מעשה יב - מעשה מבעל תפלה

Story 12ofA Prayer Leader(After Sabbath of the Torah Portion of VuAiru, and after the first of the month of Shevat – 5570)A tale. Once there was a Prayer Leader [/Master of Prayer] who was always involved only with prayers, songs, and praises to Hashem Yisburach (G-d), and he dwelled outside of civilization. And his program was: he would regularly go into civilization and approach ('enter by') some person - typically he would approach lowly people, such as poor people and so forth - and he would start talking with the person regarding the purpose of the whole world, that truthfully there is no purpose whatsoever in the world except for serving G-d all one's life, spending the years only with prayer to Hashem Yisburach, with song and praises to Hashem Yisburach etc..

And he would speak a lot of such talk with the person to wake him up, until his words entered his heart, until the person would be willing to join him. And as soon as the person agreed with him, he would immediately take him and bring him to his place which he had outside of civilization (i.e. outside of settled places; not where people dwell), for the Prayer Leader had chosen for himself a place outside of civilization, and there was a river [Heb.: before it], as well as trees, and fruits there too, and they would eat of the fruit, and they would not pay attention to clothes whatsoever - how one goes, he goes.

And so was the constant agenda of the Prayer Leader, going into civilization and persuading people to go his way, to only serve Hashem Yisburach and only be involved with prayers etc.; and who ever listened to him, he would take and bring to his place outside of civilization, as mentioned, and they would be involved there, just with prayers, songs, and praises to Hashem Yisburach, and confessions, fasts, privations (i.e. torturing one's body), repentance, and so forth; and the Prayer Leader would give them his compositions (i.e. books) that he had of prayers, songs, praises, and confessions, and they would be engaged in them constantly, to the extent that there would be found among his people that he brought there, those who could now also bring people to Hashem Yisburach. He would sometimes give permission to one of his people, that he could already now also go into civilization and awaken people to the Almighty, that they should only serve Hashem Yisburach.

The Prayer Leader kept doing this, all the time drawing his people and taking them out of civilization, as mentioned, until an impression was made on the world, and the thing began to become known, because suddenly people would disappear from the country and no one knew where they went: this one had a missing son, that one had a missing son-in-law, and no one knew where they were, until it became known that there exists a Prayer Leader who goes and talks people into (serving) Hashem Yisburach. Except, catch him they could not, because the Prayer Leader would conduct himself very craftily, and would present himself differently for each person. For this one he presented himself as a poor man, for that one as a trader, and for another he disguised himself still differently. Furthermore, when he would come to talk to a person, when he understood that he could not accomplish with the person what he wanted, he would speak to him in such circuitous talk that it was not possible at all to detect that he meant that - that is, to draw him closer to Hashem Yisburach.

And it was impossible to realize that he meant that, even though in truth his whole intention was only that, for, in the things he chatted and talked about with people, he meant nothing other than this, that is, to draw them close to Hashem Yisburach. Only when he understood that he was not influencing him, he would so deceive and misguide him with talk, until the other thought that he did not want that at all.

(Therefore they could not catch the Prayer Leader.) The Prayer Leader remained occupied with this matter, until there was an impact and publicity (all) over the world; and they wanted to catch him but it was impossible, as mentioned. So the Prayer Leader with his people dwelled outside of civilization, and were involved only with prayer, songs, and praises to Hashem Yisburach, and confessions, fasts, afflictions, and penances.

It was also the Prayer Leader's business that he could "suffice" for each person (in other words, provide for each person) what he needed. If he understood of one of his people that in accordance to his intellect he needed, for serving Hashem, to go dressed in 'gilden geshtik' (gold [-embossed] clothes), he supplied it for him, and vice

versa, when sometimes some rich person would draw close to him, and he extracted him from civilization, and he understood that this rich person needed to go in tatters, he would make him go [dressed] that way; whatever way he knew a person needed to go, he supplied it for him. And for the people whom he drew close to Hashem Yisburach, a fast or the biggest privation (i.e. torturing oneself) was dearer than all the world's delights, for they had more delight from the big privation or fast, than from all the delights of the world.

And the day came to pass, and there was a country where there were enormous riches; they were all rich. Only, their behavior was quite disturbing, because by them, everything went according to wealth; everyone's status and honor was only according to his wealth. It was determined by them, that whoever had a certain amount of money - thousands or ten-thousands - attained one status [Yid.: and this honor]; and whoever had such and such an amount of money attains another status; similarly, all the hierarchy by them, was all according to the money each person had. And he who had so many, so many thousands and ten-thousands, as was determined there by them - is already a king.

And similarly they had flags, that whoever had so much money is in this banner, and deserves status and honor in that flag; and who ever had so much money, is in another flag, and deserves the status in that pennant, all according to his money. So it was determined for everyone how much money he should have in order to have the status in this flag, and how much money he should have in order to already be in another flag, and have there, some kind of status and honor. And so every man's honor, and all of his status, was all only according to how much money he had, as had been determined by them for every status and honor, how much money he needed to have. And similarly it was determined by them, if he has only so much money, he is a plain human, whereas if he has yet less, he is already no man at all, just a beast or bird (i.e.

it's just a beast that looks like a human). So they had beasts and birds, that is, if he has this little money, it's just a lion - it's a human lion; but if he has that little money, he is a mere bird. And similarly they had other beasts and birds, for someone who has little money, is no man at all by them, just a beast or a bird. Because the main object for them was money, and the status and honor of everyone, was only according to his money. It was heard in the world that there is such a country. The Prayer Leader made a very big sigh over this [Heb: would sigh over this, and would say], and he said, "Who knows how far they can stray through this?" Some men from his people were present, and they did not ask his opinion at all, and they picked up and went to that country to get them out of it.

Because they (i.e. the people of the Prayer Leader) had great pity on that country which was so led astray in the desire of money, and especially since the Prayer Leader had said that they could go further astray, therefore these people of the Prayer Leader went to that country; perhaps they could bring them out of their nonsense. They entered the country and they approached one of them who was apparently a person of low-status whom they call a beast, and they began to talk with him, that truthfully money is not a purpose at all, and the main purpose is only to serve Hashem, and so forth. But he did not listen to them at all, because it was already rooted in their thinking that the main thing is only money. And likewise they chatted with another, and he too did not listen.

And they wanted to talk with him more, but he replied, "I have no more time to talk with you." They asked him, "Why?" He replied, "Because we all must leave the country and go to another country, for we have seen that the main goal is only money, therefore it is set by us that we must go to such a country where they make money (i.e. there, there is a kind of earth from which they make gold and silver).

Therefore we all must go now to that country." It was also settled by them that they wanted to have stars and constellations too, that is, whoever has so much and so much money, according to the amount they had determined for it, he should be a star, because since he has so much money he must have the power of the star, because the star generates the gold, because the fact that there is earth from which gold is made, is after all, due to the star that generates such earth from which gold is made.

Since this man has so much gold, he must have the power of this star, therefore he himself is a star. And likewise they said they wanted to have constellations (mazalos) too. That is, when someone would have so much and so much money, however much they had determined for it, he should be a constellation (mazal). And likewise they made for themselves angels, all according to (the amount of) money.

Until they agreed that they should have gods too, that whoever would have vast (amounts of) money, so many and so many thousands and myriads, however much they had determined for this, he would be a god, because since G-d gives him so much money, he himself is a god. [Heb: And so they carried out and did everything that was mentioned above].

Furthermore they said that they ought not dwell in the air of this world, and they must not at all be together with other people, so that they should not contaminate them, because the other people of the world are completely impure compared to them; therefore they decided that they should find for themselves very high mountains that are higher than the whole world, and they should dwell there, so that they can be higher than the air of the world. They sent people to seek high mountains, and they found very high mountains. The whole country went and settled there on the high mountains, that is, on each mountain a gathering of people from the country (in other words, a city) settled [Yid: and so too on the other mountains etc.]. And around the mountain they made a big fortification and great trenches around the mountain, until it was impossible for any man to reach them, because there was no more than (but) one hidden path to the mountain, which no other person had any knowledge of, to reach them. And likewise on the next mountain, and so on all the mountains, on all of them they made a fortification etc.

as mentioned. And they appointed guards far from the mountain, so no one [Heb: stranger] would be able to come [Heb: close to them]. So they dwelled there on the mountains and conducted themselves as mentioned earlier, and they had many gods, that is, according to the money, as mentioned. However, since wealth was the main thing for them - so much so that via great wealth a person could become a god - they were under threat of murder and theft, because anyone would be a murderer or thief in order to become a god via the money he would steal.

But they said, since the wealthy one is a god, he will protect himself from theft and murder. And they established devotions and offerings, to bring offerings and pray to the gods to thereby get money, and they would sacrifice people, and would sacrifice their very selves to the gods, in order to be included in them, and later be reincarnated as a rich person. Because their main credence was in money. And they had devotions, sacrifices, and incenses with which they served their gods (i.e.

those who had a lot of money). But despite this, the country was certainly full of murder and theft, because whoever did not believe in the devotions became a murderer and thief in order to get money, because the main thing for them was wealth, since through money one can buy anything - food and clothing - and the essential life of a man is through money; therefore money was their main creed (such was their foolish and confused thinking). And they all tried to not lose any money, because money was for them the fundamental faith and the god; on the contrary, it was necessary to endeavor to bring money into the country from other places. Traders would embark (from them) to trade in other countries, in order to win money, in order to bring even more money into the country. And charity was certainly a great prohibition for them, because how can someone be permitted to give away the money that G-d has given him - which was for them the main thing, to have money - how can someone be permitted to give that away? Therefore certainly for them it was a prohibition to give to charity. And they had officers who were appointed to monitor everyone whether he has as much money as he says, because everyone had to always show off his wealth in order to remain in the status and honor that he had according to his money (in other words, all the rich people who, for them, were gods, stars, angels etc.

due to their money, would always be inspected whether he has so much money; whether he is not a god in vain, and so forth, and people were appointed to constantly oversee this). And sometimes by them, an animal would become a person, or a person an animal, namely, when a rich person lost his money he already became a non-human - a man became an animal, because he already had no money for himself; and vice versa when someone won money, so an animal became human; and so on with the other classes, which by them were all according to money (likewise it also happened with someone sometimes becoming a non-god because he had already lost the money). And they would have the figures and portraits of the gods (i.e. those who had a lot of money) and everyone had the portraits, and they would hug and kiss them, because money was their entire devotion and faith. And the people of the Prayer Leader (who were previously there in that country) returned to their place, and they told the Prayer Leader of the nonsense of the country, how they were so fooled and lost in the desire of money, and that they already wanted to leave their country for another country (where they make money as mentioned) and wanted already to make stars and constellations. The Prayer Leader spoke up and said that he feared lest they stray more and more. Afterwards people heard that they had already made themselves gods (as mentioned). The Prayer Leader spoke up and said, "This is what I meant, this is what I feared" (i.e. by his always saying he feared lest they get further lost, he meant this). The Prayer Leader had great pity on them, and came to the decision to personally go there; perhaps he would extract them from their foolishness (Heb: return them from their error). The Prayer Leader went there and came to the guards who stand around each mountain (as mentioned), and the guards, it would reason, where people of low status who were able to stand in the Atmosphere of this world, because the people who had status, from their

money, were not at all able to be together with the people of the world, and could not stand in the world's Atmosphere, so that they should not contaminate them, and they were not at all able to speak with people of the world, so that they should not contaminate them with their breath (in other words, by the foolish country the world was completely impure compared to them, as mentioned), therefore the guards who stood outside the city were surely of low status, except the guards also had the portraits (of their gods) and would hug and kiss them all the time, because with them too, money was the main object of faith.

The Prayer Leader came to one of the guards and began talking with him about the ultimate purpose, that the only ultimate goal is serving G-d - Torah, prayer, good deeds etc. - and money is utter foolishness and not the ultimate purpose at all etc.; but the guard did not listen to him at all, for it was already ingrained in them for a long time that the main thing is only money, as mentioned. And likewise the Prayer Leader went to all the guards and talked with them this way, and they did not listen to him whatsoever. The Prayer Leader came to a decision and went into the city which was on the mountain (as mentioned). When he arrived inside the city, it was a great novelty to them, and they asked, "How did you get in here?" Since no one was able to reach them.

He answered them, "Why do you ask? I am already inside the city, all the same." The Prayer Leader began talking with one of them about the purpose of the world, that money is no purpose at all etc. (as was his custom), but the man did not listen to him at all, and likewise another, and likewise all of them, because they were already so lost in their mistake that they already could not listen to anybody, as mentioned. And it was a wonder to the people of the city that such a man exists, and had come to them, and was speaking to them such things, the complete opposite of their creed. It struck them that this man must be the Prayer Leader, because they had already heard that there is such a Prayer Leader in the world, since the matter of the Prayer Leader had already become publicized in the world (as mentioned), and people in the world would call him "Der Frummer Baal Tefilah" (the devout Prayer Leader), but they could not catch him, because he would make himself appear different to each person: to one he appeared as a merchant, and to another as a pauper etc., immediately afterwards disappearing from there (in other words, he was quickly gone away).

And the day came to pass: and there was a warrior ('geebor': a muscleman, or, a valiant, mighty, or strong man) unto whom other warriors had gathered. The warrior and his warriors were going around taking over countries, the warrior wanted nothing else but submission (in other words, that they should become subjugated under him). And when the people of the country submitted to him, he would release them; and if not - he would ruin them.

So he went around subjugating countries, without any desire for money whatsoever - only submission; that they should be under him. And the way of the warrior was: he would send his warriors to a country when he was still very far from it - fifty miles - for them to surrender to him; and so he was continually taking over countries. And the merchants of the aforementioned wealthy country, who used to conduct trade in foreign countries, returned to their country and told over about the warrior, and a great terror fell on them. And even though they were willing to submit themselves under him, the thing that prevented them was that they heard that he loathes money and does not want any money at all, and this was contrary to their creed, therefore they could not submit themselves under him, because for them it would be like apostasy, since he did not at all believe in their faith, that is, in money.

And they were very afraid of him, and they began to perform their devotions, and bring their sacrifices to their gods (i.e. to those who had a lot of money); and they would take a little beast (i.e. someone with little money, who was considered by them a beast) and bring him for a sacrifice to their gods (as mentioned), and similarly they performed the other devotions (i.e. the things with which they would serve their gods). And the warrior was continually coming closer to them, and had started to send his warriors ahead [to ask]: "What do they want?" - as was his usual custom, as mentioned. A great terror came over them, and they did not know what to do.

Their own merchants gave them a suggestion, inasmuch as they had been in a country where the entire populace were gods, and traveled about with angels - that is, (that country,) the entire country, from small to great, are all very extraordinarily wealthy people, such that even the smallest among them is also a god according to their foolish delusion (because the smallest person in the country is exceptionally wealthy, and has as much money as was reckoned by them, that with that much money one becomes a god, as mentioned). And they 'travel with angels' since their horses are covered with such great wealth, with gold and so forth, that the covering of one horse was worth the amount that an angel had. Thus, the riders 'travel with angels,' tying three pairs of 'angels' to a carriage, and riding with them.

"Therefore you need to send to this country and they will surely help you, for they are all gods." (All this was still the advice of the merchants.) Their advice pleased them very much, for they believed that they would surely be saved by the other country, since they are all gods, as mentioned.

And the Prayer Leader came to the decision that he would go once again to that country; perhaps he would still lead them out of their folly. And he went there, came up to the guards, and he began speaking with one guard, in his usual way. The guard told him about the warrior, that they are in great terror of him. The prayer leader asked him, "What do you have in mind to do?" The guard told him the idea mentioned above, that they want to send to the country where they are all gods etc.. The prayer leader laughed heartily at him and said, "That is quite a great folly! Because they are humans like we are. And all of you, with all your gods, are all merely humans, and not one of them is any god at all; there is no more than one G-d over the world: He who created everything, and He alone should be served, and only

to Him one should pray; and this alone is the main purpose in the world." This and similar argumentation the Prayer Leader spoke with the guard, and the guard heard none of it, since their foolish belief had already been ingrained within them from a long time ago, as mentioned. However, the Prayer Leader debated with him extensively, until finally the guard answered him, "What more can I do? I am only one individual (Heb: in the world (and against me are the numerous residents of the country))." Now this already had somewhat of an appearance of a response (/repentance) [Heb: this answer was a small consolation for the Prayer Leader,

because he understood that his words had begun to penetrate the ears of the guard], as the words which the Prayer Leader had spoken before with the guard, and the words which he spoke now, joined together until they stirred him somewhat (because the response that the guard had answered, "What can I do?" etc., revealed that the words of the Prayer Leader were already starting to enter his heart a little bit) [Heb: to the extent that he began slightly to have doubts and lean towards him a little]. And so the Prayer Leader went to another guard, and also spoke with him in his usual way, as above; and he too did not listen to him, but in the end he also replied as above, "I am one person," and so forth, as above. And so, all the guards answered him this response in the end. Afterwards the Prayer Leader entered the city and began to talk with them in his usual way: inasmuch as they are all very much in complete error, and money is no goal at all; rather, the essential purpose is solely to delve in Torah, in prayer, and so forth. They did not listen to him, for they were all very much rooted in money from a long time ago; and they told him about the warrior, and that they want to send to the country where they are all gods etc..

He laughed at them too, and told him that was a folly, and they are all humans etc., "and they will not be able to help you at all, because you are human and they are human, and they are no god whatsoever; there is only one God, Blessed is He, etc." As for the warrior, he replied to them (using this expression), "Isn't this the warrior?" (like someone wondering: isn't he the one he knows?) They did not understand what he meant. And so he went from one to the other, and continued talking this way with them, as above. And as for the warrior, he said to everyone, "Isn't this the warrior?" etc., as above. They did not understand his words; what he meant. Meanwhile, a commotion broke out in the city, inasmuch as there was found someone who says such things, making laughter of their faith, and saying that there is only (a solitary) One, that is, Hashem Yisburach, Blessed He etc.; and as for the warrior, he always says, "Isn't this the warrior?" etc.

as above. They understood that this must certainly be the Prayer Leader, because he was already well known to them, as mentioned. They ordered for him to be sought and caught. Even though he always appeared differently (i.e. sometimes presenting himself as a merchant, and sometimes as a poor person, and so forth, wherefore they were not able to catch him, as mentioned), nonetheless they knew of this too, that the Prayer Leader constantly presents himself differently; they ordered an investigation into him, for him to be captured, and he was sought out until they caught him. And they brought him to the elders. When they began talking with him, he told them also as above, "You are all mistaken, and in great folly, and that is no purpose whatsoever (i.e.

money is no goal at all), but there exists (a solitary) One, Blessed is He, namely the Creator, blessed be His Name, who has created everything. He alone should be served, and money is an utter nonsense etc.. And the country where you say they are all gods - they will not be able to help you whatsoever, for they are only human etc.." They considered him insane, because the entire country was already so immersed in money, and they were already so crazed, that whoever said something contrary to their foolishness was for them a madman. They asked him, "What is this that you say about the warrior, 'Isn't this the warrior?'" as above. He answered them, "Inasmuch as I used to be with a king, and by the king a warrior was lost; and if this is that warrior, I am acquainted with him. And furthermore, your relying on the country where you say they are all gods - this is nonsense, because they will not be able to help you whatsoever; on the contrary: that will end up being your downfall if you rely on them." They asked him, "Where do you know this from?" He answered them, "Since by the king," who he was with, "he had by him a Hand [yad], that is, the king had something resembling a hand with five fingers and with all the grooves (i.e. all the creases and ruts) that are on a hand. And the Hand was the map of all the worlds; and all that has been since the creation of heaven and earth until the end, and what will be afterwards, were all depicted on the Hand, for depicted in the scratches and folds of the Hand, was the diagram of all the worlds; how every world stands, with all the things of every world in detail, everything standing out on the Hand as depicted on a land map (as is known to those who are used to land maps, that is, depicted on a paper is each town, every country, and every bridge; and similarly other things: streams, woods etc.; and by everything it is all written down, that this is this town, and this is that country, and so forth).

Thus all the worlds were depicted on the Hand by the ruts and folds of the Hand. And in the ruts of the Hand were a resemblance of letters, just as letters are inscribed on a map next to each thing so that one may know what it is, that is, that one may know that here is this town, and here is this stream, and likewise other things; in exactly the same way, by the ruts of the Hand were depicted the likeness of letters next to everything depicted on the Hand, so as to know what everything depicted there is. Thus every city separately, every town, and all the rivers, bridges, mountains, and other objects (whatever is found in the world and in all the worlds) were all depicted on the Hand, by the ruts and folds on the Hand, and next to everything there always stood letters, that this is this thing, and that is that things, etc..

And also all the people who go around in every country, and all their experiences (i.e. everything that passes over a man during his lifetime), were all depicted on the Hand. And even all the paths from one country to another, and from one place to another, were written on it, and on account of that I knew the way to come in here, to this town, which no man can enter (because the wealthy country had dug around their cities, and nobody could come to them, as above).

And likewise if you want to send me into the other town, I know that way too, all through the Hand.

And also imprinted on the hand, was the way from one world to another world, for there is a path and a course on which one can ascend from earth to heaven (for, one cannot go up from earth to heaven, due to not knowing the way; but depicted there, was the way to go up to heaven); and depicted there, were all the paths that exist from one world to another world. For, Eliyahu (Elijah) ascended to heaven with this path, and that path is written there; Moshe Rabbainu (Moses) went up to heaven with a different path, and that other path was also written there; and likewise Chanoch (Enoch) ascended to heaven with yet another path, and that path was written there too.

Thus from one world to the other (farther, higher) world was all depicted by the ruts and folds of the Hand. Also represented on the Hand was everything as it was at the time the world was created, and as it is now, and as it will be in the future. For instance, Sedom (Sodom) was depicted there as that city had been (while inhabited) before it was overturned; in addition, depicted there, was Sedom being upheaved, as a city turning over; and further depicted there, was Sedom as it appears today, after the upheaval. For on the Hand was depicted what was, what is, and what will be. And there on the Hand I have seen that the country of which you say they are all gods, together with all the people who come to them for help (i.e. that the country should help them), will both (all) be obliterated." (All this for the Prayer Leader told them).

The Nachal Noavaya — strong and firm — in a strong and firm bond that will never be shaken forever. And through this power the entire earth and all the inhabitants of the world will be filled with knowledge of Hashem.

It was an extraordinary novelty to them, for it was recognizable that this is true talk, for it is known that on a map all things are depicted, so they understood that his words are true, since such things cannot be thought up, because one can see for himself that he can put together two ruts of the hand and from them will become a letter. For this reason they understood, this is no contrivance; thus it was an extraordinary novelty to them.

They asked him, "Where is the king? Perhaps he will show us a way how to find money?" He answered them (with an expression of someone who is awestruck and angered), "You still want money?! Don't talk about money at all!" They asked him, "Nonetheless, tell us where the king is." He answered them, "I too do not know of the king; where he is.

And this is how the story happened: "Once, there was a king and a queen, and they had an only daughter. And it came near the time to marry her off, so they seated advisors to give counsel as to whom she ought to be married. And I too was there among the advisors (i.e. the Prayer Leader, who is still relating this in front of them) because the king liked me, and my advice was that they should give her the warrior, because the warrior had wrought us many benefits, for he had conquered many countries; therefore he ought to be given the queen's daughter for a wife. My advice was very well received, and they all agreed upon it, and there was a big celebration there for having found a groom for the queen's daughter. And they wed the queen's daughter with the warrior, and the queen's daughter had a child. And the baby was quite an extraordinary beauty, which was no sort of human beauty whatsoever: his hair was golden and had all the colors, his face was like the sun, and his eyes were (like) other luminaries. And the child was born with mature wisdom, because they saw in him immediately, when he was born, that he is already a great sage, for when people were talking, in the place when one needs to laugh he would laugh; and so with other such things they recognized

in him that he is a great sage – except he did not yet have the motions of an adult, that is, he still could not talk and other such faculties – but this they saw right away: that he is already a big genius. "And by the king was orator, that is, a speaker who is a master of language and rhetoric, who was able to talk very eloquently: very fine expression, songs, and praises for the king. And the orator was on his own account a fine orator too, but the king showed him the hidden path and the way for him to go up and get the power of the science of rhetoric, and thereby he became a very amazing superb orator. The king also had a sage, and the sage was also a sage on his own account, but the king showed him the way for him to go up and get wisdom, and thereby he became an extraordinary, superb sage.

"And similarly, the warrior was mighty on his own, but the king showed him the way for him to go and get strength, and thereby he became an extraordinary, superb warrior. For, there is a sword that hangs in the air, and the sword has three powers. When the sword is lifted, then all the officers of the [opposing] army flee, so as a matter of course they fall, because when the officers flee, there is no one to lead the battle, so they certainly fall. But despite this, the survivors may still be able to wage war – however, the sword has two sharp edges, and they have two powers: through one edge, they fall down, and through the other edge, they get the sickness called 'dahr' (wasting; consumption), namely they (the enemies whom they are fighting) become meager (-gaunt) and lifeless, as is known of this sickness; the Merciful One spare us. So by merely making a move with the sword, in its place, the enemies are stricken with the aforementioned things, that is, by using one edge the enemies have defeat, and by using the other edge the enemies are stricken with dahr, as mentioned. And the king showed the warrior the path (that there is) to the sword, and from there he attained his great strength. "And to me the king also showed the way to get my specialty; I got from there what I needed. (In other words, the Prayer Leader, who is telling all this, said that the king showed him the way from which to get his thing, namely, prayer). "And likewise, the king had a faithful friend [ohev ne'eman] (in other words, a good friend, a good, trusty friend) who was in love with the king (lit: who loved himself with the king) with a very extraordinary love. They loved each other so much, that it was impossible for them to be one without seeing the other for some amount of time. But nonetheless there must be times when they need to be apart, so they had portraits in which both their images were depicted. They would delight themselves (in other words, take pleasure and satisfaction with) the portraits when they could not see each other. And the images depicted how the king and his faithful friend love each other and hug and kiss each other with great love. And the portraits had the special ability that whoever looked at the images attained great love (in other words, one received the trait of love when looking at the images). And the faithful friend also received the love from the place which the king showed him.

"A time came when they all went, each one to his place, to receive his power there for his thing – that is, the orator, and the warrior, and all the king's people, each went up to his place to renew his power. And the day came to pass – there was a very big storm wind upon the world. And the storm wind mixed up the entire world, and overturned sea to dry land, and dry land to sea; and wilderness to settled area, and settled area to wilderness; so it overturned the entire world. And the storm wind went into the king's chamber and did nothing at all there (in other words, there at the king's, it wrought absolutely no damage), except that the storm wind went in and snatched away the aforementioned child of the queen's daughter. And amidst the commotion, as soon as the storm wind snatched away the dear child, the princess followed immediately (in other words, the princess immediately began to run after the child in order to snatch him back; she too went off someplace, no one knows where). So too the queen, and so too the king: they all went after the child, until they all became dispersed, and no one knows where they are. And all of us were nowhere nearby during this, for we were gone away then, each to his place to renew his power, as mentioned; and when we came back, we could no longer find them all, as mentioned. The Hand too became missing then.

So from that time on, we have all become scattered, and can no longer go, each to his place to renew his power, for since the entire world has been overturned, we now need different paths; therefore we can no longer go up, each to his place to renew his power. However, the impression that remains by each of us (meaning the token, that is, the little bit that has remained by each one from long ago) is also very great – and if this mighty one (which the country feared) is the king's warrior, he is certainly a very mighty warrior." (All this, the Prayer Leader told the people). And they heard out his words and were very amazed, and now they held the Prayer Leader fast, and would no longer let him go (because perhaps the warrior who wants to come upon them, is the king's warrior mentioned above, with whom the Prayer Leader is acquainted). And the aforementioned warrior kept coming closer to the country, always sending emissaries to them, until he reached the country.

And he stationed himself below the city, and sent his emissaries inside to them (for them to tell him what they want: to submit themselves or not, as above). They were very terrified of him, and they begged the Prayer Leader to give them an eitza (advice, remedy). The Prayer Leader told them it was necessary to inspect the conduct of this warrior in order for him to recognize thereby if this is the aforementioned warrior of the king.

The Prayer Leader [went, and he] went out towards the warrior, and he reached the warrior's army and began talking with one of the warrior's accompanying warriors (i.e. with one of the sentries) (in order to examine if he is the warrior whom he is familiar with). The Prayer Leader asked him, "What do you do? And how did you get together with this warrior?" He answered him (i.e. that one warrior replied to the Prayer Leader), "What took place was like this: "It is written in their chronicles how there had been a great storm wind over the world, changing sea to dry land, and dry land to sea; and wilderness to settled area, and settled area to wilderness, mixing up the entire world. And after the noise and upheaval, the entire world having become so mixed up, the world's people decided to make a king for themselves. They started to investigate who ought to be made king over them, and they reasoned, 'Inasmuch as the essential thing is only the ultimate purpose (tachlis) therefore whoever most occupies himself with, and exerts himself in the purpose of the world – he deserves to be king'. They began probing what the purpose is, and several opinions arose among them. One faction said that the main object is honor, for, 'We see that the world considers honor the main thing. Because when a person is not given his respect – that is, when some word is uttered against his honor – he experiences bloodshed, because the main thing for the entire world is honor. And even after death, people are careful to accord the dead his honor, burying him with respect and so forth (and telling him, 'What is being done for you, is all being done for your honor'). Even though after death, one no longer wants any money, and the dead person certainly has no desire for anything, nevertheless they are particular about the honor of the dead, and guard his honor. Therefore (it is) honor (that) is the main purpose. They continued saying more such conjectures and deductions of the sort, that honor is the main object of the world, until it became settled among them that the ultimate purpose is honor.

Therefore they needed to search for an honorable person (that is to say, a person who has honor), and moreover the person should also pursue honor, for since he receives honor and pursues it, and assists (human) nature which desires honor, therefore this person exerts himself and pursues after the main goal, and has reached it, because the goal is, after all, honor, as mentioned; therefore such a person deserves to be king. (All this was the foolish opinion of a sect of them; and so they found foolish conjectures and deductions until they became led astray therein, and said that honor is the purpose.)" Likewise all the other factions that will appear below, all had foolish reasoning for their foolish notions. (Heb.

only: Some of them are explained below, but Rabbainu of blessed memory, did not want to explain all the perplexed reasoning for these beliefs, because there are some rationales in this, that are so perplexing that it is possible to indeed be led astray by these false rationales; the Merciful One spare us.) "They went searching for such a person, and they went and saw an old Gypsy beggar being carried, while following him were perhaps five hundred Gypsies. And the beggar was blind, hunchback, and mute, and all these people followed him because they were all his relatives, for he had sisters, brothers, and ragtag (lit. wicked) progeny, until there came to be so many of them, all of whom followed him and carried him. And the old beggar was very particular about his honor, for he was a very angry person and always heaped his great indignation upon them, always ordering that others should carry him, and always scolding them. Hence this elderly beggar is a very 'honorable' man, because he is so strict over his honor.

Therefore this beggar pleased them, and they accepted him as (a) king. And because land also has an effect, for there is a land that engenders and is conducive (mesugal) to honor, and similarly there is a land that is specially suited for another trait, therefore this faction (which regarded honor as the main purpose) sought a country that engenders and is conducive to honor; and they found such a country that is conducive to it, and they settled there. "One faction said that the main object is not honor, and they conceived that the main object is murder, for, 'We see that all the things that are found upon the earth – grasses, and all plants, and people, and all that is in the whole world – must all ultimately cease to exist. Hence the very goal of all things is to be finished off (i.e. destroyed). Therefore, a murderer who kills and destroys people, is really bringing the world to its purpose'. Therefore they came to the conclusion that the goal is murder. They looked for a person who would be a murderer; an angry person and an extremely vengeful person, for such a person is closest to the purpose (according to their deluded mindset) and he deserves to be king.

They went looking for such a person and they heard a shriek. They asked, 'What is this, such a screech?!' "They replied to them, this shriek is: someone has slaughtered his father and mother. "They spoke up, 'Where else can one find such a strong hearted and angry murderer, that he should murder his own father and mother? This man here (i.e. the one who killed (his) father and mother) has reached the purpose!' And they were very pleased with him, and they accepted him as (a) king over them. And they sought for themselves a country that causes (i.e. brings about) murder, and they chose a place among mountains where killers abide, and they went there and settled there with their king. "A (Heb: different) faction said that worthy of being king, is he who has a great abundance of food, and does not eat the fare of other people, but only fine foods (such as milk, so that his mind should not become coarse); such a person ought to be king.

However, they could not immediately find such a person who would not eat the foods of other people. In the meantime they chose for themselves a rich man who had plenty of food (and whose food was a bit finer) until they would find such a person as they want, who would not eat etc. as above. And meanwhile, they made the rich man (into a) king until they would find such a person as they want, as above; then the rich man would descend from the reign, and the other one would be taken up as (a) king. And they chose for themselves a country suited for this, and they went and settled there. "A (Heb: different) faction said that a beautiful woman is fit to be king, for the main object is, after all, that the world should be inhabited with people, since for that reason the world was created. And since a beautiful woman brings about that desire, through which the habitation of the world grows greater (since more people come about), it comes out that she brings the world to the goal. Therefore it is befitting for a beautiful woman to be king. They chose for themselves a beautiful woman, and she became king over them. And they sought for themselves a land conducive to this, and they went there, and settled there. A (Heb: different) faction said that the main objective is speech, because the distinction between a man and a beast is only speech, and since that is the essential in which a man is greater than a beast, therefore it is the main purpose (i.e.

speech). They sought for themselves a speaker (i.e. a talker) who would be eloquent, and who would know many languages, and would always talk a great deal all the time, for such a person is at the goal. They went and found a French lunatic who was going around and talking to himself. They asked him if he knows languages, and he knew several languages. Now such a man has certainly already reached the goal (according to their foolish deluded ideas), since he is a master of language, knows many languages, and talks a great deal – for he talks even to himself. Therefore they were very pleased with him, and they accepted him as (a) king. And they chose for themselves a land conducive to this, and they went and settled there with their king. And surely he led them on the straight path! "A (Heb: different) faction said that the ultimate purpose is happiness.

For, when a person is born people are happy; when there is a wedding, people are happy; when conquering a country, people are happy. It follows that the main purpose of everything is only happiness. Therefore they sought a man who would always be happy, for he is at the goal, and he should be king over them. They went searching and they saw a gentile going along with a disgusting shirt and carrying a bottle of brandy, while following him were several other gentiles. And this gentile was very happy because he was very drunk. They saw that this gentile is very happy and has no concern whatsoever, and they were very pleased with him, this gentile, because he had reached the goal, since the goal is only happiness.

They accepted him as (a) king over them, and surely he led them on the right path! And they chose a land conducive to this, that is, where there are vineyards so that they would make wine, and from the seeds of the grapes they would make brandywine; and nothing whatsoever of the grape vines should go to waste, because for them this was the main purpose: to drink and go drunk, and always be happy, despite not having the faintest idea for what, for they had nothing at all to be happy about. But nevertheless it was the main purpose for them, to always be happy. And they chose for themselves a land conducive to this, as above, and they went and settled there.

"A (Heb: different) faction said that the main thing is wisdom. They sought for themselves a great sage, and made him (a) king over them, and they sought for themselves a land conducive to wisdom, and they went and settled there. "A (Heb: different) faction said that the main goal is to cultivate oneself with food and drink, which is called pillevin [Yid. = Ger. pflegen], in order to enlarge the limbs. And they sought a 'man of limbs,' that is, someone who has large limbs, and develops himself to enlarge his limbs (i.e. the members of the body), for since he has big limbs, he has a larger portion in the world, because he takes up more space in the world; and this man is closer to the purpose, because the purpose is to enlarge the limbs. Therefore such a person ought to be (a) king. They went and found a tall man (which is called a 'veynger' [Yid.]) and he pleased them, because he has large limbs and is at the goal. They accepted him as (a) king, and they sought a land conducive to this, and they went and settled there. "And there was a different group that said that all these things are no goal at all; rather, the right purpose is to be involved only in prayer to Hashem Yisburach, and to be a humble person, and a lowly person etc. (in other words, one should not deem anything of oneself), etc..

And they sought for themselves a prayer leader, and they made him (a) king over them." (One will already understand by himself that all the aforementioned factions were all very mistaken and deluded in great foolishness, each faction in their folly, through their foolish hypothesis and foolish deductions. Only this last faction hit upon the proper truth – so fortunate they are!) All this was related by one of the strongmen before the Prayer Leader. And he went on to tell him, that they (namely the warriors who were going with the warrior as mentioned) – they are from the faction of the 'men of limbs' mentioned above (i.e. the faction that said that the main objective is only to cultivate oneself to enlarge his limbs) who had taken up as (a) king over themselves a 'man of limbs' (i.e. a large person, as mentioned). "And the day came to pass, and a company of them were going along (in other words, many of the ample-limbed people were going together) with the wagons in train (which are called ibez [- Ukr. oboz, train]) bringing along food, drink, and other such things.

Now, the world was certainly afraid of these large-limbed ones, for they were large and mighty men, and whoever encountered them was sure to step off the road. Meanwhile, as the camp of the ample-limbed was going along like that, approaching them from the opposite direction came a big warrior (and this was the warrior who goes with them now), and this warrior did not step off the road for them, and he went into the camp and dispersed them here and there, and the people of the camp were terrified of him.

And he (i.e. the warrior) went inside among the aforementioned wagons which trailed behind them, and ate up everything that was there. This was an extraordinary novelty to them (that he is so valiant that he has no fear of them whatsoever, and went right into their midst, and ate up all that was on the wagons) so they promptly fell down before him, saying immediately, '(Long) Live the King!' (meaning, they immediately made him (a) king) because he certainly deserves the reign. And so it was: they took him up as king (i.e. the warrior who came against them, as mentioned).

'And this is the warrior with whom we now go about conquering the world. But he says (i.e. the warrior who has now become king over them) that he means something else in his going about conquering the world, for he does not at all intend that the world should be under him; rather he means something else." (All this one of the warriors told the Prayer Leader who had asked him how they joined the warrior; he answered him all this).

The Prayer Leader asked him, "Wherein is the strength of the warrior who is now your king?" He answered him, "Inasmuch as there was a country that did not want to submit themselves under him, the warrior took his sword which he has, and his sword has three powers: when it is lifted, all the army officers flee" etc. (and he recounted the three powers explained above, from which king's warrior got his strength, as mentioned). When the Prayer Leader heard this, he realized that this is certainly the king's warrior mentioned above. The Prayer Leader asked if it were possible to be granted an audience with the warrior who is their king. They answered him, it must be announced for approval ('meldeeven') before him.

They went and announced, and he summoned that he should come in, and the Prayer Leader came in to the warrior. When he came in to him, they recognized each other, and there was very great rejoicing amongst them that they merited to be reunited. And there was rejoicing and crying (happiness and weeping) between them, for they recalled the king and his men; they cried over that; therefore between them was rejoicing and crying. The Prayer Leader began to discuss with the warrior how it came about that they arrived here. The warrior told the Prayer Leader that from the time that there was the storm wind – when they all became dispersed – when he returned from where he went to renew his power, and did not find the king with all his people, as mentioned, he then let himself go wherever he would go. And he passed by them all, that is, he understood he was at the place where the king is, and where all his people are. That is, he was at a certain place, and he understood that the king is certainly there, in this place, however he was unable to seek and find him.

And similarly he passed by another place, understanding that the queen is certainly there, however he was unable to seek and find her; and thus he passed by all the king's people. "Only you I did not pass by!" (i.e. the warrior who is telling this, said to the Prayer Leader, that he passed by all the places of all the people; only the place of the Prayer Leader he did not pass by). The Prayer Leader replied to him saying, "I passed by all their places, and by your place as well. For, I was passing by a certain place and I saw the king's crown standing there, and I understood that the king is certainly here, however I was unable to seek and find him. And so I went further and passed by a sea of blood, and I understood that this sea is certainly made from the tears of the queen who weeps over all this, and the queen is certainly here, however I could not seek and find her. And so I passed by a sea of milk, and I understood that the sea is certainly made from the milk of the queen's daughter whose son was lost, and the milk pressured her, and from this came to be the sea of milk; and the queen's daughter is certainly here, however I was unable to seek and find her. And so I went further and saw the golden hairs of the child laid out, and I did not take from them whatsoever, and I knew that the child is certainly here, however it was not possible to seek and find him. And so I went further, passing by an ocean of wine, and I knew that this ocean is certainly made from the speech of the orator, who stands and speaks consolations before the king and the queen, and then turns his face and delivers consolations to the queen's daughter, and from these words came about the ocean of wine (as it is written [Song 7:10], 'your palate is like good wine'), however I could not find him.

And so I went further, and I saw standing there, a stone which had etchings in it just like the Hand with its ruts (i.e. just like the Hand with all the furrows etc. which had been at the king's, as mentioned), and I understood that the sage (of the king) is certainly here, and the sage had engraved for himself the depiction of the Hand on the stone, but it was not possible to find him. And so I went further and I saw arranged on a mountain the golden tables, the credenzas [display cupboards], and the rest of the king's treasures, and I understood that the king's treasurer [i.e. he who sits over all the treasures] is certainly here, however it was impossible to find him." (All this the Prayer Leader told over to the warrior). The warrior replied, "I too passed by all these places, and I did take from the golden hair of the child, for I took seven hairs that had all sorts of colors, and they are very dear to me. And I settled down and sustained myself with whatever possible, with grass and so forth, until I had nothing whatsoever to sustain myself.

I let myself roam about, and when I went away from my place, I forgot my bow there." The Prayer Leader replied, "I saw your bow! And I knew that it was certainly your bow, but I could not find you." The warrior went on telling the Prayer Leader that, "When I went away from that place, I went until I encountered the company mentioned above (i.e. the rest of the ample-limbed warriors mentioned above), and I entered in their midst, because I was very hungry and wanted to eat; and as soon as I entered among them they immediately took me up as (a) king, as mentioned.

But the true Tzadik has already revealed to us — that the truth of truth is not so. For every person must always strengthen himself in Hashem Yisburach — and even in the nethermost depths, Heaven forbid — he should know and believe that he is still close to Hashem Yisburach and there is no despair in the world whatsoever. And one can return even from there and draw close to Hashem Yisburach in truth.

For certainly one must guard oneself from sin — and even from the slightest blemish. But even so — even if one has stumbled as he has stumbled — even thousands and tens of thousands of times, Heaven forbid — even so at every moment the kindnesses of Hashem are not exhausted. And one can bring himself close to Hashem Yisburach at every moment and from every place where he may be. For His greatness Yisburach is beyond all reckoning.

And now I go conquering the world, and my intention is: perhaps I will be able to find the king and his people mentioned above."

At the time when the Tzadik is in the city — he is its splendor, he is its radiance, he is its glory. The Tzadik has departed — the splendor has departed, the radiance has departed, the glory has departed. [Based on Talmud Sanhedrin 46a]

Our soul has escaped like a bird from the dispute against such a point of truth — which surpasses everything. The like of which has never existed — (and it is impossible to speak of this). Through which all our hope and our repair comes.

Rabbainu, may his memory be for a blessing, said before his holy passing: "Az ich gei'eh far aich, vos hot ihr tzu zorgin!" {When I go before you — what do you have to worry about!} How many and how many good merits Hashem has toward us — that we were saved from opposition and mockery and the confusion of those who dispute and stray…

[This letter opens mid-sentence in the source text.]

…Who has enkindled his passionate heart — to use the power of his clear tongue and his great ability — to win great souls from the world of knowledge and literature — to inflame their hearts to the light of the Tzadik — the one and only source of wisdom in the world. Who is the essential novelty and wonder of all the great and awesome Tzadikim — the singular ones of…