In the times of the Baal Shem Tov Hakadosh zy”a, there lived a gaon named Rav Chaim Rapaport zt”l. Although the two had never met, Rav Chaim opposed the Besht’s approach.
One day, Rav Chaim was sitting alone and learning in an empty bais medrash when the Besht suddenly entered. Rav Chaim asked him who he was and he answered, “I am ‘afar v’eifer’, dust and ashes.”
The Besht then asked, “And who are you?”
Rav Chaim replied, “I too am dust and ashes.”
The Besht then said, “If so, there’s no reason why two piles of dust and ashes should fight with each other.”
They engaged in holy conversation and soon became