The Mud of a Jew and Other Hassidic Stories. Vol. 1.pdf

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The Mud of a Jew
and Other Hasidic Tales
translated by Yaacov Dovid Shulman
The Mirror and Other Hasidic Tales
2
Master and Disciple
The Hasidim began singing the words,
AHappy
is the man who
has not forgotten you, and the son of man who takes strength in You@
to the well-known tune of my great-grandfather (Rabbi Menachem
Mendel, third leader of Lubavitch).
They entered such a state of feeling that their faces were
aflame and tears streamed from their eyes. There wasn't the slightest
doubt that each of them felt that he was standing next to Rabbi
Menachem Mendel, seeing and hearing how he was praying.
Because I had heard Rabbi Menachem Mendel's study hall
described many times, I knew exactly how it had looked and where he
had stood when praying. Now the singing of the Hasidim and their
overall appearance made such a deep impression on me that I was
drawn along with their profound feeling. It appeared to me as though
I was seeing him wrapped in his prayer shawl, wearing his white
clothes and white yarmulke, singing with his holy voice,
AHappy
is
the man who has not forgotten you, and the son of man who takes
strength in You.@
Having heard many stories about how the souls of departed
spiritual masters came to their children and students in hidden and
revealed ways, I was certain that Rabbi Menachem Mendel was
present, and this filled me with joy and fear. I was entirely taken over
by an exaltation, a feeling that one cannot express in words, one of
the highest impressions of the heart that cannot be written.
Then I felt with a clean child's simplicityBwhich I understood
more later as I grew older and began to learn HasidismBthe meaning
of a connection between a Hasid and his rabbi. I understood that the
The Mirror and Other Hasidic Tales
3
thought of a Hasid that clings to his rabbi can bring the rabbi to him.
Yes, in today's unsettled life, it is hard to imagine such a thing
and understand how it can be: how a thought can accomplish so
much. But in the past, when life was cleaner and more composed,
this was well-understood and a matter of experience.
Likutei Dibburim
1-2, pp. 236-7
A childhood memory by the previous Lubavitcher rebbe,
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880-1950)Bfrom a talk
delivered on Pesach of 1934.
The Old Man of the Forest
A number of the Hasidim of the holy and famous Rabbi
Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch learned in his study hall. At night,
each Hasid sat with a candle burning before him. Then, when the
learning period came to an end, the Hasidim would put out all the
candles but one or two; and sitting around the flickering light, they
would tell stories about spiritual masters.
One such evening, Rabbi Menachem Mendel came into the
study hall and asked his Hasidim what they were talking about.
They answered that they had been telling stories about the
holy Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, of blessed memory.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch told them,
AIn
honor
of that holy rabbi, light all the candles, just as if you were learning,
and I will tell you a story about him.@
They lit all the candles, and Rabbi Menachem Mendel of
Lubavitch told them the following story:
The Mirror and Other Hasidic Tales
4
The holy Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk had a respected
and God-fearing slaughterer who was also an expert mohel
(circumcisor).
One day, one of Rabbi Menachem Mendel's followers came to
him with a request.
Two of this man's children died as a result of being
circumcised. Now a third son had been born to him.
AI
know,@ he
said,
Athat
according to the law, it is forbidden to circumcise him on
the eighth day. But I believe that if you come to the circumcision,
your merit will guard him so that nothing will happen to him.@
The circumcision was due to fall on the coming Sabbath.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel replied,
AIf
the circumcision were
on a weekday, I would go. But this Sabbath, I am expecting
important guests. I will send my slaughterer to be your mohel. It will
be exactly as if I myself were there, and nothing will happen to the
baby, God forbid.@
The man agreed to this.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel called the slaughterer and told him
to travel to the circumcision.
The slaughterer refused. He argued,
AHow
can I spend the
Sabbath there and not at your table, listening to your teachings? Ever
since I became your follower, I haven't been away from you.@
But Rabbi Menachem Mendel commanded him to go.
So the slaughterer listened to Rabbi Menachem Mendel and
traveled to the man's home for the circumcision. But he made one
condition with the man: on Saturday night, as soon as the Sabbath
was over, a wagon-driver would take him home immediately, so that
he would at least be able to hear Rabbi Menachem Mendel recite the
The Mirror and Other Hasidic Tales
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havdalah ceremony marking the beginning of the new week.
So it was. As soon as it grew dark on Saturday night, the
slaughterer set out for home.
The road led through a forest.
The wagon driver got lost and began to wander about the
forest. They stayed there a long time until the slaughterer grew very
cold, for it was the middle of winter.
Then from afar, the slaughterer saw a house from whose
windows many candles and lanterns were shining brilliantly.
When they drew up before the house, the slaughterer sent the
driver in to see if any Jews were there.
When the driver entered the house, he saw many Jews
standing before an old man who was sitting at the head of a table and
giving a talk.
The driver came out and told the slaughterer what he had seen.
The slaughterer went into the house. No one even looked at
him, because everyone was listening to the old man's words of Torah.
The slaughterer stood among the others and listened to the old
man's talk, which pleased him very much.
When the old man finished speaking, all the men there turned
to the slaughterer and greeted him.
The old man himself called the slaughterer over and greeted
him. He asked him,
AAre
you familiar with the teachings of the
Torah?@
AYes,@
replied the slaughterer.
ADid
you understand what I said? Were you pleased?@
AI
was very pleased,@ replied the slaughter.
The old man then asked him,
AWhere
are you from?@

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