Weekly Chasidic Story #648 (s5770-33 / 13 Iyar 5770)

The Suddenly Inaccessible Shortcut

Only when they heard the faint sound of the Shabbat siren in the village of Meron, heralding the arrival of Queen Shabbat, did they realize that they had to return to their hostel immediately.

Connection: Seasonal - Lag b'Omer / Meron

 

The Suddenly Inaccessible Shortcut


This story occurred on the 7th of Adar, the yahrzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu, which fell on a Shabbat that year. Two students from one of the Lubavitcher yeshivas in Israel decided to go to Meron in order to spend the Shabbat near the resting place of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

It was a clear and chilly Friday. The two students came to Meron a few hours before the beginning of Shabbat and began making preparations; they found a place to sleep and arranged their personal belongings. Then they went for a long walk in the Meron Mountains. They enjoyed the majestic serenity over these mountains of the Galilee. The clear fresh air and the knowledge that they were walking on the same paths used by the holy ancestors of the Jewish people gave them a feeling of being spiritually uplifted.

They lost all concept of time, and only when they heard the faint sound of the Shabbat siren in the village of Meron, heralding the arrival of Queen Shabbat, did they realize that they had to return to their hostel immediately before the entrance of Shabbat.

In ten minutes' time the Shabbat candles were to be lit and they were still so far away. How would they have time to have a shower, change clothes and prepare themselves for Shabbat?

They immediately began to run as fast as they could on the road leading to their place of lodging. However, it was too far away and they understood that they had little chance of getting there on time.

While running, one of the boys pointed at a small path, winding its way to the top of the mountain.

"Look", he said to his friend, "we have already walked on that path. It is a short-cut that will bring us straight to the hostel."

His friend immediately agreed, and instead of running on the road, they turned onto the small path that was winding its way between the bushes on the mountain. They ran as fast as they could, but they soon came to an abrupt stop, unable to continue.

An enormous black dog stood there blocking their way, and there was no sign that it would allow them to pass. The boys had no time for persuasion and turned to the right side of the path in order to pass the dog and continue on their way. However, the dog also moved to their right and did not allow them to pass. Then they tried to pass him on the left but the same thing happened: he blocked their way again.

The students knew that Shabbat was to start within the next few minutes and decided to pass the dog, come what may. They decided to try and pass him quickly but to their horror the huge dog stood up on its hind legs and opened its mouth in such a frightening way that they ran straight back to the main road leading to Meron, convinced that they had no other choice.

In the middle of the difficult and strenuous run they noticed a woman standing at the bus stop. Next to her, on the ground, there were two big suitcases. When the boys reached her, she said very excitedly, "It is so good that you came. Please could you help me carry my suitcases to the hostel? Afterwards I shall tell you about a miracle that does not occur every day."

The boys took the cases on their backs without asking any questions and ran as fast as they could to the hostel.

They participated in the Shabbat prayers with devotion and joy of heart. Despite the long run they felt an inner peace and were happy that they had come to Meron for Shabbat. It would have been better if they had made more proper preparations for Shabbat, but on the other hand they had performed a great mitzvah by helping the woman with her suitcases. She had arrived at the hostel in time to light the Shabbat candles.

The following day they met the woman whom they had assisted. She asked them to be seated and began to relate her story:

"For a long time I wished to go to the holy site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in order to pray there. When the 7th of Adar approached, I decided to go to Meron.

"I packed whatever I needed for the weekend in two suitcases. They were too heavy for me to carry all the way from the bus stop to the lodging in Meron, but I was sure that somebody would be willing to help me. I arrived at Meron an hour and a half before Shabbat, but to my great surprise I was the only one who got off the bus as this stop.

"I stood on the road, waiting for somebody to come. As time went by, I began to be more and more worried. When I heard the Shabbat siren, I realized that my chances of arriving there on time were very slim. Where would I spend my Shabbat?

"I started to pray to G-d and ask for help. I cried and begged. I brought Shabbat candles with me in my suitcase, but I did not bring any matches. During all my life I have been very conscientious about lighting the Shabbat candles - and now, near the resting place of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, I was to lose this dear mitzvah? I beseeched G-d for help to perform this commandment.

"Suddenly I saw how both of you came running on the road in my direction. I was so happy. Within a few moments you would reach the bus stop and you would certainly be willing to help me with my suitcases.

'To my great dismay, I saw that suddenly you turned onto a side path and began to go up the mountain. I prayed to G-d that he should perform a miracle. You were so very close to the spot where I was waiting.

"I prayed to G-d that he should send an angel from above who would make you turn into my direction -- and suddenly I saw that huge black dog standing in your way!

"You can surely understand how anxious I was when I saw how you tried to pass the dog! I prayed fervently to G-d that you should be unable to walk around him -- and at that very moment he stood up on his hind legs to his full size. I then saw how you returned to the main road until you reached the place where I was waiting!

"I am sure that because of my strong wish to light the Shabbat candles - not for my sake but for the sake of G-d - I had the privilege to see how my prayers were fulfilled in such a wondrous way!"

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[Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from "Chassidic Gems", by Tuvia Litzman, who heard this story from the two yeshiva students ]

Connection: Seasonal - Lag b"Omer / Meron


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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.

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