Twelve More Years

It is told that the Malach's wife was no simple woman. Twice she dreamed that a court of distinguished-looking sages wanted to take her husband away, and both times she cried out and argued his case. In the third dream, the court ruled that her defense was so strong that he would be allowed to stay with her for another twelve years. The next morning the Maggid thanked her warmly, for her efforts had gained his son twelve more years of life.

After the Maggid's passing, he appeared to his daughter-in-law in dreams whenever the need arose. One night he told her to tell her husband to change rooms, or at least to move his books into hers. The Malach brushed the matter aside. The following night a fire broke out in his room and burned his entire library.