Once the Shpoler Zeide was traveling with an older companion who had known the Ba’al Shem Tov. The Zeide asked his companion to tell him a tale about the holy Ba’al Shem, and this is the story he related:
It was on Yom Kippur after Shacharis when the Ba’al Shem called over his talmid, Rav Zev Wolf Kitzes, and whispered something in his ear. It was a bright, sunny day until Neila, at which time the heavens suddenly became overcast and menacing. They davened Neila and Maariv but were unable to say Kiddush Levona because the moon was hidden by so many clouds. This did little to ruin the joyful mood of the talmidim, however, and so, on Motzo’ei Yom Kippur, after the Ba’al Shem recited Havdola and they had tasted something, the talmidim began to dance and dance. Soon their joyful eruption of dance infected the Tzaddik and the Ba’al Shem joined them in the dance.
As they danced, one of them noticed that Rav Zev Wolf was missing. “Where is Rav Zev Wolf?” he asked, but the Ba’al Shem made as if he did not hear him. Afterward, they all lay down to sleep in their own beds.
At this time, Rav Zev Wolf appeared and began to knock on his Rebbe’s window, calling, “Rebbe, Rebbe, come and say Kiddush Levona! The clouds have gone and the moon is shining brightly!”
The Ba’al Shem arose, as did all of his talmidim, and together, with great simcha, they all recited Kiddush Levona. When the Ba’al Shem finished, he and Rav Zev Wolf began to rejoice and dance happily. All the talmidim and Chassidim danced, understanding that something special, unique and different was happening. Afterward, the Ba’al Shem sat and, as was his custom, revealed to them what had been occurring in the supernal realms that Yom Kippur:
“This morning, as I davened Shacharis, I sensed that a heavenly tribunal had convened and delivered a dreadful prosecution against me. They reached their judgment and handed down the verdict that I must leave this world. This judgment, I was told, would be
