By Rabbi Sholom Dovber Avtzon
As is known there were many trade fairs in Europe that attracted sellers and buyers from numerous countries. One of these big fairs took place in Konigsberg, Germany. The author of Sippurim Noraim was there also and he rented a room in an inn that was used by many of the biggest sellers and buyers at the fair.
Among them were prominent businessmen from the city of Slutzk, who were also tremendous Talmidei Chachomim (Torah Scholars). While they discussed Torah thoughts, part of their conversation was also about Chassidim and their leaders. Each one had something to say.
The inhabitants of Slutzk were known to be staunch opponents of the Chassidic movement, and they spoke negatively about many of the Rabbonim of the chassidim. Then someone began to speak against the Maggid of Mezeritch.
To everyone's shock and bewilderment, the people of Slutzk interrupted the speaker and firmly stated, "It is forbidden to say anything negative, on such a miracle worker. While we are fierce opponents to the ways of chassidim and their leaders, however, what we witnessed with our own eyes, and not something that was related to us by others, cannot be denied.
The following astonishing and remarkable anecdote that he did, happened publicly in our own city.
The Lost Traveler Finds His Way to the Town of Mezeritch
A member of our community traveled to the Vholin area for his business, however he lost his way and wandered aimlessly from around noon until midnight. He finally arrived in a town, which happened to be Mezeritch. Being that he was cold, he hoped to find a house where he could warm himself up, but as noted it was already midnight and everyone was asleep, as there was no light shining from any window.
Driving around the town he finally saw one house where the light was shining through the window, he drove over and knocked on the door. An individual opened the door, invited him in, and as he entered to warm himself up, he noticed that the light was coming from a different room. That room was the holy chamber of the Maggid.
Realizing that he had a guest in the house, the Maggid went over to him and greeted him with the traditional Sholom Aleichem. The Maggid then asked him, “From which city are you from?”
I am from Slutzk, the person replied. However, I wandered off the main road and I got lost until I finally noticed this town,
The Reason for Why You Strayed Off the Path
Everything is b'hashgacha protis, (Divine personal providence), the Maggid said to him. Therefore, it wasn't for naught that you strayed off the path and ended up at my house. There is a reason for it!!
The Maggid then put on his glasses, (this was his mode of conduct whenever he wanted to limit his vision to see only one thing (and not the entire world,) and momentarily looked at the guest.
The Maggid then said, "When you left your house, your son was gravely ill. That is correct, the guest replied. You have nothing to worry about, continued the Maggid, as Boruch Hashem, your son is now in excellent health. When you return home, you will find the entire city in an uproar, as many, many young children are passing away, while your son had healed and became healthy. The Rov and the judges are searching and trying to find out what is the grave sin that is causing [Hashem's displeasure to make] numerous young children to pass away.
The day after you return one of the magnates will be celebrating the birth of his newborn son, and he will prepare a large meal in honor of it. He will invite you to be one of the attendees. All the important people of the city will also be attending, and the conversation would be about the horrible plague that is killing so many infants. They will come to the conclusion that a certain individual is the sinner; however, he is pure and innocent from doing any sin Chas V'sholom (G-d Forbid). One of very honored guests will be a wealthy magnate, one of the leaders of the city, and he happens to be a tremendous sinner. His actions are causing the deaths of the infants.
An Obligation to Accuse the Wicked Man
After the other guests will come to their conclusion about this innocent person that he is the sinner, they will begin hitting him, imploring him to admit to his misdeeds and repent. The above-mentioned magnate will attempt to join them. However, when he raises his hand to hit that individual, you are to grab his hand and say firmly to the magnate, "Wicked one, you are the one to admit, as you are the grievous sinner!" It is because of you that so many of our young children have passed away. He will immediately admit, and the plague will immediately stop, Not one more child will die. The Maggid concluded, "If you don't do as I instructed you, you should know that your own son, will immediately die an unpleasant death.
The Man Left Out Not One Detail from the Maggid’s Instructions
The businessman went home, and he fulfilled everything that the Maggid instructed him to do. There was not one detail which the Maggid said to him would happen that didn't occur. All the inhabitants of Slutzk were astonished from this wonderous happening, The businessmen from Slutzk then said to the others who were together with them at the fair, "Would you find such a holy person that the spirit of Hashem is in with him? We all witness this, and it is impossible to deny it.
Reprinted from the Parshas Vayeitzei 5784 email of the Weekly Story of Rabbi Sholom Avtzon.
