Why did the Magid of Mezritch wait until midnight to light the Menorah?
The Magid of Mezritch, Reb Dov Ber, was the Talmid of the Baal Shem Tov and the successor to him. The Magid passed away 19 days in Kislev 5532. It was the first night of Chanuka, and the Chassidim of the Magid were anxiously awaiting the honor of participating in the candle lighting of the antique Menorah that the Rebbe inherited from his esteemed father, the Malach, Reb Avraham. However, the Rebbe was locked in his room, and the door remained closed.
The Chassidim figured that the Rebbe was waiting for the arrival of Reb Zusha from Honipoli. Reb Zusha, who was the brother of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk, would leave his home after Succos to raise money for the needy, as well as to preach Emunah and Bitachon to the thirsty souls. Then he would journey to Mezritch to be with his Rebbe. In the past few years, the Rebbe has given Reb Zusha the honor of lighting the Menorah on the first night. If so, the question remained: where was Reb Zusha?
It was already close to midnight, and the Rebbe walked out of the room and looked around as if to search for Reb Zusha, but after noticing that Reb Zusha wasn’t there, the Rebbe said that it seemed that Zusha got caught up with something very important, therefore we will proceed. The Rebbe began the preparations of rolling the cotton into wicks and pouring the oil into the menorah. His face was burning red with holiness. Finally, the minute came, and the Rebbe recited the Brachos and lit the Menorah. Then the Tish began with the Zemiros.
In the morning, after davening the door of the shul opened up, and a smiling Reb Zusha walked in. The Chassidim surrounded him and asked him why he was delayed. He answered that tonight at the Tish from the Rebbe, he would tell them the story of why he delayed. That night, the Rebbe was preparing the Menorah for the second candle and winked to Reb Zusha to light the candles. Reb Zushe lit the Menorah, and the Magid sat to the Tish, and the singing began.
After finishing the Zemiros, the Magid asked Reb Zusha to tell his story. However, Reb Zusha felt uncomfortable speaking in front of his Rebbe. But the Magid prodded him to start, and Reb Zusha respected that and began: As you know, I travel after Succos to strengthen the souls of Yidden. This year was very successful. and I was able to reach out to many Yidden and make them happy. It was getting close to Chanuka in the month of Kislev, and I began to prepare myself to go to Mezritch. However, as I began to travel, heavy rains came and the roads were flooded. Then suddenly the weather turned cold, it snowed, and it was impossible to travel with a wagon. I waited until the snow would let up and began to walk to Mezritch, anticipating that I would arrive in plenty of time.
Yesterday, I was very close to Mezritch when all of a sudden it began to snow heavily, and I tried with all my strength to continue on, but I wasn’t able to go in the snow. I reminded myself that my good friend Reb Yaakov lived close by, and I figured I would stay by him, warm myself, and wait until the snow stopped. I knocked on the door for a very long time until finally Reb Yaakov’s wife answered the door, and I noticed that she was crying. I asked her why she was crying, and she answered that her husband went to work in the morning, and it was already very late, and he hadn’t come home yet. I’m worried, G-d forbid; something happened to him, and the children began to weep too!
I was heartbroken and didn’t know what to do. I wanted to be in Mezritch to light the Menorah. Yet I couldn’t bear the pain and agony of the desperate family. I asked the wife to map me out the route he usually uses, and I followed the map. As I was walking, I stumbled upon Reb Yaakov lying in the snow. I quickly checked his pulse and saw that he was alive, and with heavenly strength, I put him on my shoulders and carried him home. We worked on him and finally revived him, much to the ecstasy of the family.
I realized that I did the right thing, and when Reb Yaakov came back to himself, he gave me the honor to light his menorah. My thoughts were then that I was lighting Rebbe’s Menorah. Reb Yaakov and his children sang and danced for the great miracle. I was glad to have performed a great mitzvah by saving the life of a Yid. The Magid interrupted Reb Zusha and said that was the reason I waited until you finished lighting, and I saw that great Simcha from the dancing. I danced along with your Simcha! Your Neshama was greatly elevated by this act. Now we shall all go and dance. The Chassidim went for a lebidiger dance for a long time, and the heavens danced along with Simcha. The Magid elaberated to his students the greatness of Simcha!
