The scene is some two hundred years ago in the large Chassidic Shul of the Holy Rabbi Yisroel of Ruzin. The Chassidim were preparing for their morning prayers when a stranger burst in franticly, grabbed the first man he encountered and whispered short of breath from running, "D-d-d... did they pray yet? Are they finished?"
Before the Chassid could answer, the stranger wiped the sweat from his brow and continued, "I have YorTzite for my father! YorTzite today!! Did they davin yet??"
A few of the other Chassidim approached the man and calmed him down. The fellow didn't have a covering on his head and clearly was not religious at all, he, and it was obvious that he would never have stepped foot in the place if not for his conscience bothering him.
He said his name was Yanush and he didn't believe in any of the Torah but he wanted to say Kaddish for his father who had been a religious man. Someone put a Yarmulke on Yanush's head. Someone else approached him with Tefillin which he tried to refuse, unsuccessfully. Then someone brought him a prayer book and showed him where the 'Kaddish' prayer was, another draped a Talit on his shoulders and the prayers began.
At first he just wanted to forget the whole crazy thing and leave but something kept him there, maybe it was guilt or some other psychological thing, but on the other hand, maybe it was the soul of his father.
The Chassidim were patient with him and waited silently at each of his bumbling, time consuming attempts to say the Kaddish prayer. But finally, when the services were over he removed the Tefillin and Tallit said 'Thank you' and started for the door. But they stopped him.
"Hey!" they exclaimed, "You have to buy 'Kibbud'!!" Poor Yanush was stuck, he had no choice but to agree. He was planning to give a donation anyway but the place made him uneasy, it was too Jewish. "I'll just buy this stuff and get out of here." He comforted himself.
Someone ran to the store and returned just moments later with all the delicacies Yanush paid him back and turned to the exit. "No, NO!!" they all cried out. Someone grabbed his arm and another led him to the tables they had pushed together. "You must stay! For the sake of your father at least make a 'LeChiam.'" They pulled up chairs, sat down around the table and forced Yanush to sit with them.
But Yanush had had enough. He wanted out and he wanted it NOW! He angrily pushed his seat back and abruptly stood up. Suddenly the door of the Rebbe's study opened, a hush fell over the room and everyone stood at attention. It was the holy Rebbe of Ruzin in person! Even Yanush was surprised. He'd never imagined a human being could be so.... so real and holy!
"Why the commotion?" The Rebbe motioned with his hand. No one answered they were paralyzed with awe.
"Ahh! Kibbud!" Said the Rebbe as he glanced at the food on the table. "Yor-Tzite for your father?" He looked Yanush deeply in the eyes.
The Rebbe pulled up a seat, sat at the table, and motioned for them all to follow.
"Here" Said the Rebbe as he filled a small shot glass with vodka and offered it to Yanush who was just sitting down.. "Make a blessing and say 'L'Chaim'!
Yanush looked around, all eyes were on him. The surprise was wearing off, 'what am I doing here?' he thought to himself. 'This is insane and I'm leaving'. He reached out, took the glass, looked around again briefly and with a smirk on his face, silently tilted his head back, opened his mouth and downed the vodka in one gulp.
"L'Chaim U'L'movet!!" he said loudly as he looked challengingly at the Chassidim, the vodka began taking effect and his smile widened. "Oy Oy!" yelled the Rebbe holding his head in his hands! "Oy! What have you done to your father?! What have you done!!?"
This unexpected outburst sobered Yanush up, the Rebbe was really serious. He again looked Yanush deeply in the eyes. "What have you done!!?” Yanush started to really feel afraid, although he didn’t know of what.
"Listen to me my friend! I knew your father. His name was Shlomo, right? Well, when he died several years ago his soul rose to the heavenly court and stood trial. It was decided that because he had a bad son like you and it was partially his fault he had return to this world; a gilgul.
"His soul descended and was incarnated in a grain of wheat. Yes, a grain of wheat. That grain waited in the field until it was finally harvested. Then it was bundled and shipped to a large distillery where it was put in a huge vat until it fermented. Then it was distilled, aged, bottled and finally distributed.
"That bottle found its way to our local grocery store and finally this morning it was purchased and is now sitting here on our table before us.
"Yanush! Your father's soul was in that glass of vodka I just gave you. If you would have just made that blessing you would have rectified it. But you didn't. You wrecked the entire process! What have you done to your father?!"
Yanush's head was spinning. The story was ridiculous, insane, crazy but when the Rebbe told it, it was clearly true.
He sat speechless, his eyes filled with tears and he began trembling uncontrollably. "What can I do? Is there any way to...?" he whispered.
"Yes" answered the Rebbe. "But it means changing your life to become the Jew your father wants you to be." Yanush just nodded in agreement.
— Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim
