Weekly Chasidic Story #887 (s5775-10 / 2 Kislev 5775)

Coming Back to Earth

The Rebbe, R. Yitzchak-Isaac of Zhidichov, asked his sons one Sunday morning why none of the business men who were their Shabbat guests still had not left.

Coming Back to Earth

During the Third Meal of Shabbat, towards the close of the holy day, the chasidim of Rabbi Yitzchak-Aizik of Zhiditchov would sit in an awed silence as the tzadik sang stirring soul melodies and expounded deep mystical words of Torah. A profound yearning for improvement and increased spirituality would engulf them, once to such an extent that the morning following such a Shabbat, none of the visiting businessman who had participated wanted to leave. In the state in which the Rebbe left them, it did not make sense to them that they should now be returning to their mundane affairs.

Not knowing this, the tzadik asked his sons why no one has left yet. They went to investigate, and were told, "Only yesterday our Rebbe has made all the things of this world so unworthy in our eyes, that we are ashamed to face him with our problems about our animals and our businesses."

Hearing this, the tzadik smiled and related that a similar occurrence had once happened with the tzadik Rabbi Menachem-Mendel of Riminov, and he had told his chasidim, "Shabbos is one thing; weekdays are something different. Let the businessmen return to their homes and engage honestly in their commerce." Reb Yitzchad Aizik then quoted the words of Psalms (115:16), "The heavens belong to G-d, but the earth He has given to man [to labor]."

Hearing this message from their Rebbe, each chasid folded up his talit, packed his bags, and returned home to his daily affairs.
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Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from L'maan Yishma'u #71.

Biographical notes:
Rabbi Yitzchak Aizik of Zhidachov (1804 - 30 Adar A, 1872) was descendent of the Tosfos Yomtov and the nephew and successor of Rabbi Zvi Hirsch of Zhidachov. He was a major scholar as well as a chasidic rebbe, who authored commentaries on Talmud, Midrash and Kabbalah. His thousands of followers included some of the leading scholars and rabbis of the generation. His four sons were all considered tsadikim, including the first rebbe of the Komarna dynasty.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Riminov [of blessed memory: ?-19 Iyar 5575 (? - 1815 C.E.)],.was an important Rebbe in the third generation of chasidism. He was a main disciple of the Rebbe Elimelech, and many rebbes of the succeeding generation studied with him. His teachings are collected in Menachem Zion and other works.

Connection: Weekly Reading--"Yaakov halach l'darko" (32:2), a hint to involvement in the world.

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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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