אות - קפז

Once one of his followers came before him who had illness and great pain in his hand — until he could not move his hand at all. And his hand was hanging on his neck as is the way of the sick with their hands. And he could not lower it in any way, for his illness and pain was very great. And they were speaking before Rabbainu o.b.m. that he must drink salt water and receive remedies. And that man was very poor and had nothing for expenses and remedies. On Shabbas during the meal of Shacharis [morning meal], Rabbainu o.b.m. answered and said to those sitting around him — that this man certainly has faith. And they answered: yes. And he repeated the matter and spoke a bit about whether he has faith, and they answered: yes. Afterward Rabbainu o.b.m. suddenly commanded the aforementioned man to lower his hand. And he was immediately startled, and all the people were startled and astonished — for it was a very very wondrous thing. For this man had been ill in his hand for a long time and could not lower his hand — and now he should lower it suddenly?! But immediately when Rabbainu o.b.m. commanded — he decreed and it arose. And immediately they took from him the cloth on which his hand was hanging on his neck, and he lowered his hand at once. And it was a famous miracle to the eye of all — that his hand was immediately healed at that very hour, and his hand immediately returned to its health and strength like all other people until this day. Such and similar wonders were seen from him — several awesome wonders at intervals. But at the time of the aforementioned matter of that man — afterward I came to him and he told me a little about this, and Rabbainu o.b.m. then had some pain and illness. And he said then that every time he performs some wonder he has suffering afterward always. And he said that every time he does something he asks from Hashem Yisburach afterward that the matter be forgotten.