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Weekly Chasidic Story #588 (s5769-23 / 7 Adar 5769) Mordechai Then and Now A number of Chassidic leaders, including Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi and Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuz once convened to discuss a grave threat hanging over the Jews of Russia. (Connection: seasonal - relates to Purim)
Mordechai Then and NowA number of Chassidic leaders once convened in Berditchev to discuss some grave threat which hung over the Jews of Russia. The meeting was presided over by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, who proposed that the funds needed to save the situation should be raised by the imposition of a tax of a quarter of a ruble on every Jew -- or, according to another version, by the payment of a quarter of their dowries by every bridegroom. A knock was heard at the door which was behind the speaker's back. He said: "The grandfather has arrived." (Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola was known since his infancy by this Yiddish nickname -- der Shpoler Zeide.**) Rabbi Aryeh Leib came in, and was invited by Rabbi Shneur Zalman to wash his hands for bread and to join the company at the table for a meal. The new arrival walked up and down the room, but gave no answer. When he ignored the invitation a second time, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (at whose home the meeting was taking place) said to Rabbi Shneur Zalman, who was his relative by marriage: "Mechutan, do you not know that the Zeide fasts from one Shabbat to the next?" Rabbi Shneur Zalman nevertheless turned to the Zeide a third time, inviting him to eat -- and this time the invitation was accepted. There was another knock on the door. "The emissaries of Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuzh are here," said Rabbi Shneur Zalman. They entered, turned to him and said: "Our rebbe sent us here to tell you that in the days of Mordechai and Esther people were not told to contribute quarters: other measures were taken!" "Do you hear that?" Rabbi Shneur Zalman said to those at his table. "Rabbi Baruch [who was known as an outspoken critic of his] states that I am the Mordechai of this generation." He then turned to the emissaries and said: "I would ask you to tell Rabbi Baruch that there are three modes of repentance -- fasting, prayer, and charity. The first was the means appropriate to the city of Nineveh; the second was practiced by Mordechai and Esther; the outstanding means which is the especial task of our generation is tzedaka, charity." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Adapted by Yrachmiel Tilles from the rendition in A Treasury of Chassidic Tales (Artscroll), as translated by our esteemed colleague Uri Kaploun from Sipurei Chasidim by Rabbi S. Y. Zevin.] Connection: seasonal - relates to Purim Biographic notes (in order of appearance): Rabbi Shnuer 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. Rabbi Aryeh Leib of Shpola [?-6 Tishrei 1811], known as the Shpoler Zeide ('grandfather'-a nickname given to him by the Baal Shem Tov at his circumcision), is famed as a miracle worker and devoted to the succor of poor Jews in distress. In his early years, he was a disciple of Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz, a leading figure in the first generation of chassidim.The Lubavitcher Rebbe stated the possibility that the Shpoler Zeide and Rabbi Leib Sarah's are the same person. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740-25 Tishrei 1810) is one of the most popular rebbes in chassidic history. He was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch. He is best known for his love for every Jew and his active efforts to intercede for them against (seemingly) adverse heavenly decrees. Many of his teachings are contained in the posthumously published, Kedushat Levi. Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuzh [1753 - 18 Kislev, 1811], the town of the Baal Shem Tov, was the son of R. Yechiel Ashkenazi and Adel, the daughter of the Baal Shem Tov. He was one of the pre-eminent Rebbes in the generation of the disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch and had thousands of Chassidim. **Editor's note:
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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.