כו

At the time when Rabeinu za'l still dwelt in Breslov, he suddenly told R' Nassan and R' Naftali to make their way to Mezhibuzh, to the holy tziyun of the Ba'al Shem Tov za'l; and on their way there, they should first be in Berdichev at the home of the Rav R' Levi Yitzchak za'l. And so they did; and on Erev Shabbos they came to Berdichev and immediately went to greet the Rav. When the Rav za'l saw them, he told them that it was not convenient for him at that moment for them to come to him, because "the elder" [i.e., the opponent] had come to spend Shabbos with him.

They immediately understood to keep out of his sight, so that he would not decree upon them to leave Berdichev — and they did not appear before him until close to evening. When they came to him at the last hour, he saw them and said: "Are you still here? Have you not left Berdichev?" They said to him: "And how is it possible to leave here and not be with you for Shabbos?" And the Rav za'l greatly honored R' Nassan za'l, whose practice was to greatly prolong his prayer; and it was the custom of the people of Berdichev to wait until he finished praying and say to him "Gut Shabbos" as was proper. On this Shabbos, when he finished the prayer and removed his glasses from his eyes and did not immediately see Moharan"as za'l, he asked: "Viya iz Natale?" (Where is Natale [his affectionate name for R' Nassan]?) At this gathering the elder was also present. When the time of the meal arrived, R' Nassan and R' Naftali za'l did not sit at the table until they saw that the elder had sat in his place. Then they chose their places — one opposite the elder and one at his side — in order that if the elder opened his mouth, they could confront him in every manner, to fulfill the statement of our Sages za'l: "Do not stand idly by the blood of your fellow" [Vayikra 19:16].

During the meal, when a bottle of wine was brought to the table, the Rav za'l took the bottle and gave it to R' Nassan za'l to distribute to those seated. It was then of course impossible for the elder to open his mouth during all three meals; and so the Shabbos passed in silence from both sides. However, on Sunday morning the elder entered to the Rav za'l and related before him that he had heard — due to Rabeinu's za'l great desire that his people pray with burning [his'lahavus] — he had permitted them to drink spirits before the prayer. And this was said as a complaint before the Rav za'l, after which he left.

Afterward, when R' Nassan and R' Naftali za'l returned and entered to the Rav za'l, the Rav told them the aforementioned complaint without mentioning who had said it. To this they replied not a word — but R' Naftali, who was a man of some fire, seized both sides of the Rav's garment in his hands, and the two of them together began stamping their feet and cried out: "Rebbe! Rebbe! Ir oich? Ir zolt azelches zogen?!" — Rebbe! Rebbe! You too?! That you should say such a thing?! — From this the Rav understood that it was a great wonder in their eyes that he would give voice to such a falsehood; and he said to them: "No! No! Serdtse (dear ones of my heart) — it is not I who says this; it is he who said it."