That is indeed the secret of my power," Rabbi Mordechai concluded his story. "When a Jew comes to me, and I feel his pain just as he does, I am thereby able to draw down deliverance for him!"
Rabbi Mordechai of Neschiz used to say:
Let us return to our discussion in the opening: The people of Israel are the boldest of all nations; no nation or tongue can stand against their boldness! In other words, woe to the nation that dares to tangle with the people of Israel! Nonetheless, because there was tension among the holy brothers, the sons of our father Jacob, the Holy One, blessed be He, decreed that they would suffer and be reduced and demeaned in Egypt... Then, when the time of redemption arrived, G-d emphasized the importance of unity and commanded them concerning the Korban Pesach (Paschal sacrifice):
Rabbeinu Bechaye explains: “‘For your families’ – from here [we learn] that a person is obligated to draw his relatives close so that they rejoice with him on festivals. Likewise, in the days of redemption, G-d has promised us that each person will be brought near to his family, as it says: (Jeremiah 30:25).”
From his holy words, it is clear that at the time of the exodus from Egypt, the Jewish people were required to eat the Passover sacrifice with their family members in unity and closeness of heart! They were required to leave their inner world — the world that envelops and surrounds each person's existence — and to sense and feel the inner world of those around them.
