Weekly Chasidic Story #979 (s5776-51 / 25 Menachem-Av 5776)

ELUL: the Month of No Visitors

One wealthy person felt so desperate, he decided he had to go to the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk even during Elul.

Connection:Seasonal - The climactic month of Elul begins this Shabbat.

 

ELUL: the Month of No Visitors

 

The Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk would not accept visitors during the month of Elul. Throughout the year, his door was open and people would go to him for salvations, but during the month of Elul he required time for himself.

People understood this, and they respected the rebbe's stated boundaries. One year, however, a wealthy person who felt desperate decided that he would travel to speak privately with the rebbe even during Elul. His problem was indeed serious; his son had become insane!

As he and his son were traveling to the rebbe, they met a pauper, collecting money. The boy said to his father: "Give this man a generous donation."

The father was startled; this was the first sane sentence he heard from his son in a long time. Since he was so pleased with his son's improvement, he gave a half-golden coin, to the pauper. The pauper asked them, "Where are you headed?"

The father told him that his son had become insane, so they were going to the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizensk for a blessing.

The pauper replied, "But don't you see that your son is healed? Why should you bother the tzadik? You probably heard that he asked not to be disturbed during Elul."

Nevertheless, the father decided that since he had already traveled a long way, he would continue.

When he arrived at Lizhensk he went directly with his son to speak with the Rebbe Elimelech, and as soon as he was admitted into the rebbe's room, he gave him twelve golden coins.

Said the Rebbe Elimelech: "Am I more special than Eliyahu Hanavi? To Eliyahu you only gave a half-golden coin."

Only then did the father understand that the pauper he met was Elijah the Prophet.

* * *

Reb Yisrael-Avraham Tchernostrau (the son of Rebbe Zusha of Honipoli and nephew of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk) would often tell this story, and he would conclude by saying, "Notice how precious Rebbe Elimelech's Elul was to The One Above. From heaven they sent Eliyahu Hanavi to heal the wealthy man's insane son, solely to prevent him from disturbing Rebbe Elimelech's holy prayers and meditations during Elul."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from Torah Wellsprings - Rav Biderman, Shoftim 5775.

Biographical note:
Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk [of blessed memory:5477 - 21 Adar 5547 (1717 - March 1787 C.E.)], was a leading disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov, and the leading Rebbe of the subsequent generation in Poland-Galitzia. Most of the great Chassidic dynasties stem from his disciples. His book, Noam Elimelech, is one of the most popular of all Chassidic works.

Connection: Seasonal - The climactic month of Elul begins this Shabbat.




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!

A 48 page soft-covered booklet containing eleven of his most popular stories may be ordered on our store site.

 

FLASH! "Saturday Night, Full Moon" by the first of 3 books by Yerachmiel Tilles, the Ascent storyteller, featuring 33 of his best stories, is

now available for purchase--through ASCENT-in-Safed or the publishers
Want to see our preview, which now includes feedback, approbations and the spectacular cover?


back to Top   back to this year's Story Index   Stories home page   Stories Archives
Redesign and implementation - By WEB-ACTION