The followers of Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, awaited him to come into the Shul for the lighting of the menorah on the first night of Chanuka. The past few years, Rabbi Meshulam Zusha of Anapoli, one of the Maggid's greatest disciples, had been honored with lighting the shamash candle. Reb Zusha would then hand it to the Maggid who lit his menorah from it. But tonight, Reb Zusha was nowhere to be seen.
The Chassidim wondered if his absence was the reason why the Maggid had not yet lit the menorah. Minutes, then hours ticked by, as the Chassidim waited for their Rebbe to emerge. Finally, close to midnight, the Maggid emerged from his room and walked towards the menorah. The Maggid started mumbling to himself and said quietly, "Zusha will not be with us tonight. We will light the menorah now."
The Maggid honored another of his Chassidim with the privilege of kindling the shamash, the Rebbe then said the Berochos and the single wick was lit. Then all of the Chassidim joined together in singing the traditional Chanuka songs. The next morning, just as the Maggid and his Chassidim were finishing davening, Reb Zusha walked in. Weary from traveling, Reb Zusha shuffled over to his customary place and dropped down on the bench.
His friends came over and gave him a hearty welcome. One of them reported, "The Rebbe waited a long time for you last night. What happened?"
"After we light the Chanuka menorah tonight," promised Reb Zusha, "and with the Rebbe's permission, I will tell you what happened."
All of the Chassidim gathered around the Maggid's menorah on the second night of Chanuka. After the Maggid lit the menorah everyone eagerly listened to Reb Zusha's story.
"As you all know, immediately after Chodesh Tishrei, it is my custom to travel throughout the small villages and hamlets near Mezritch. I go from town to town, speaking with the adults and teaching the children Torah telling them about the wonders of our heritage. I also speak to them about how Hashem loves each and every single Jew and that they are all important to Him. I tell them about our Rebbe and explain some of the Rebbe's teachings.
"Each year, I plan my schedule so that I can return Mezritch in time for Chanuka. Yesterday, I was on my way back to Mezritch when a terrible snowstorm started. I pushed on through the storm, though many times I felt I could not continue. Knowing that I would soon be back in Mezritch near the Rebbe was what kept me going.
"The storm worsened and I soon realized that I would have to stop and rest a bit before continuing, if I wanted to make it to Mezritch at all. So, I stopped at the home of Yankel in a village not too far from Mezritch. By this time, it was already quite late in the afternoon. I pounded and pounded on the door until finally, someone called out, 'Who is it?' 'It is I, Zusha,' I said loudly.
“Yankel's wife opened the door. She looked absolutely terrified as she bid me inside. I noticed that the children, too, looked frightened. The poor woman burst out, 'Yankel left the house early this morning to gather firewood. He promised he would come back early, for even then he saw we were in for a terrible storm. It is late already and still he has not returned,' she wailed.
“For a split second I hesitated. If I went into the forest now, who knew if I would come out alive? But I knew I had no choice. I put on my coat and scarf once again and set out toward the forest. I passed a few rows of trees when I saw the upright form of a man covered with snow. Only his face was visible in that white blur. I saw right away that it was Yankel, and I thought for sure that he had frozen to death. But when I came very close, I noticed to my surprise, that he was still breathing.
“I brushed Yankel off and tried to warm him up. Somehow I managed to drag and carry Yankel back to his house where his wife and children greeted us with cries of joy. With my last ounce of strength, I deposited Yankel on the bench near the stove and fell to the floor myself. Miraculously, Yankel's wife was able to thaw him out. She brought us a bottle of strong hard liquor which we drank eagerly to warm our insides. At about midnight we felt sufficiently strong enough to stand up and light the Chanuka menorah. As we said the prayer, who made miracles for our ancestors, in those days at this time, we knew without a doubt that Hashem had made a miracle for us now, too. As soon as the sun rose in the morning I set out for Mezritch and arrived when you saw me this morning."
Reb Zusha finished his story. The Maggid looked deeply into Reb Zusha's face. "Know, Zusha, that in Heaven they waited, as it were, to light the Divine Chanuka menorah until you lit the menorah together with Yankel. In the merit of your saving a Jewish soul from death, the Heavens awaited you."
Reprinted from the Parshas Vayishlach 5786 email of Rabbi Dovid Caro’s Inspired by a Story.
