{
  "bookId": "yisroel-saba",
  "part": "1",
  "torah": "11",
  "title": "Chapter Eleven: The Judge and the Opposition",
  "hebrewTitle": "הַדַּיָּן וְהַמַחֲלֹקֶת",
  "sourceUrl": "/reader/yisroel-saba/1/11",
  "plainUrl": "/reader-plain/yisroel-saba/1/11/",
  "segments": [
    {
      "index": 1,
      "he": "אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: \"מַה זֶּה עִסְקְךָ? זֶה לֹא דָּבָר שַׁיָּךְ לְךָ. אֵיזֶה חֲסִידוּת שֶׁאֲנִי רוֹצֶה אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה\".",
      "en": "And there was likewise a story with one of the great rabbis — who was the dayan [rabbinical judge] of Teveriah. The dayan was truly very gifted — a man of great intellect who knew the PaRDeS [the four levels of Torah interpretation: the simple, the allegorical, the homiletical, and the mystical]. He was wise, understanding, compassionate, and of good character."
    },
    {
      "index": 2,
      "he": "אָז אָמַר לִי: \"כֵּן, תִּהְיֶה, אֲבָל בְּרֶסְלֵב - לֹא!\"",
      "en": "But he had a certain pride because he was God-fearing and a great scholar. A scholar does not go seeking mitzvos — he thinks that the essential purpose is only to learn and learn and learn. But the dayan was a Chassid and God-fearing, and he also loved mitzvos like simple people — charity and kindness, not only genius and wisdom. The dayan had both."
    },
    {
      "index": 3,
      "he": "אֲנִי הָיָה לִי תְּקִיעַת-כַּף עִם רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁכָּל לַיְלָה וְשֶׁכָּל יוֹם צְרִיכִים לְהִתְרָאוֹת, פַּעַם בַּיּוֹם וּפַעַם בַּלַּיְלָה. אִם לִלְמֹד בְּיַחַד, אִם לֹא, אֲבָל צְרִיכִים לְהִתְרָאוֹת. וְאֵיךְ, מַה יִּהְיֶה? אָסוּר הָיָה לָנוּ לְדַבֵּר בְּיַחַד, לִהְיוֹת בְּיַחַד, לִלְמֹד בְּיַחַד.",
      "en": "Teveriah is a small city, so he knew me. I found favor in his eyes — he knew that I had a poor, blind father. So he brought me into his home and studied with me and drew me very close. He was like a father to me. He spoke with me about Chassidus and Admorim, and I received much from him. I thought there was none greater than the dayan in the world — he was literally an angel. I saw his good character — I was always with him by day and by night."
    },
    {
      "index": 4,
      "he": "נוּ, פַּעַם אַחַת חוֹתְנִי סָגַר אֶת הַדֶּלֶת בְּלֵיל שַׁבָּת וְלֹא נָתַן לִי לָצֵאת, הוּא לֹא יָדַע מֵהַתְּקִיעַת-כַּף אֲבָל הוּא לֹא רָצָה שֶׁאֵלֵךְ לְרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲנִי חָשַׁבְתִּי: \"הַלַּיְלָה אֲנִי לֹא אֵלֵךְ לְרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְלֵיל-שַׁבָּת\".",
      "en": "He saw that I was not talented. But my truth and my heart — he loved me greatly. He honored me and studied with me and drew me close, even though I was not talented and he was a great scholar. There was great love between us — he loved me like his own son. I was in his home more than in my own home. I came with him, prayed with him, slept by him, and studied with him at night. There was such a bond between us… But I was a plain child, and the dayan was a genius and great and wise, and I was like a gnat compared to him."
    },
    {
      "index": 5,
      "he": "עַל-כָּל-פָּנִים בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה הוּא לֹא יָדַע, הוּא חָשַׁב שֶׁרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּבָר יָשֵׁן וַאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לִישֹׁן, אָז הוּא פָּתַח אֶת הַבַּיִת וְנָתַן לִי לָצֵאת, אֲבָל הוּא שָׁמַר עָלַי וְהוּא רָאָה שֶׁאֲנִי בּוֹרֵחַ, אָז הוּא הֵבִין שֶׁאֲנִי בּוֹרֵחַ לְרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אָז הוּא הָלַךְ אַחֲרַי. וַאֲנִי רָאִיתִי אֶת רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, הִתְרָאִינוּ, וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי חָזַרְתִּי חוֹתְנִי חָזַר אַחֲרַי וְהִכָּה אוֹתִי וְהֵבִיא אוֹתִי עַל כְּלָבִים...",
      "en": "The dayan had two daughters — one was Sara and one was Faiga. Sara was the younger and Faiga was the older. They were like my sisters — Sara and Faiga. I would come to the dayan and they would bring food in the morning, at noon — and they would also bring for me to eat. I was like a son — an only son. Afterwards, when I merited to draw close to Rabbenu…"
    },
    {
      "index": 6,
      "he": "מִי שָׁמַע דָּבָר כָּזֶה, מִי רָאָה דָּבָר כָּזֶה, הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ הִכּוּ אֶת אִשְׁתִּי מַכּוֹת רֶצַח שֶׁתִּתְגָּרֵשׁ, \"מַה, בְּרֶסְלֵב יִהְיֶה לַבַּת שֶׁלִּי? אָסוּר לָקַחַת אוֹתָם, אָסוּר לִרְאוֹת אוֹתָם. מַה זֶּה, הָעוֹלָם הֶפְקֵר! אַתְּ יוֹדַעַת מַה זֶּה בְּרֶסְלֶב? תִּתְגָּרֵשׁ!\"",
      "en": "And I was in great poverty. My wife was with her parents and I was with my parents, and I had no livelihood. I was a member of his household — and he saw that I had drawn close to our holy Rabbenu, to Breslov. He saw that I did not live with my wife — I had no apartment, no livelihood, no Shabbos clothing, nothing at all. No money, no pride, no Torah scholarship… And I was joyful!"
    },
    {
      "index": 7,
      "he": "וְהִיא אָמְרָה: \"לֹא, זֶה לֹא..\"",
      "en": "He could not understand this. \"What is this with Yisroel Ber — he is not in this world!\""
    },
    {
      "index": 8,
      "he": "אֲנִי מְסַפֵּר דָּבָר נִפְלָא וְנוֹרָא מְאֹד שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְסַפֵּר וַאֲנִי לֹא מְגַזֵּם, אַדְרַבָּא, כָּל מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי מְסַפֵּר אֵינוֹ טִפָּה מִן הַיָּם. אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַסְבִּיר, זֶה דָּבָר רוּחָנִי. זֶה אֱמֶת כָּזֶה שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַסְבִּיר...",
      "en": "He understood that I had no bread to eat — he was wise; he was a scholar. So he understood it without my telling him. He asked me: \"Who gives you food?\""
    },
    {
      "index": 9,
      "he": "אֲנִי וְרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל קָרְדוֹנֶר אֲנַחְנוּ יָצָאנוּ מִיַּבְנִיאֵל, הַמּוֹשָׁבָה עַל-יַד טְבֶרְיָה, זֶה הָיָה חֹרֶף, וַאֲנַחְנוּ הִתְחַלְנוּ לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי הַצָּהֳרַיִם מֵאֵיזֶה מוֹשָׁבָה וְהָיָה אֲוִיר טוֹב מְאֹד, הָיָה גֶּשֶׁם אֲבָל בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָלַכְנוּ הָיָה שֶׁמֶשׁ. וּפִתְאֹם יָרַד מַבּוּל, שֶׁבֶר-עָנָן, וְנִשְׁפַּךְ מַיִם.. שִׁטָּפוֹן!",
      "en": "I said to him: \"Hashem sustains me.\""
    },
    {
      "index": 10,
      "he": "וְנַעֲשָׂה לַיְלָה וְחשֶׁךְ כָּזֶה, לֹא רוֹאִים אֵיפֹה לָלֶכֶת. אִם לְכָאן, אִם לְכָאן. מִיר זֶענֶען גִיוֶוען אִין דִיא בְּלָאטֶע (\"אֲנַחְנוּ הָיִינוּ בַּבֹּץ\") עוֹד לֹא עָבַר עָלַי דָּבָר כָּזֶה. כִּי אָז לִפְנֵי שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה הָיָה פֹּה הַתּוּרְכִּים וְהָיָה פֹּה סַכָּנוֹת, עַרְבִים הָיוּ רוֹצְחִים וְגוֹזְלִים. זֵיי הָאבִּין גִּירוֹיבְּט אוּן גִּיהַארְגֶּעט. בַּיי נַאכְט אִיז דָּא וִוידֶער אַזַא מִין שִׁטָּפוֹן, מִיר זֶענֶען גִּיוֶוען בִּיז אַעֶרְצִי אִין דִּיא בְּלָאטֶע. אוּן דִּיא בְּלָאטֶע אִיז גֶּעוֶוען אַזוֹי וִויא אַ-קְלֶעפּ (\"הֵם חָמְסוּ שָׁדְדוּ וְרָצְחוּ. בַּלַּיְלָה שׁוּב הָיָה כָּזֶה מִין שִׁטָּפוֹן. אֲנַחְנוּ הָיִינוּ עַד פֹּה בְּתוֹךְ הַבֹּץ (מַרְאֶה עַד מְקוֹם הַבֶּרֶךְ), וְהַבֹּץ הָיָה דָּבִיק\"). וְהַבֹּץ הָיָה כְּמוֹ דֶּבֶק, וְאִם הוֹצֵאנוּ אֵיזֶה רֶגֶל זֶה הָיָה מַמָּשׁ נֵס. הָיָה דֶּבֶק, אֵיךְ אֶפְשָׁר לְהוֹצִיא? כָּכָה הוֹצֵאנוּ רֶגֶל וְהִמְשַׁכְנוּ לָלֶכֶת. עַל-כָּל-פָּנִים רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלָיו-הַשָּׁלוֹם נַעֲשָׂה חוֹלֶה, הוּא קִבֵּל מַחֲלַת בֶּטֶן, מַחֲלַת קֵבָה. וַאֲנִי פַּעַם הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּחַיָּי שֶׁהָיִיתִי בַּמִּדְבָּר, בַּחשֶׁךְ, בַּשִּׁטָּפוֹן, וְאֵין יוֹדְעִים אֵיפֹה לָלֶכֶת וְאֵיךְ יוֹצְאִים מֵהַבֹּץ. חשֶׁךְ כָּזֶה וּבֹץ כָּזֶה.. אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְתָאֵר.",
      "en": "So he was compassionate and said: \"He deserves bread — without bread? I must give him bread.\""
    },
    {
      "index": 11,
      "he": "בְּקִצּוּר, אֲנַחְנוּ עָשִׂינוּ מְסִירוּת נֶפֶשׁ לְהַגִּיעַ לְאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם, כִּי הָיִינוּ יְכוֹלִים לָמוּת מֵהַקּוֹר. הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ הָיָה לוֹ רַחֲמָנוּת עָלֵינוּ וְכָּכָה הָלַכְנוּ, עָבַר זְמַן רַב, הָלַכְנוּ בַּבֹּץ וְלֹא רָאִינוּ שׁוּם תִּקְוָה אֵיךְ נִזְכֶּה לְהַגִּיעַ לִמְקוֹם יִשּׁוּב. אֲנַחְנוּ בַּחשֶׁךְ, אֲנַחְנוּ לֹא יוֹדְעִים אֵיפֹה לָלֶכֶת, אִם לְכָאן אִם לְכָאן. אֲנַחְנוּ לֹא יוֹדְעִים אֵיפֹה לָלֶכֶת...",
      "en": "He went to one of the Chassidim who baked bread and said to him: \"Give on my account to Yisroel Ber every day a loaf of bread. Each Rosh Chodesh give me the bill and I will pay you.\" And so it was."
    },
    {
      "index": 12,
      "he": "עַל-כָּל-פָּנִים אֲנַחְנוּ שְׁנֵינוּ הִתְחַזַּקְנוּ וְכָכָה הִגַּעְנוּ. פִּתְאֹם רָאִיתִי מֵרָחוֹק אֵיזֶה נֵר. אָז לֹא הָיָה חַשְׁמַל, רַק מְנוֹרוֹת נֵפְט. אֲבָל דֶּרֶךְ הַחֲלוֹנוֹת רָאִיתִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ אוֹר בַּבַּיִת, אָז אָמַרְתִּי שֶׁזֶּה מְקוֹם יִשּׁוּב. אֲבָל אֵיךְ מַגִּיעִים לְשָׁמָּה...",
      "en": "Afterwards he was a spy [i.e., he kept a watchful eye on me]. I was sitting in his courtyard and had a small kitchen — the owner of the kitchen wanted to rent it out and had no one, so I came to him: \"How much do you want to rent the kitchen to me?\""
    },
    {
      "index": 13,
      "he": "הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ רִחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהִגַּעְנוּ כְּבָר לְהַבַּיִת. הָאִכָּר רָאָה אֶת הַבֹּץ שֶׁלָּנוּ אָז הוּא הִכְנִיס אוֹתָנוּ לְהַבַּיִת וַאֲנַחְנוּ נִכְנַסְנוּ לַחֶדֶר. כָּל הַחֶדֶר נַעֲשָׂה בֹּץ וּמַיִם, אָז אָמַרְנוּ לוֹ: \"אֲנַחְנוּ צְרִיכִים קְצָת תֵּה לְחַמֵּם אֶת הַבֶּטֶן, לְחַמֵּם אֶת הָרַגְלַיִם\".",
      "en": "He told me a small sum. Fine — I took it. But even that small sum I did not have. I said to him: \"Do not worry — I will pay you.\""
    },
    {
      "index": 14,
      "he": "אָז הוּא אָמַר: \"יֵשׁ לִי תַּנּוּר, בַּתַּנּוּר יֵשׁ קוּמְקוּם גָּדוֹל, אֲנַחְנוּ נִתֵּן לָכֶם תֵּה כַּמָּה שֶׁאַתֶּם רוֹצִים\".",
      "en": "And I found from the merchants some broken crate and brought it into the kitchen — it served me as a table. I myself sat on the floor and put some rags on the floor and recited Likutay Tfilos and Tehillim. The dayan saw my \"apartment\" — the kitchen — and how I was occupied with Likutay Tfilos with no bread to eat, my wife in Tzfas with her parents, and I was joyful. \"What is this — what kind of a life is this, what is this?!\" He could not understand from where I took this."
    },
    {
      "index": 15,
      "he": "בְּחַסְדֵי הַשֵּׁם יֵשׁ לָנוּ תֵּה, יֵשׁ לָנוּ חֶדֶר כְּבָר, אֲנַחְנוּ בַּיַּבָּשָׁה בְּתוֹךְ הַחֶדֶר. הִתְפַּלַּלְנוּ עַרְבִית.. כְּאִלּוּ לֹא קָרָה כְּלוּם. כְּאִלּוּ לֹא הָיָה בֹּץ, כְּאִלּוּ לֹא הָיָה מַה שֶּׁהָיָה, אַף-עַל-פִּי שֶׁהָיִינוּ עֲיֵפִים וּתְשׁוּשִׁים בְּיוֹתֵר. כֵּן, הַשֵּׁם עוֹשֶׂה חֲדָשׁוֹת, נַעֲשֵׂינוּ חֲדָשִׁים. אֲבָל אֲנִי הִרְגַּשְׁתִּי שֶׁעַכְשָׁו אֲנִי כָּל-כָּךְ יָגֵעַ וַאֲנִי כָּל-כָּךְ אִישׁ חָלָשׁ, כּוֹאֵב לִי כָּל הַגּוּף, כּוֹאֵב לִי כָּל הָאֵבָרִים, שֶׁיִּתְּנוּ לִי רַק לִשְׁכַּב, חָשַׁבְתִּי: \"הַלְוַאי שֶׁיִּתְּנוּ לִי מָקוֹם לִשְׁכַּב חֹדֶשׁ, אוּלַי אֲנִי אוּכַל לָזוּז עִם אֵיזֶה אֵיבָר, לֹא יִתְּנוּ לִי כְּלוּם - אֲנִי רוֹצֶה רַק לִשְׁכַּב\".",
      "en": "In any case Hashem had mercy on me — the neighbor of the kitchen owner who lived near the dayan had moved out to another apartment. The dayan knew that I had no apartment, no wife, nothing. So he rented the apartment for me from the kitchen owner, who was the landlord of the whole courtyard, and he came to me and told me he had rented an apartment for me: \"Write to your wife that she should come.\""
    },
    {
      "index": 16,
      "he": "אָכַלְנוּ בַּלַּיְלָה אֵיזֶה דָּבָר, אֲבָל אֲנִי רָצִיתִי לִרְאוֹת אֶת הַמִּטָּה, אֲנִי לֹא רוֹצֶה לֹא לֶאֱכֹל וְלֹא לִשְׁתּוֹת, אֲנִי רוֹצֶה מִטָּה רַק. אֲנִי בִּקַּשְׁתִּי אֶת בַּעַל-הַבַּיִת: \"אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לִשְׁכַּב\", אָז הוּא נָתַן לִי אֶת הַמִּטָּה שֶׁלִּי וַאֲנִי שָׁכַבְתִּי כְּמוֹ מֵת. אוֹי, אוֹי...",
      "en": "I said to him: \"Fine — the apartment has walls. But there is no table, no chair, nothing at all. So how can I write to her to come?\""
    },
    {
      "index": 17,
      "he": "וְרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי שֶׁהָלַךְ לִישֹׁן עַל הַמִּטָּה הָיָה לוֹ כַּמָּה דִּבּוּרִים לְדַבֵּר עִם הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ...",
      "en": "So he struck me and said to me: \"That is none of your business — I will give you an apartment and furniture. There will be chairs for you and a table and a bed. Write that she should come!\""
    },
    {
      "index": 18,
      "he": "כָּכָה נוֹתְנִים הַנְּשָׁמָה? צְרִיכִים לְהִתְוַדּוֹת, לְדַבֵּר עִם הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, הַנְּשָׁמָה צְרִיכָה לָצֵאת. וְרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל סוֹף-כָּל-סוֹף אַחֲרֵי שֶׁגָּמַר הַוִּדּוּי וְהַקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע - כְּאִלּוּ לֹא קָרָה כְּלוּם. הַקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע הָיָה בִּמְסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ כָּזֶה, \"שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל.. וְאָהַבְתָּ..\"",
      "en": "And so it was. In Teveriah there was an excellent carpenter — and I did not know he was a Breslover. He had drawn close to our holy Rabbenu but I did not know. He heard that I was suffering, so he was drawing close to me. He was strong and wise — so I thought he was beginning to mock me and that for him Chassidus was a joke. But he told me how he had drawn close: \"I am in Breslov. I saw a couple that had come from Russia — they arose at midnight and said Tikun Chatzos [the midnight lamentation] and they drew me close to Breslov.\""
    },
    {
      "index": 19,
      "he": "נוּ, אָז אֲנִי חָשַׁבְתִּי: \"הַלַּיְלָה הַזּוֹ אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָקוּם בַּחֲצוֹת. אַחֲרֵי שִׁטָּפוֹן כָּזֶה אֵיךְ אֶפְשָׁר לָקוּם בַּחֲצוֹת לַיְלָה? הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה - אֵין חֲצוֹת\".",
      "en": "So the dayan brought this carpenter who was a great expert in carpentry. He had in his storeroom several broken chairs, and he made me chairs and a table. Such furniture was a novelty in Teveriah — and I had chairs and a table."
    },
    {
      "index": 20,
      "he": "אֲבָל הוּא הָיָה גִּבּוֹר, אַרְיֵה. הוּא קָם בַּחֲצוֹת לַיְלָה, אֲנִי לֹא יָכוֹל לְהָבִין בְּדֶרֶךְ הַטֶּבַע אֵיךְ הוּא קָם, כָּל הָאֵיבָרִים הָיוּ מַמָּשׁ שְׁבוּרִים וַעֲיֵפִים כָּל-כָּךְ, וְהוּא קָם וְהִתְחִיל לַעֲשׂוֹת תִּקּוּן חֲצוֹת...",
      "en": "The daughters of the dayan — they saw that he was playing with me, that he loved me despite my being plain. And he himself did not know what it was — why he loved me. His daughters came, and I had brought my wife — she had no Shabbos clothes, no dress. So his daughters said to him: \"You brought the wife — she has no shoes, no dress, nothing. Something needs to be done. The wife has come without clothing, without shoes.\" So it became known to him that she had nothing."
    },
    {
      "index": 21,
      "he": "אֲנִי שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת הַחֲצוֹת, אֲבָל לֹא יָכֹלְתִּי לָזוּז עִם אֵיבָר, אֲנִי רָצִיתִי לָצֵאת, אֵיךְ אֶפְשָׁר לִישֹׁן כְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ חֲצוֹת כָּזֶה, אֵיךְ אֶפְשָׁר לִישֹׁן? אֲנִי לֹא יָכֹלְתִּי לָזוּז עִם אֵיבָר, אָז אֲנִי שָׁכַבְתִּי, אֲבָל בָּרוּךְ הַשֵּׁם אֲנִי שָׁמַעְתִּי הַחֲצוֹת...",
      "en": "In Teveriah the mukhtar [village elder] of the city was named Yaakov. Yaakov was an expert cobbler — as the carpenter excelled in carpentry, he excelled in shoes. People stood in line for him — he did not accept everyone and charged a great deal. He worked so carefully on every shoe that the shoes were strong and beautiful. So the dayan sent me to Yaakov — the finest craftsman in Teveriah. In those days there were no shops with ready-made shoes — when one needed shoes one had to stand in line, have the measurement taken, and have them made to measure. One had to wait two or three weeks in the queue. I went — my wife had no shoes. This required a queue, required several weeks. What would happen?"
    },
    {
      "index": 22,
      "he": "סוֹף-כָּל-סוֹף הִתְגַּבַּרְתִּי בְּכָל הַכֹּחַ וְיָצָאתִי מֵהַמִּטָּה וְקַמְתִּי, \"יִהְיֶה מַה שֶּׁיִּהְיֶה!\"",
      "en": "So I came to him and said: \"The dayan said that you should give me a pair of shoes — size such-and-such.\" He said: \"I have her size ready — no need to wait.\" So he gave me the shoes, and they were very beautiful and good, made precisely to her measurement. And the following Shabbos my wife already had, blessed be Hashem, shoes."
    },
    {
      "index": 23,
      "he": "עַל-כָּל-פָּנִים רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל יָשַׁב, הָיָה שֻׁלְחָן, אֲנִי נִגַּשְׁתִּי לַשֻּׁלְחָן וְנָפַל עָלַי פַּחַד, רָאִיתִי פָּנִים כָּזֶה.. שֶׁהוּא בּוֹעֵר כָּאֵשׁ!",
      "en": "In any case the daughters of the dayan came and said to him: \"She has no Shabbos dress — a dress needs to be made for her.\" So the dayan sent me to some merchant of fabric remnants, and the merchant chose large pieces so there would be enough fabric to make a dress. And my wife was a seamstress — she sewed and she also had a Shabbos dress."
    },
    {
      "index": 24,
      "he": "אֲנִי נִגַּשְׁתִּי לַשֻּׁלְחָן, אֲבָל טֶרֶם שֶׁהִגַּעְתִּי לַשֻּׁלְחָן.. הָיָה רְעִידַת אֲדָמָה!",
      "en": "The dayan — he heard my Shalom Aleichem [the Shabbos-eve song welcoming the angels] and Aishes Chayil [the song in praise of the woman of valor, Proverbs 31] and Azamer BiShvachin [the Shabbos table hymn of the Ari z\"l]… He was utterly annulled! He said: \"What is this — Yisroel Ber is not a scholar and does not know what Shabbos is, knows nothing — how can this be?\""
    },
    {
      "index": 25,
      "he": "הַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהָרִצְפָּה כֻּלָּה - רָעֲדוּ! הָרִצְפָּה הָיָה רוֹעֶדֶת וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן הָיָה רוֹעֵד וְרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה רוֹעֵד. הוּא הָיָה רוֹעֵד וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהָרִצְפָּה הָיָה גַּם-כֵּן רוֹעֲדִים מֵהָרְעָדָה שֶׁלּוֹ...",
      "en": "He poured out his heart to his daughters: \"Yisroel Ber, Yisroel Ber, Yisroel Ber!\""
    },
    {
      "index": 26,
      "he": "אַחַר-כָּךְ הִגִּיעַ זְמַן הַתְּפִלָּה...",
      "en": "He was a great opponent — yet even so he loved me. And his daughters too revered the dayan and knew he was a great scholar with a great mind. But he said to them: \"I am ashamed before Yisroel Ber. I see his Shabbos — how joyful he is — and he scarcely has food for Shabbos. I do not know how he lives.\""
    },
    {
      "index": 27,
      "he": "וְהוּא עָשָׂה הֲכָנָה לְהַתְּפִלָּה, וְאַחֲרֵי חֲצוֹת כָּזֶה הוּא עָשָׂה תְּפִלָּה כָּזֶה, שֶׁכָּל הַכְּפָר, כָּל הַמּוֹשָׁבָה לֹא יָכְלוּ לָלֶכֶת. כָּל אֶחָד יֵשׁ לוֹ עֲבוֹדָה, אִכָּרִים, וְכֻלָּם הָיוּ סְבִיב הַבִּנְיָן שֶׁלָּנוּ מֵהַקּוֹלוֹת שֶׁל תְּפִלַּת הַשַּׁחֲרִית שֶׁלּוֹ. הֵם רַק עָמְדוּ וְשָׁמְעוּ אֶת הַתְּפִלָּה שֶׁלּוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, כֵּן.",
      "en": "It was a wondrous spectacle. His daughters heard his opposition, and they heard my Shabboses — the zemiros [Shabbos table songs] and the joy — and they saw that I had nothing. So they gave the dayan a hard time: \"What is this — why has Breslov not found favor in your eyes? We see that he is such a servant of G-d, he is always joyful — what is this? How can one oppose such a Jew who sings 'Aishes Chayil' like this?! Is it possible to oppose?!\""
    },
    {
      "index": 28,
      "he": "אֲנִי זוֹכֵר אֵיךְ רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִתְפַּלֵּל, הוּא הִגִּיעַ לַבְּרָכוֹת שֶׁל קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע, \"לָאֵל בָּרוּךְ נְעִימוֹת יִתֵּנוּ, לַמֶּלֶךְ אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם זְמִירוֹת יֹאמֵרוּ וְתִשְׁבָּחוֹת יַשְׁמִיעוּ. כִּי הוּא לְבַדּוֹ מָרוֹם וְקָדוֹשׁ, פּוֹעֵל גְּבוּרוֹת, עוֹשֶׂה חֲדָשׁוֹת\", כָּל דִּבּוּר הִכְנִיס בְּלִבִּי אוֹרוֹת כָּאֵלּוּ. וַאֲנִי עָמַדְתִּי עַל-יַד הַדֶּלֶת וְהָיָה פַּחַד. נָפַל עָלַי יִרְאָה וּפַחַד גָּדוֹל. אָז אֲנִי נִתְקָרַבְתִּי לְהַדֶּלֶת וְהֶחֱזַקְתִּי בְּהַדֶּלֶת, לֹא יָכֹלְתִּי לַעֲמֹד מֵרִבּוּי הָאוֹר, לֹא יָכֹלְתִּי! אֲנִי יָכוֹל לִגְוֹעַ בַּחֶדֶר. אָז אָמַרְתִּי: \"אֲנִי אֶעֱמֹד עַל-יַד הַדֶּלֶת, בָּרֶגַע שֶׁאֲנִי אַרְגִּישׁ שֶׁקָּרוֹב לִיצִיאַת הַנְּשָׁמָה, בָּרֶגַע שֶׁלֹּא אוּכַל בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן לִסְבֹּל, אֲנִי יָכוֹל לִגְוֹעַ, אָז אֲנִי אַסְפִּיק לָצֵאת\". כָּכָה הָיָה. אֲנִי לֹא מְסַפֵּר גֻּזְמָאוֹת. אֲנִי עָמַדְתִּי מוּכָן לָצֵאת, בִּזְמַן שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר כְּבָר בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן, אָז אֲנִי אַסְפִּיק לָצֵאת. עָמַדְתִּי עַל-יַד הַדֶּלֶת...",
      "en": "He was a great opponent, and he was so deeply submerged in his opposition… Fearful. And I compared to him — nothing, a gnat, nothing at all. He was confused. He saw with his own eyes my Shabbos and his Shabbos — and how is it possible to oppose? He was in anguish. I gave him a heart affliction…"
    },
    {
      "index": 29,
      "he": "וְזֶה אֲנִי לֹא מְשַׁקֵּר, אֲנִי לֹא מְגַזֵּם. מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי אוֹמֵר זֶה אֱמֶת כָּזֶה שֶּׁאֵין לָנוּ הֲשָׂגָה. אֲנִי עוֹד לֹא - אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַסְבִּיר אֵיךְ זֶה הָיָה. אֲנִי בָּרוּךְ הַשֵּׁם שָׁמַעְתִּי הַרְבֵּה פְּעָמִים הַתְּפִלָּה שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהִרְגִּישׁוּ שֶׁזֶּה דָּבָר לֹא רָגִיל. הוּא לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לִלְחֹם עִם הַגַּאֲוָה שֶׁלֹּא תִּקְרַב אֵלָיו. הוּא הָיָה נָקִי מִכָּל הַתַּאֲווֹת. זֶה רַק רַבֵּנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ יָכוֹל לַעֲשׂוֹת פְּלָאוֹת כָּאֵלֶּה. וְהוּא הָיָה בְּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה עִם גּוּף, הוּא הָיָה מְדַבֵּר עִם הָעוֹלָם כְּאִלּוּ הוּא אֶחָד מִבְּנֵי-הָעוֹלָם.",
      "en": "There were Chassidim who were the greatest opponents, and I caused them such troubles… The yeshiva they belonged to had a greater name than all the yeshivos — even those of Yerushalayim. And they gave me two lirot a month instead of ten, twelve, fifteen lirot. So they said they gave me only out of \"pity — he has small children and needs to support them. But he is not a yeshiva student — he does not learn Gemora. He learns Likutay Moharan, Likutay Tfilos, and Tehillim — is this a yeshiva student?\""
    },
    {
      "index": 30,
      "he": "נוּ, וְהַבַּעַל-הַבַּיִת שֶׁל הַדִּירָה אַחֲרֵי הַתְּפִלָּה נִכְנַס אֵלֵינוּ, וְהָיָה לוֹ כַּמָּה חֲדָרִים וְשָׁמָּה הָיָה עוֹד חֶדֶר עִם שֻׁלְחָן, כִּסָּאוֹת, וְהוּא נָתַן עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן כָּל מַה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בַּבַּיִת. הָיָה רָעָב, אֲבָל הֵם הָיָה לָהֶם כָּל-טוּב, זֵיתִים, בֵּיצִים, גְּבִינָה, שַׁמֶּנֶת, חֶמְאָה, שֻׁלְחָן גָּדוֹל עִם כָּל-טוּב שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, אִכָּר יֵשׁ לוֹ כָּל טוּב. וְהוּא נִכְנַס אֵלֵינוּ וְאָמַר לְרַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַכְנָעָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, בְּיִרְאָה: \"אֲנִי מְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת כְּבוֹדְךָ שֶׁתִּכָּנְסוּ לֶאֱכֹל\".",
      "en": "But Likutay Moharan and Likutay Tfilos and Tehillim caused them great troubles…"
    },
    {
      "index": 31,
      "he": "טוֹב, אֲנַחְנוּ נִכְנַסְנוּ וְהָיָה כָּל מִינֵי מַאֲכָלִים שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן, אָז רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָמַר לוֹ שֶׁהוּא לֹא רוֹצֶה, הוּא לֹא צָרִיךְ, רַק תֵּה וְלֶחֶם. אָז הָאִכָּר אָמַר: \"אֶצְלִי כָּשֵׁר, אֵין מַה לִּדְאֹג. זֵיתִים - כָּשֵׁר, בֵּיצִים - כָּשֵׁר, הַכֹּל כָּשֵׁר. חָלָב - כָּשֵׁר, אֲנִי לֹא גּוֹי, אֲנַחְנוּ כְּשֵׁרִים. הַכֹּל כָּשֵׁר\".",
      "en": "And the dayan's daughter Sara — what she saw: the dayan saying: \"I am utterly annulled before Yisroel Ber. I see his Shabbos — the zemiros, the joy of Shabbos — and I have a livelihood, I have every good thing, and I have no joy. So Yisroel Ber must be my Rebbi!\""
    },
    {
      "index": 32,
      "he": "אָז רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָמַר לוֹ: \"לֹא, לֹא, אֲנִי לֹא צָרִיךְ יוֹתֵר\".",
      "en": "His children know that he said: \"Only Breslov — Breslov, Breslov.\""
    },
    {
      "index": 33,
      "he": "כְּשֶׁרָאִיתִי דָּבָר כָּזֶה.. אֲנִי הָיָה לִי חֲלִישׁוּת הַדַּעַת, \"אֵיךְ אֲנִי נִרְאֶה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה!\"",
      "en": "When I went to Meron he escorted me as one escorts a ga'on who is departing from the city — he escorted me far, with such love, with such joy… But no one knew — only I and he."
    },
    {
      "index": 34,
      "he": "וְאָז הָיָה הָעוֹלָם לֹא כְּמוֹ הַיּוֹם, אָז הָיָה הָעוֹלָם חֲזָקִים מְאֹד בֶּאֱמוּנָה, בִּתְפִלָּה, בְּיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם, בַּחֲסִידוּת. לֹא כְּמוֹ הַיּוֹם. אֲבָל אֲנִי רָאִיתִי אֶת הָעֲבוֹדָה שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל.. אָז נִתְבַּטְּלוּ אֶצְלִי כָּל הַגְּדוֹלִים שֶׁהָיוּ בִּטְבֶרְיָה שֶׁרָדְפוּ אוֹתִי אַחַר-כָּךְ.",
      "en": "My wife was in Tzfas and I was in Teveriah and we had no clothing, no garments, no apartment — nothing. And the dayan gave me an apartment and furniture — a table, chairs. He had mesiras nefesh for my sake. He had battles with the gabba'im of the yeshiva — they were opponents — and he said that they must include me in the yeshiva and give me an increase. He was always in battle with them. All of this was the dayan. And he was himself an opponent — and when he would speak against Rabbenu not so respectfully… I would rise from the chair and close the door with a great slam: \"No! Do not speak with me anymore! I do not want to see you! I want no connection with you!\""
    },
    {
      "index": 35,
      "he": "פַּעַם אַחַת בְּחַיָּי רָאִיתִי 'פּוּרִים' כָּזֶה (צוֹחֵק)...",
      "en": "So he saw such a thing and remained like a child: \"What is this — who has heard of such a thing? A man gives him furniture and an apartment and he speaks like this?!\" So he remained sitting…"
    },
    {
      "index": 36,
      "he": "כֵּן, הַיְלָדִים וְהַיְלָדוֹת הָיָה לָהֶם שַׁרְווּלִים קְצָרִים, אָז הֵם הָלְכוּ עִם הַמַּגָּבוֹת לְכַסּוֹת אֶת הָרֹאשׁ וְהַיָּדַיִם בְּיִרְאָה וָפַחַד. יְלָדוֹת קְטַנּוֹת שֶׁל בַּת-מִצְוָה אוֹ חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה, הֵם יְכוֹלִים לָלֶכֶת עִם הַשְּׂיעָרוֹת בְּלִי כִּסּוּי רֹאשׁ, הַיַּלְדָה לֹא צְרִיכָה לְכַסּוֹת אֶת הָרֹאשׁ. אֲבָל הֵם לֹא יָדְעוּ, אָז הֵם כִּסּוּ אֶת הָרֹאשׁ עִם מַגָּבוֹת וְגַם-כֵּן קָשְׁרוּ אֶת הַכִּסּוּי רֹאשׁ עִם שְׂרוֹכִים, שֶׁלֹּא יִפֹּל חַס-וְשָׁלוֹם, וְגַם-כֵּן עַל הַיָּדַיִם. הָיָה יָפֶה לִרְאוֹת דָּבָר כָּזֶה...",
      "en": "Afterwards — I did not come to him that night. And his custom was to pray at vatikin [sunrise, the most auspicious time for prayer], and he had no minyan. The Chassidim of his group prayed before midday — at nine or ten o'clock. He paid no attention to this and did not wait for them — he went to pray with the Sefardim. During the time he was praying there was a fire. After the prayer he came and found the fire, and his daughter told him that she had had a miracle — she had not been burned, yes."
    },
    {
      "index": 37,
      "he": "רַב צְבִי רוֹזְנְטַל הוּא הָיָה תַּלְמִיד מֻבְהָק שֶׁל הֶ'חָפֵץ חַיִּים'. הוּא בָּא לִטְבֶרְיָה וַאֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ שֶׁרַבֵּנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ זֶה עִנְיָן נֶעֱלָם מְאֹד מֵהָעוֹלָם, \"אִם אַתָּה תַּכְנִיס אֶת מֹחֲךָ וְלִבְּךָ לְהַדִּבּוּרִים שֶׁל רַבֵּנוּ, יִהְיֶה נַעֲשֶׂה עִמְּךָ עִנְיָן אַחֵר לְגַמְרֵי!\"",
      "en": "In any case he then said to her: \"Ahh… This was a punishment on account of Yisroel Ber. I had arguments with Yisroel Ber and he became angry — so blessed be Hashem that you remained alive.\""
    },
    {
      "index": 38,
      "he": "אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: \"רַב צְבִי, יֵשׁ הַיּוֹם סֵפֶר 'לִקּוּטֵי מוֹהֲרַ\"ן' שֶׁכָּל הָעוֹלָם לֹא יוֹדְעִים מַה זֶּה!\"",
      "en": "She said to him: \"I am telling you — I hear the arguments and I see that the right is with him!\""
    },
    {
      "index": 39,
      "he": "אָז הוּא הִתְחִיל לִלְמֹד וְהוּא נַעֲשָׂה חֲסִיד בְּרֶסְלֵב, אֲהָהּ! חֲסִיד בְּרֶסְלֵב? הָאִשָּׁה וְהַחֹתֶן וְהַמִּשְׁפָּחָה, כֻּלָּם אָמְרוּ: \"מַה זֶּה, בְּרֶסְלֵב!\"",
      "en": "Oy vey — what there was… There are many stories, many hidden matters that cannot be told. Oy — now, even if you gave all the money in the world that there should be such a story — the dayan and Yisroel Ber and the arguments — there is none. Such was that era…"
    }
  ]
}