In about the year 1501, a Spanish Jew named Joseph Jospa arrived in Cracow. He become known as a great scholar and a veritable saint. For 30 years, until the age of 50, he kept himself completely apart from everyone.
At that same time, a wealthy businessman named Levi, who had numerous dealings with the nobility, also lived in Cracow. He was a great philanthropist whose house was open to all. His married son, Joseph, was a brilliant young man. He was well versed in several languages and became very active in his father's business. He was liked by all and valued for his outstanding personal qualities.
Tragedy struck when, on a business trip, Joseph was attacked and murdered by robbers. His childless widow was left to carry out the ancient custom of chalitza, the ceremony which allowed her to remarry. A few months after this took place, Joseph Jospa, or as he was called "the Spanish Jew," came to the Jewish court and announced his intention to marry the widow. For reasons he did not wish to divulge, he had decided to marry in spite of his advanced age.
When the court summoned the widow to present the proposal to her, she began to weep and recounted the following strange tale:
"I have a terrible secret weighing me down, yet I cannot make up my mind whether to tell you about it or not," she replied in a choked voice. She then proceeded to relate the recurring dream which had burdened her so much. Her deceased father had appeared to her in the same dream already several times, and she had completely lost her peace of mind on account of it. The rabbinical court decided that she had best tell them the dream, and this is what she related:
"My father appeared to me in my first dream, dressed in his Shabbat clothes. Stretching his hands over my head, he blessed me and wished me a 'mazal-tov,' saying, it had been decreed that I marry 'the Spanish Jew.'
"When I awoke from this dream I was very upset, but I didn't attach any importance to it, as our Sages tell us that dreams contain much nonsense. But a few days later, my father appeared to me again and repeated the same message, that I must marry 'the Spanish Jew.' Still, I didn't think much about it until it occurred yet again.
"The third time he appeared, my father looked very serious. He told me to have someone speak to Joseph Jospa and arrange the marriage, for it had been decided in Heaven. 'If you will do my bidding,' he said, 'you will be blessed with a son, but if you disobey me, you will come to a bad end.'
"The dream appeared to me altogether six times, and I had just concluded that I must go to the rabbinical court, when I received a summons from you."
This story astonished the members of the court, and the marriage was arranged immediately. The celebration was attended by all of Cracow, and it was felt that this match had an inner significance beyond human comprehension.
In the second year of their marriage the couple had a son who was named Eliahu, after the prophet. The child received a very special education. The little boy was told he must not indulge in mundane talk nor discuss Torah matters with anyone. About two weeks before Eliahu's bar-mitzva, Joseph Jospa informed his wife that he felt his end drawing near. He enjoined his wife to allow their son to leave home in order to perfect his study of Torah, for his soul had been sent into the world in order to uplift and inspire the people. He was destined to be the first in a long chain who would play a great role leading up to the coming of the Moshiach.
It was only now that Joseph Jospa told his wife that he had received a Divine command to marry her, having been promised that they would have a son who would be endowed with an exceptionally high soul and a special mission to fulfill. Before he passed away Joseph Jospa summoned the rabbinical court, thanked them for their help and asked that they care for his widow and orphan.
True to his father's prediction, Eliahu left home to pursue his studies. He disappeared from sight for forty years, until 1590, when he appeared in the city of Worms. He became known far and wide as "Rabbi Eliahu Baal Shem," a scholar, holy person, miracle-worker and healer. His healing was often accomplished without the aid of medicine, rather by encouraging his patients to raise their spiritual level. He also established a yeshiva and was himself responsible for its support.
Most of his patients were poor people who came to him from everywhere, staying in his house for weeks and even months. His fame increased with every year and his "wonders" were talked about for hundreds of miles around.
Adapted from the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Memoirs.
