The Baal Shem Tov sent one of his disciples, Avraham, on a trip.
The ship on which Avraham was traveling encountered a terrible storm and capsized. Avraham was thrown into the tempestuous ocean and the next thing he knew, he was on the beach of a small island. Neither the wreckage of the ship nor the other passengers were anywhere in sight.
Avraham explored the island, going a little further each day, in the hope of finding someone who could help him.
When Thursday arrived, Avraham went the deepest into the island he had gone yet. He found a little village that was eerily still, perfectly silent.
Avraham explored the entire village which was comprised of a synagogue and a few dozen houses. He was astonished to see that the entire village was empty and yet every single house was immaculately clean; not even a thin layer of dust had accumulated on any of the furnishings. The village was truly a mystery.
Avraham decided to return to the deserted village on Friday and spend Shabbat there, albeit by himself. Friday morning, Avraham made his way to the village. But now the village was packed with people, all busy preparing for Shabbat. He grabbed one of the villagers excitedly and asked, "Where did all of you come from? I was here just yesterday and no one was anywhere in sight. It is as if you materialized our of thin air!" Avraham concluded.
Politely but firmly, the villager responded, "Excuse me, but I am very busy preparing for Shabbat. Go to the synagogue this evening. There you will find our rabbi who will certainly tell you everything you want to know."
Avraham did as he was told and after the evening services asked the rabbi for an explanation. The rabbi responded: "Be my guest this Shabbat and we will discuss this topic as well as many more interesting subjects."
That Shabbat in the rabbi's home was the most sublime, the most exalted, the holiest Shabbat he had ever experienced in his life.
Avraham felt as if the very gates of the Garden of Eden had been opened to him and he was partaking of the same Shabbat that the souls there experience. In fact, so unique was this Shabbat that Avraham totally forgot to ask the rabbi the question.
As the end of Shabbat approached, all of the villagers gathered in the synagogue. The rabbi recited the special prayer (Havdala) separating Shabbat from the rest of the week. The rabbi and all of the other villagers then dipped their fingertips into the wine of Havdala and passed their fingers over their eyes. And then, they all... vanished.
Before Avraham even realized what had happened, everyone was gone. The entire village was once more deserted.
Avraham waited in the village the entire week for the holy Shabbat to arrive. When he awoke Friday morning, he smelled gefilte fish cooking, challahs baking, chicken roasting. The village was once more busy with preparations for Shabbat. And once more, when Avraham tried to ask anyone where they had been the entire week, he received a polite but firm rebuff.
Shabbat arrived and what a beautiful, magnificent, holy Shabbat it was. Avraham once more was the guest at the house of the rabbi. And once more, Avraham forgot to ask his question.
But, when Shabbat ended this time, Avraham suddenly remembered that he must find out the village's story. When the rabbi had finished reciting Havdala, Avraham grabbed hold of his hand. "I will not let go of you until you unravel the mystery of your village for me," Avraham told the rabbi.
The rabbi, having no other choice, told Avraham the following story:
"Everyone in this village was a resident of a small town outside of Jerusalem when the Holy Temple stood. Shabbat was the favorite mitzva of our little town and we celebrated it gloriously. When the Holy Temple was destroyed our town was also destroyed and all of its inhabitants were killed.
"When we went to Heaven, we all approached the Divine Throne united, as one, just as we had always been united in our love for and observance of Shabbat. We protested to G-d, 'Heaven -- which is totally spiritual -- is not a just reward for our community, as our true love and desire has always been to uphold and celebrate the holy Shabbat. And this we will not be able to do in Heaven. Let us return to the physical, mundane world each week, on the eve of Shabbat, celebrate Shabbat there, and then we will return to Heaven.'
"G-d agreed. And since that time, for these thousands of years, each Shabbat eve we return to the physical world and celebrate Shabbat."
The rabbi then took a piece of parchment and wrote upon it various combinations of the letters of G-d's Name. He told Avraham to take this parchment to the ocean. Avraham was to close his eyes and begin walking into the ocean, all the while holding the parchment in his hand above the water. When he felt he could walk no further, Avraham was to throw the parchment into the air and he would find himself on the shores of the water near his home. The rabbi then passed his fingers over his eyes and vanished.
Avraham made his way to the shore and did as the rabbi had instructed him. When the water was almost covering his nose he pulled back his arm to throw the parchment. But then he felt a hand grab hold of his arm and drag him along.
Avraham opened his eyes to find himself near his home. The Baal Shem Tov was holding his arm so that he could not throw the parchment into the air.
The Baal Shem Tov asked Avraham for the parchment.
"This is why I sent you on the mission," the Baal Shem Tov explained to Avraham. "I will be able to use the kabbalistic formula written upon this parchment to arrive instantly (k'fitzat haderech) anywhere in the world. I will be able to help Jews wherever they are and further spread the teachings of Chasidism which will hasten the coming of Moshiach."
