אות - קצז

Regarding the aforementioned Tzadik who passed away, he said that even a simple person is obligated to feel the deficiency. For certainly every person feels that something has been missing from the world — but each person feels the deficiency in some melancholy: this one feels it in livelihood — that the livelihood does not go in order; and this one feels in his bones that the bones are not settled within him now in order; and similarly (and he thought of several such examples — what each person feels the deficiency in some unusual matter).

But one who has open eyes sees literally that a candle has been extinguished from the world and darkness has been made. And have we not found several changes that occurred in the world at the time of the passing of Tzadikim — as we find in the Gemara Moed Katan (folio 25b): "He passed away etc. — the gutters of blood flowed etc." And if so in such places changes were made because of the passing of the Tzadikim — and what they relate that they saw fire: even though this is somewhat difficult in my eyes because now the generation is not worthy to see such things — but from the side of the Tzadik who passed away, it is certainly possible that there would be a pillar of fire (385) at the time of his passing. For such a head passed away — a true head in truth, particularly a head of Israel. For even when the head and minister of the nations of the world dies — changes are also made in the heavens among the stars. All the more so and certainly a head of Israel.

385. RAK: See Chayai Moharan, His Sojourn in Uman, 33.

In the year 5570 in the winter after Chanukah, at the time when I came from Berditchev (386) — he said to me that he has a story to tell. And he said that this story he wants to tell was told only once before — before the First Temple. And even the prophets did not know its secret — except the prophet who told it and the one who told it before him. And it is a great novelty. And even though it had already been told as mentioned — even so it is a complete novelty — meaning something entirely new. For certainly from then until now things have occurred. And then they told it as was fitting then — and now it needs to be told as is fitting now (and we did not merit to hear it).

And through the story, nothing is difficult for me at all anymore regarding our matter. For at first it was a bit difficult for me — why it would be thus, meaning that we have no importance in the world etc. But now — according to the story it is no longer difficult for me at all.

And it was already prepared to tell the story — but even so the matter was turned about and we did not merit to hear it. Afterward close after that he told the story of the Baal Tefillah that is printed in Sipurei Ma'asiyos. And he said that this is not the aforementioned story. And he said that the aforementioned story he wanted to tell is even more beautiful than this story of the Baal Tefillah which is so wonderful and awesome. Praiseworthy is one who will merit to hear it in the future.