Chapter Seven: Rav Dov of Warsaw*

I saw Rav Dov of Warsaw — he was such a genius, yet no one listened to him. He was a Breslov Chassid. He drew close to Rabbenu through the Sipuray Maasiyos [Rabbenu's Stories]. He came to Rabbi Noson in Tzfas [Rav Noson from the town of Tirahovitze in Russia] to honor him on a holiday. So Rabbi Noson went to the cabinet and took out a book — and it was the Sipuray Maasiyos. He saw a passage from the Sipuray Maasiyos, and immediately said that this was a new wonder that had never been revealed in the world. Yes — that is what he said, Rav Dov of Warsaw: he saw that this was a supreme wonder that had not yet been revealed in the world!

He understood from within himself — he saw only a passage — and he already said: "The redemption has already come!"

He was a supreme genius, a supreme great man. But from the time he came to know Rabbenu, Likutay Moharan and the Torah discourses and the Stories were opened before him. He said to me: "Even if our holy Rabbenu had not composed the Sipuray Maasiyos, he would still have been a novelty!"

He said to me: "No study is difficult for me — only if I study Likutay Moharan, I am compelled to make a belt and to bind my head with it, for otherwise — it would explode." So he told me — "If not — the head would explode" — he could not live, yes.

He would place a belt on his head — if not, he could not study Likutay Moharan. He was a genius of the entire world — he was the head of all the geniuses, of all the redemption, of all the Torah. He did not need to study all the Torah — it was all within his heart. He was together with Rabbi Yisroel Kardoner and with me. He literally gave all his life. And Rav Shmu'el Hurwitz also studied by him free of charge, without payment. I spoke with him as we are speaking now — as friends; we spoke for a while. He showed me great honor — he was already a very old man, and he would stand up before me and give me great honor. We were friends like one body. He received me as if I were Rav Dov of Warsaw…