THE REBBES SOUP
Rav Mendele Rimanover was one of the four main talmidim of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk.
Before Rav Mendele Rimanover was revealed as a Tzaddik and Rebbe possessing Ruach HaKodesh, divine intuition, he appeared at Rebbe Reb Elimelech’s table as just another Chassid, a regular devoted follower.
One Shabbos, the Rimanover was sitting with all the other Chassidim when the shamash brought in the Rebbe’s soup and placed it in front of the Rebbe. The Rebbe took the bowl of soup in his hands, overturned it, and spilled its contents onto the table. Suddenly gripped with fear, the Rimanover shouted, “Oy! Rebbe! Surely they will put us all in jail. You must stop immediately!”
The other guests almost burst out laughing at hearing such strange remarks coming from Rav Mendele, but they restrained themselves in the presence of their holy Rebbe. Rebbe Reb Elimelech said to Rav Mendele, “Relax, my son, we are all safe. We are all here right now.” The others were astonished at the Rebbe’s remarks until Rebbe Reb Elimelech explained what had transpired that had led him and Rav Mendele to say what they did.
A high-ranking government official had decided to pass a harsh decree against the Jews. He had tried many times before, unsuccessfully, to write out charges and have the king stamp and seal them with his ring. Today, he wrote out the charges once again, determined that this time nothing would stop him from carrying out his wicked plan. He was about to use sand to blot the ink and dry it when I overturned my soup bowl. The official became momentarily confused, picked up the inkwell instead, and proceeded to spill ink all over the accusatory letter he had just written! This young man,” the Rebbe concluded, indicating Rav Mendele, “was able to witness what I did, but only by divesting himself fully from the physical world. He forgot that we were in fact here in this room. He imagined that I had actually used my hand and physically overturned the inkwell. He became frightened, and in his terror he called out, for fear that we would be arrested for my actions.” Now everyone understood how lofty a level of Ruach HaKodesh this young man could perceive. (Ohel Elimelech 185)
Once, Rav Mendel of Rimanov told his teacher, Rebbe Reb Elimelech, that he actually saw the Maloch who removes the light before the darkness and the darkness before the light (as described in the first berocha of the Ma’ariv service). The Rebbe Reb Elimelech responded, “But I have already seen this Maloch in my youth!” (Ohel Elimelech 156).
