The Magid of Mezritch brings Rav Refoel Hamburg, Gaon of Posen to Chassidus
Rabbi Refoel of Hamburg, was a student the Gaon of Vilna. Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov, recognized the source of Rabbi Refoel's soul and wanted to attract him to become his disciple. Once during Shalosh Seudos, the Maggid engaged in a Talmudic debate. They knew it was not the norm to discuss Talmudic suggestions in public, and found it surprising, it did not surprise Rabbi Meshulam Zusya of Anopoli when the following day he was sent on a mission by the Maggid. The Maggid had not given him specific instructions. Tranquil in his master, he took his cane and wandered from town to town, assured that the goal of his mission would be revealed in due time.
At that time the chief rabbi of Posen, Germany passed away and they were interviewing candidates to fill this rabbinic seat. The custom in those days was that the candidate had to expound on a scholarly Torah subject. Rabbi Refoel was invited to become a candidate and was scheduled to deliver the presentation he had prepared. In order to review his presentation before delivering it in Posen, he stopped at an inn in a nearby village. That same day Rabbi Zusya also arrived at the inn. As he entered he saw Rabbi Refoel sitting in a side room surrounded by open books. Since the door was open, Rabbi Zusya entered the room without knocking. As he approached the desk, he heard Rabbi Refoel reviewing the presentation he had prepared. Rabbi Zusya remembered the lesson he had heard from the Maggid the Sabbath before he set out on his travels and he was stunned that it was the exact same topic that was being rehearsed by Rabbi Refoel!
Rabbi Refoel stopped when he suddenly recalled a commentary by Tosfos that contradicted his entire premise upon which his discourse was based. Rabbi Zusya saw his anguish and offered Rabbi Refoel his assistance. At first Rabbi Refoel hesitated but finally agreed to listen. Before Rabbi Zusya told him the answer, he explained that he had heard it from his teacher, the Maggid of Mezritch. He stipulated that in exchange for the answer, after he was appointed chief rabbi in Posen, Rabbi Refoel would have to visit the Maggid. Rabbi Refoel again hesitated for he knew that traveling to the seat of the chasidim in Mezritch was something his teacher, the Gaon of Vilna, would disapprove of. Nevertheless, seeing once more that he had no choice, he gave his solemn handshake to Rabbi Zusya and promised him that he would travel to Mezritch to visit the Maggid. Rabbi Zusya proceeded to resolve all the difficulties in the text in an exceptionally brilliant fashion. He continued to debate with Rabbi Refoel on the topic to further prepare him for the presentation.
The next day, Rabbi Refoel arrived in Posen and delivered his presentation which found grace in their eyes and they unanimously accepted him as their chief rabbi. Rabbi Refoel had to keep his promise to travel to Rabbi Zusya's teacher, the Maggid of Mezritch. He decided to recount the entire story to his own teacher, the Gaon of Vilna, and seek his advice about the situation. The Gaon of Vilna told him that he was legally bound to keep his promise and make the trip to Mezritch. When Rabbi Refoel arrived in Mezritch he was careful not to reveal his identity. He entered the study hall and was extremely impressed by their mode of prayer the likes of which he had never seen before in his life. He noted the cheerful familiarity amongst all the students.
Soon after, the Maggid, who was crippled and required crutches, walked in. He had come to teach the day's lesson, when a woman brought a freshly slaughtered chicken to the Maggid for a legal rendering on its questionable status for kosher consumption. The Maggid deferred the question to the students present and they debated the issue at length. They concluded that the chicken was in fact kosher. The Maggid added that according to Kabbalah the same conclusion was reached - the chicken is kosher.
The Maggid concluded, "The chief rabbi of Posen is present with us. Let him come and make a legal ruling." He turned to Rabbi Refoel and inquired how he would render this case. Rabbi Refoel answered. The Maggid remarked, "Your rendering of the law is technically accurate. However, it is an academic answer that lacks practicality."
Rabbi Refoel was very impressed with all that he saw and heard. He saw the supreme respect the students had for the Maggid. He was amazed that the Maggid knew who he was despite the care he had taken to conceal his identity. When he returned to the Gaon of Vilna, he proceeded to give the details of all that he saw and heard.
As for Rabbi Refoel, he did not make a second trip to Mezritch so as not to infringe upon the honor of the Gaon of Vilna. Nor did he travel to the Gaon of Vilna in deference to his experience in Mezritch. During the controversy over the acceptability of the chasidic movement, Rabbi Refoel never took issue with the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov because of his respect for the great Maggid in Mezritch. He even refused to sign the excommunication ban against the Chasidim that issued from Vilna. And it is significant to note that some of Rabbi Refoel's own children eventually became chasidim. The Yahrtzeit of the Magid of Mezritch is 19 days of Kislev 5533.
