A Chasid once traveled to Lublin to spend the Yamim Nora’im with the Chozeh of Lublin, zt”l. When it was his turn to introduce himself, he was shocked when the Chozeh told him to go home right away. Thinking that he misunderstood, the Chasid came the next day to see the Chozeh. The Chozeh was surprised to see him and exclaimed, “What are you still doing here? I told you to go home!”
A Deeply Dejected Chasid
Deeply dejected, the Chasid set out on his journey home. On the way, he stopped at an inn to spend the night, and he met a group of Chasidim that were traveling to visit the Chozeh. After a few rounds of L’Chaim, the Chasidim started to dance, and they drew this Chasid into their circle. Round and round they danced, joyfully singing Hashem’s praises. Gradually, the Chasid’s sadness turned into Simchah.
As they danced, the Chasidim said to him, “Come on back with us to the Rebbi.” The Chasid decided to give it another try. Perhaps the Chozeh would welcome him this time. When he again arrived at the Chozeh, to his great surprise, the Chozeh was delighted to see him and embraced him warmly.
Achieving What Even a Rebbe Can’t Do
The Chozeh declared, “A Rebbi cannot accomplish the miracles that Chasidim can achieve through Simchah!” He explained, “When you came to me the first time, I saw that Heaven had decreed that you will die shortly. I sent you home because I did not want you to pass away here on Yom Tov, I wanted you to be with your family. But because of your Simchah, you caused the Heavenly decree to be annulled!”
Indeed, this Chasid lived be a ripe, old age. The Skulener Rebbe said about this, “This story represents the underlying meaning of Simchas Torah. After our intense Tefilos of the Yamim Nora’im and after the decree was sealed, we dance on Simchas Torah, and even if the decree was not favorable, it is possible to reverse it and change it into goodness and Brachah through the power of Simchah!”
Reprinted from the Simchas Torah 5785 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
