Weekly Chasidic Story #898 (s5775-21 / 20 Shevat 5775)

The Dog, the Fish and the Dream

Rabbi Nachman of Kosov had a relative named Rabbi Yudel of Chudnov who was also a follower of the Baal Shem Tov.

Connection: Weekly Reading--"These are the Judgments" ("These are the Kindnesses" /"These are the Reincarnations")

 

The Dog, the Fish and the Dream

Rabbi Nachman of Kosov had a relative named Rabbi Yudel* of Chudnov who was also a follower of the Baal Shem Tov.

Rabbi Yudel was careful not to accept favors of others. He preferred to provide for himself from his own work, running an iron ore business. Once, Rabbi Yudel went to check on one of his iron ore mines. Being a long way from his home, he decided to spend the Shabbat in a small village near the mine. He asked Reb Meir, a local householder in that village, if he could spend the Shabbat with him.

Reb Meir answered, "Rabbi Yudel, it would be my honor if you would be my guest for this Shabbat. However, I don't have any fish or meat for you to eat at the Shabbat meals. To my knowledge, no one has caught a fish here lately. And while I do have some meat that can be prepared, you being a chasid, won't be able to eat it because you didn't have a chance to examine the knife used by the shochet." [In those days, the chasidim were very careful to check the knife used by the kosher-slaughterer to be sure the edge of the knife blade was razor sharp and free of any knicks that would render the meat of the slaughtered animal unkosher.-ed.]

Reb Meir continued, "Rabbi Yudel, I suggest that you journey to the next village where a certain wealthy man lives. He is an old acquaintance of mine and I know that he'll be very pleased to host you for the Shabbat. He has his own shochet and will be able to provide fish and meat that will meet your standards."

Rabbi Yudel decided to follow Reb Meir's advice and started to walk on the road towards the next village where the wealthy man lived. The road connecting the two villages passed through a large pond that one had to cross to go from one village to the other. Usually, the water in the pond was quite shallow. But after a strong rain or in the spring after the snow melted, the water in the pond became much deeper. When Rabbi Yudel reached the pond, he wasn't aware that strong spring rains had caused the pond water to be exceptionally deep.

Just as Rabbi Yudel was about to step into the pond and cross to the other side, a dog jumped in. The dog started howling from fear; it couldn't swim so it was starting to drown. The howling of the drowning dog upset Rabbi Yudel so much that he began to shed tears.

After this experience, Rabbi Yudel decided that the water was too deep for him to continue his way to the next village. So he returned to the village that he had just left. When Reb Meir saw him he asked in wonderment, "Rabbi, I thought you were going to the next town to celebrate the Shabbat."

Rabbi Yudel replied, "When I reached the pond, I didn't realize how deep the water is at this time of the year. Just then, a dog jumped into the pond. Unfortunately, it couldn't swim and it drowned. It saved my life! Thank G-d. But the howling of the drowning dog upset me so much that I couldn't continue, so I decided to return here for Shabbat."

Reb Meir said, "Rabbi Yudel, of course you're always welcome to stay with me but what will you eat for the Shabbat meals?"

Rabbi Yudel asked, "Could you please see if there is any chance at all that you might get a fish for the Shabbat meals?"

Reb Meir requested a few of the local villagers to try extra hard to catch a few fish. They agreed. Almost miraculously, they returned that very afternoon with an unusually large pike.

When Reb Meir saw the fish, he said in amazement, "In all the years I've lived here, I've never seen such a large fish." The villagers that caught the fish nodded their heads in agreement.

That day, being Friday, Reb Meir's wife prepared several sumptuous meals for the Shabbat with the fish.

Later that night, Rabbi Yudel was sitting at the Shabbat table with Reb Meir and his family. After making Kiddush, eating the Shabbat dinner and singing several Shabbat songs, Reb Meir and his family left the table to go to sleep.

Rabbi Yudel stayed at the table to study a holy Torah book, as was his custom before going to sleep. Suddenly, a strong feeling of tiredness came over him and he put his head down on the table to rest. After a few short minutes, he fell into a deep sleep.

During this sleep, he had a vivid dream in which his departed father appeared and spoke to him. "My son, I was reincarnated as that fish you were eating tonight. Do you remember that man I always spoke so strongly against because he was an informer against our Jewish brethren? Well, he was reincarnated as the dog that you saw drown in the pond. He finally made up for his behavior as an informer when he drowned to save you."

Rabbi Yudel's father continued speaking in the dream, "I was reincarnated as the fish because I publicly condemned this informer. As the Torah says, 'You shall not bear a sin on his account.'* My son, the tears you shed when the dog howled as he drowned atoned for me. Please be careful how you eat the fish. Be sure to hold the proper intentions in your mind. This will help elevate my soul."

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Editor's notes:
* A Yiddish diminutive for the biblical name "Yehuda'
** Kedoshim 19:17 Rashi: Do not shame him in public.

Source: Adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of Tzvi-Meir Kahn, patent lawyer, posted on his website, //baalshemtov.com.

Biographical note:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer [of blessed memory: 18 Elul 5458- 6 Sivan 5520 (Aug. 1698 - May 1760 C.E.)], the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"-often referred to as "the Besht" for short], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed his identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 5494 (1734 C.E.), and made the until-then underground Chasidic movement public. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.

Connection: Weekly Reading, opening verse -- "These are the judgments…." Targum Onkelos translates: "These are the laws"; Petach Eliyahu interprets: "These are mercies"; the Zohar explains "These are the secrets of reincarnation."

 

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