The Baal Shem Tov had a young disciple by the name of Mordechai who had a burning desire to study sorcery. Of course, Mordechai knew that according to Jewish teachings, the practice and study of any kind of witchcraft or sorcery is utterly forbidden. But Mordechai's evil impulse got the best of him and he made up his mind that he was going to leave the holy environs of the Baal Shem Tov and begin a new life.
Mordechai had determined to spend one last Shabbat with his master, the Baal Shem Tov, before taking leave of him and his fellow Chasidim forever. That Friday night, Mordechai prayed, sang, ate and listened to the words of Torah that flowed from the Baal Shem Tov's holy lips. But Mordechai's mind was somewhere else entirely. He was already far away, with the group of sorcerers he had contacted and arranged to meet the following morning.
Suddenly, Mordechai became very warm. He removed his fur hat but he was still uncomfortable. He unbuttoned the collar of his shirt and removed the long black overcoat that he wore. But still, he was perspiring profusely. Mordechai looked out the window and saw that the icy winter wind was howling through the trees, and deep snow covered the ground outside. But here inside he was sweating and felt as though he was about to faint.
"I think I will step outside for a moment," Mordechai said to the Baal Shem Tov. "I need some fresh air."
"But just for a minute, no longer" answered the Baal shem tov "it's dangerously cold outside."
It was already getting hard for Mordechai to breathe; he opened the door and stepped outside. "Another minute and I would have surely fainted," Mordechai thoughts to himself. But suddenly he felt hot again. He began running and the biting wind was refreshing. He ran and ran like a madman through the woods. The trees, the stars, the moon were racing and whirling with him. And then, suddenly, everything went black.
He woke up in a strange place. An old farmer and his wife were standing over him. "We thought you were dead when we saw you laying in the snow" He said, "You've been sleeping for over a week. Are you all right? Do you want some warm soup? Where are you from?"
Mordechai didn't remember anything, but he took up the offer on the soup. In a few days he was already learning how to work behind the plow. Gradually the farm began to change; new workers were hired, new fields were purchased and cultivated, and five years later the simple farm had become a massive estate.
One day, the old farmer returned from a trip into town and showed the young man a flyer from the post office. "They are looking for new officers in the army," he said, "I think you should apply; it's your chance to be someone really important. Just look at the miracles you have done here. Don't waste your life here on this farm. It's time to move on." The young man took to the army like a fish to water. He passed all the entrance requirements with flying colors, and after two years of officer's training, when the war broke out between his country and Poland he found himself a captain in the Royal cavalry.
Several chapters would be necessary to describe the many fierce battles and brave accomplishments of our hero, his innumerable brushes with death, his brazen spirit, split-second decisions, and impressive victories against impossible odds. Five years later, he had already been promoted to the rank of Major-General and was seated on his fine horse, reviewing the ten thousand mounted lancers at his command, when suddenly from nowhere he remembered... that night twelve years ago when he left the Baal Shem Tov's Shabbat table!
He paused for several minutes, deep in thought remembering every rich vivid detail, and every emotion that passed through his mind back then. Suddenly he came to himself and announced, "Dismount! Return to your tents, and prepare yourselves for a journey. In one hour we are beginning a three day march!"
It was late at night three days later, when the huge army reached the forest surrounding the small synagogue of the Baal Shem Tov. The General turned to face his soldiers and shouted:
"Light your torches!"
The entire forest was flooded with an eerie flickering light. "Draw swords!" The ringing of the swords and the glistening blades were everywhere.
The General dismounted, approached the small synagogue, drew his sword and began pounding with its hilt on the closed door. "Open in the name of the King! See what becomes of a chasid who leaves the Holy Master!"
No one answered, but he heard someone speaking within the house and he got angry. He furiously stuck his sword in the ground and began pounding on the door with both fists and screaming "Open! Open for a General in the King's army!"
Slowly the door opened, the Baal Shem Tov stuck his head out and said "Mordechai, you have been outside for almost five minutes! Do you want to get sick? Come in immediately!"
"Five minutes?!" the General screamed "Look at all my troops and tell me about five minutes!" He turned around and.... there was no one there. Even his horse had disappeared! The wind was howling through the trees and deep snow covered the silent forest. Even his uniform and sword were gone! He was in the same garments as he was twelve years ago, it was all an illusion.
Mordechai humbly reentered the Baal Shem Tov's synagogue and the Baal Shem Tov's world, realizing that no magic or sorcery was as strong as the powers of the Baal Shem Tov that he derived from holiness.
