Weekly Chasidic Story #1448 (5785-50) 15 Elul 5785 (Sep. 8, 2025)

"Exposing the Young Genius"

The future founder of Chabad, then 16 years old, arrived in Mezritch for the first time on a Friday, Erev Shabbos. Although the son-in-law of a wealthy businessman, he was wearing the clothes of a pauper so that no-one would recognize him.

Why This Week? Thursday, Elul 18, is the date of the birth of the AlterRebbe in 1745 (and of the Baal Shem Tov in1698).

Story in PDF format for more convenient printing

Exposing the Young Genius

When the Alter-Rebbe-to-be [Rabbi Shneur-Zalman] made his first journey to Mezritch, he was a young and recently married man, just 16 years of age, but his phenomenal accomplishments in the study of Torah were already famed throughout White Russia. Aside from his brilliance and erudition in the study of nigleh [the "revealed" Torah: Scripture, Talmud, Halacha], he served the Creator with the deep-felt devotion and awe of a man far more advanced in years.

He was also proficient in the writings of the holy Shelah [Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz 1560-1630] by heart, from beginning to end, and it was from the Shelah that he had adopted his mode of divine service. And yet, despite this, his broad mind was still not at ease, until he came to hear intriguing reports of our holy Rebbe, the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov.

The journey to Mezritch was long, so it was necessary to stop on the way for Shabbat, which he did in the city of Minsk. He arrived there on a Friday, Erev Shabbos. He was wearing the clothes of a pauper so that no-one would recognize him. The gabbai [manager] of the shul (synagogue) arranged for him to stay for Shabbos in the home of a wealthy member of the community.

It happened that this wealthy householder had a son-in-law who was an exceptional Torah scholar, whose name had already become known far and wide, and would yet become even more acclaimed as a Torah genius. His name was Rabbi Shmuel Modils. However, he did not speak a word to the Alter Rebbe that entire Shabbos, thinking the ill-dressed young man to be one of the many itinerant beggars who would pass by such homes.

After Shabbos and havdala [the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat], Reb Shmuel and a colleague of his retreated to their quarters in order to study together in partnership. The young Rabbi Shneur-Zalman asked if he could come as well, so that he could warm himself by the fireplace in their room. They agreed and he followed.

The two prodigies were studying in depth the Masechta [volume of Talmud] named Shabbos, and they fell into a furious debate, centered around a powerful question on the words of Rashi's commentary. It seemed as though grasping the true intent behind Rashi's words was beyond them.

Meanwhile, the young guest could not hold himself back. "My brothers," he said to them, "At this point, you won't be able to understand Rashi's meaning."

The two scholars thought his statement amusing. "And why is that?" they chuckled.

"Because you made a mistake interpreting Rashi several pages ago. If you'll understand the proper meaning of his words back there, then Rashi's intention over here will reveal itself to you as a matter of course, and without any special effort."

He showed them the place he was referring to, and told them the interpretation of Rashi they had given on their previous reading of the passage.

"Yes, that's right," they said, for that was how they had learned it.

He then raised a question on their interpretation that was so incredibly and profoundly incisive that they were stunned by the depth of his comprehension. Both men were at a loss for reply.

"Extraordinary! But please, now tell us what the proper interpretation is," they requested.

Eventually, they saw that it was just as he had said; the Rashi whose meaning had originally been problematic for them was now straightforward and simple, with no cause for question whatsoever. "This little one is as fully versed in the Talmud as any of the great scholars of the generation" they exclaimed. "Indeed, it could be he is already the greatest of the great!"

Hearing that, the Alter Rebbe quickly exited the room, and took off as though he was fleeing for his life. His hosts dispatched people throughout the city in search for him, but they did not find him.

Only later on, after investigating and inquiring into who he was and from where he had come, did they hear that he was the son-in-law of a prominent Vitebsk businessman, and that he was highly esteemed as a prodigy even in comparison to the great scholars and to other prodigies.

Reb Shmuel longed to meet with R. Shneur-Zalman again, since with time he had heard of his fine reputation, and how he was a tzaddik (righteous person) in his generation. But Minsk was a long way away from Liozhna where the Alter Rebbe lived, and he was unable to make such an endeavor.

After some years had gone by, there was a gathering in Minsk, a rabbinic conference attended by all of the greatest leaders and scholars of the region; from Lithuania, the great genius Reb Shaul of Vilna was at their head; and from White Russia, the Alter Rebbe.

When the brilliant Reb Shmuel Modils caught wind of the Alter Rebbe's attendance, he was filled with joy and delight; now, after what seemed like a lifetime, he would finally fulfill his long-awaited wish. He happily went to greet the holy Alter Rebbe, and brought along a great number of seforim (books), all carried by his attendant who followed closely behind. He intended to ask him all of his questions and scholarly doubts from across the Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi, the Rishonim, and the Achronim.

Reb Shmuel went to the upper floor of the building in which the gathering was taking place, where the Alter Rebbe had set up his chambers. There, in the presence of nearly all of the superior Torah scholars in attendance at the conference, Reb Shmuel sat for nearly an hour and a half and asked the Alter Rebbe all of his questions, The Rebbe answered each one in turn, as all the brilliant scholars gathered at the assembly listened in astonished silence.

The Alter Rebbe's great disciple, the famous philanthropist Reb Pinchas Reizes of Shklov, was also present at that gathering, and I (Yaakov Kaidener-see "Source" below) personally heard from him how after all these questions, Reb Shmuel then asked about a certain Mishna.

The Rebbe told his disciple, "Pinchas! You say the meaning of the Mishna." Reb Pinchas said his understanding of the Mishna, whereupon the Rebbe challenged him on this interpretation with such profundity that he had nothing to answer. None of the other brilliant scholars present opened their mouths either.

Later, the brilliant Reb Shmuel Modils recited the blessing "Chacham Harazim" - "He Who is wise in secrets," on the occasion of seeing such a towering sage. He then took leave and departed.

As he descended the stairs leading from the upper floor, a great number of people stood on either side of the staircase, waiting to ask R. Shmuel about the Alter Rebbe. They excitedly quizzed him about the nature of the Rebbe, and he replied with great emotion, "There are several opinions in the Talmud, Bavli and Yerushalmi, regarding the characteristics of a talmid chacham, a true Torah scholar. And I, Rabbi Shmuel Modils, say that according to all of those opinions, the holy Rebbe is a leading talmid chacham [Torah scholar - lit. "student of the wise"] of our time!"

Those are the precise words I heard from a prominent member of our town who was also in Minsk at that time. He was present at that scene on the stairs and heard those words from the genius Reb Shmuel.

We also heard how, at that same gathering, the Rebbe posed a question on a certain law as ruled by the Rambam, and he proceeded to answer the question with a deep and intricate discussion on the subject that greatly pleased the learned scholars there.

The great genius Rabbi Shaul of Vilna, who was known to be proficient in the both Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi, as well as the writings of all the 'Rishonim and Achronim' (Earlier and Later [Torah Authorities]), almost entirely by heart, rose from his seat. He addressed the Rebbe:

"It is true that G-D's Torah is in your mouth - for the question you pointed out is particularly powerful, and the answer you offered is also true Torah. However, there is something I would like to ask: You could have asked that same question on previous ruling, several pages earlier in the Rambam?!"

"I am also aware of that law written earlier," replied the Rebbe, citing the page and paragraph.

"Yes, that's right," said R. Shaul, "that was the ruling I was referring too."

The Rebbe then proposed an answer, demonstrating that there were no grounds at all to ask his question on that previous law in the Rambam. This answer involved such a profound pilpul (complex analysis) that none of the great scholars present at that rarefied assembly managed to plumb the depths of his thought, except for Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin [the main disciple of the Vilna Gaon and the patriarch of the Soloveitchik line of rabbinical scholars] and the genius Reb Shaul, who understood it perfectly well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Source: Excerpted by Yerachmiel Tilles from a forthcoming translation of Sipurim Nora'im ("Wondrous Tales") -- by Rabbi Yaakov Kaidener, as posted on anash.org from Anash Magazine, issue 004. (Sipurim Nora'im is known for its commitment to accuracy. Throughout the book, the author emphasizes from whom he heard the story and the reliability of that person. Some of the stories occurred with the author himself present).

Why This Week? Thursday, Elul 18, is the date of the birth of the Alter Rebbe in 1745 (and of the Baal Shem Tov in1698).

Biographic note:
Rabbi Shneur-Zalman [18 Elul 1745-24 Tevet 1812], one of the main disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch, is the founder of the Chabad-Chassidic movement. He is the author of Shulchan Aruch HaRav and Tanya as well as many other major works in both Jewish law and the mystical teachings

Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

To receive the Story by e-mail every Wednesday--sign up here!

"Festivals of the Full Moon"
("Under the Full Moon" vol 2 - holiday stories)
is now available for purchase from ASCENT
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *