Jewish Stories of Wisdom by Patrick Fischmann

Author:Patrick Fischmann [FISCHMANN, PATRICK]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Running Press
Published: 2016-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

“He finished his drink and, holding his pipe, entered the abode of the Rav of Sharigrod.

“‘Who do you think you are stopping people from going to prayers?’

“‘Rabbi,’ the Besht said calmly. ‘There’s no need to lose your temper. It would be better to sit down and make yourself comfortable, I’m going to tell you a story.’

‘No, but… ’

“The sentence remained on hold because the rabbi had just met the eyes of the Besht and he had not been able to resist such an expression.

“‘During my travels, I always went with a team drawn by three horses: a bay, a piebald, and a white horse. None of these horses had ever neighed. One day, a farmer came to me and started shouting: Just slacken your reins! So that is what I did, Rabbi, I slackened the bridle and they started neighing. Have you understood that properly, Rabbi—the three horses, a bay, a piebald, and a white one, and not a single neigh, ever. And then there was this farmer, you catch the point, the good advice that he has given me, do you understand me?’

“‘I understand,’ the rav replied, trembling.

“And with that, he had not only understood but grasped that the storyteller was a tzadik, a diviner of the forgotten light. The rav sobbed, releasing a flood of hidden tears with his heart broken by the unfamiliar spring.

“‘You will be carried higher!’ said the Besht, before disappearing as if by magic.”

And this story was the beginning of a real transformation. The rav gradually ceased his mortifications, continued to be rocked by the appearances of the Besht, and then, helped by his disciples, turned away from austerity for good, experienced joy, and atoned for the punishments he had inflicted. Having triumphed over his aggravations and sadness, he could help those who were cheerless.

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