Reb Mordechai HaTzaddik, a talmid of the Baal Shem Tov, had two close friends from his yeshivah days, and he very much wanted to share with them his new path in serving HaShem. However, he was hesitant to leave his Rebbe. Besides, who knew if he would be able to find them. And even if he did find them, would they listen to him?
True, the Baal Shem Tov had once taught that "one must have mesirus nefesh to do a favor begashmius, and even more beruchnius, for even a single Yid. A neshama can descend to this world and live for seventy or eighty years or more, just to do a favor for even a single Yid."
Accordingly, Reb Mordechai nearly resolved to begin the journey and seek his friends, but somehow he could not bring himself to actually leave. He decided to remain with the Rebbe for just a few more days, and then he would go.
After a few days, he considered approaching the Rebbe, telling him the whole story, and asking his advice. Then, by means of his ruach hakodesh, the Rebbe could tell him where his friends were now. That would certainly save him time. But a moment later, Reb Mordechai rejected the idea. Hadn't the Rebbe clearly said that "one must have mesirus nefesh to do a favor for even a single Yid?" So why ask if he should go?
And as to asking the Rebbe to use his ruach hakodesh to save him some time – what a chutzpa! Furthermore, if Reb Mordechai did know where they were, he would have less mesirus nefesh. No - he would not ask! He decided to take to the road and search for his friends.
On the day of his departure, he rose very early and prepared himself for Shacharis. After davening he packed a little bag with his tallis and tefillin and his belongings, and began the journey. He had already passed the city limits when the Rebbe's shammes ran after him with a message:
The Rebbe wished to speak with him! When he entered the Rebbe’s room, the Baal Shem Tov said to him: "Boruch HaShem, you won your battle with yourself!" The Baal Shem Tov gave him instructions and a bracha for success, and Reb Mordechai was indeed successful in his mission. After a long journey he located his friends and brought them to the path of the Baal Shem Tov.
Reprinted from the Parshat Chayei Sarah 5784 edition of The Weekly Farbrengen.
