Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezrich (successor of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chasidism). He was renown throughout Poland as a great tzadik (righteous person) whose love of G-d, the Torah and the Jewish people was unlimited.
One year on Rosh Hashana, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak approached the bima (lectern) in his synagogue, with obvious seriousness. Soon it would be time to sound the shofar, the main mitzva (commandment) of the days of Rosh Hashana. The moment of the sounding of the shofar is one of the holiest moments of the year; it is the moment when we crown G-d as our King.
So the congregation was in shock when Rabbi Levi Yitzchak went up on the podium to blow the shofar and, weeping profusely, pulled a long braid of blond hair from his pocket. The Rebbe held the braid aloft for several moments. Tears streamed down his face as he prayed with deep emotion. Only after he put the braid on the table before him, did he begin to blow the shofar.
When Reb Levi Yitzchak finished, he was beaming with joy. Later at the holiday meal, one of his pupils got up the courage to ask him what had transpired, and the Rebbe explained.
"Weeks before Rosh Hashana, I and other members of the chevra kadisha (holy society) sensed that the upcoming year would be filled with unspeakable tragedies for the Jews. All of the tzadikim, especially Rebbe Boruch of Mezibuz and I, were very worried and finally we agreed to devote all our energies, day and night, to fasting and prayer in order to remove the terrible decree. Despite our greatest efforts, we did not sense any relief.
"It was obvious that it was out of our hands. We needed a big miracle. Yesterday, the day before Rosh Hashana, I suddenly felt an urge to search for something, some sort of merit that might change things.
"I left my house and my feet took me to the poorest part of town. I walked aimlessly until I noticed a house in the Jewish section that seemed to be calling to me. I knocked on the door and a woman answered, but when she saw me she almost fainted. She began moaning and weeping uncontrollably. It took her several minutes to allow me to enter, and several more until she had calmed down and began to speak.
"The woman told me a tragic story. She and her parents had lived on land rented from the local baron. They managed to pay the rent and eke out a meager living by milking cows and selling the milk and cheese to nearby farmers. Life was not easy, but it became even more difficult when she was 16 years old and tragedy struck. Her parents fell ill and several months later they both passed away. Suddenly she was alone with no money. All this time there had been no income so there were many debts.
"She had no choice other than to go to the baron and beg him to give her time to get herself back on her feet. Perhaps he would have mercy on her. With much trepidation, she managed to get an audience with the baron. When the young woman, who was also exceedingly beautiful, was ushered into his room, she saw a look in the baron's eyes that made her let out a little cry and instinctively run toward the door.
"The baron commanded his servants to block her exit and he ordered her to face him. Then he spoke to her in a soothing tone. He explained to her that he could offer her a life of luxury and comfort, with servants at her beck and call and days filled with fun and excitement. Surely, this was a much grander future than being a lowly Jewess with no future.
"But when it was obvious to him that this also did not impress her he stood up and said, 'Let me at least kiss the locks of your beautiful hair. Then I will waive your debts and give you the next three years rent at half price.' Saying this he suddenly stepped forward and, as she turned to run from him once more, he grabbed her hair in his two hands and kissed it passionately.
"The young woman bolted out the door and ran for as long as she could until she could run no more. When she finally reached her home she felt so humiliated that she wasn't able to sleep all night. The next morning, instead of cashing in on the baron's promise, she took a scissors, cut off her braids, packed a bag, and left her home, never to return again.
"She found a job in the city as a housemaid where she worked for several years until she got married. Last year her husband passed away and she felt that perhaps the foul kiss of the baron had something to do with it."
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak continued, "I assured her that this was certainly not true. I asked her if perhaps she had saved any of the hair that she had cut off so many years ago."
Reb Levi Yitzchak raised the braid in his hands for all to see once again. "This is what she gave me. This is what I held up before I blew the shofar earlier today. And as I held this hair aloft, I wept before G-d, 'Master of the Universe, if you have any doubt about what kind of people are Your nation, then just look at this braid of hair. A poor, orphan girl gave up a life of luxury and comfort, in order to be Your servant! Now, G-d, have mercy on us and be our merciful Father, our benevolent Protector, our omnipotent King.' The braid of hair, together with our sincere prayers, have nullified the decree."