The Fire Beneath the Stove

It is told that Rav Dovid once lost his way while traveling to collect Chanuka gelt for the ransoming of Jewish captives. He wandered into the home of the Baal Shem Tov, in the days before the Baal Shem Tov's revelation, and the Baal Shem Tov's wife welcomed him. She was accustomed to receiving guests from the village, and she set a table for him and showed him to a room where he could rest.

The Baal Shem Tov returned in the meantime and joyfully served Rav Dovid a meal that his wife had prepared. He then made up Rav Dovid's bed and prepared water for him to wash his hands.

That night, as Rav Dovid lay asleep, he suddenly woke and saw a fire blazing beneath the stove. Afraid that it would spread, he cried out, “Fire,” He seized the pitcher of water and ran to pour it over the stove. When he reached it, he saw an unbelievable sight. The Baal Shem Tov was sitting beside the stove, saying Tikkun Chatzos (the prayers recited after midnight), and a bright light shone around him.

Rav Dovid fainted and lay almost lifeless on the floor until the Baal Shem Tov revived him. When he awoke, he asked the Baal Shem Tov to explain the strange sight. The Baal Shem Tov answered, “I was only saying some Tehillim, but it is possible that my attachment to Hashem created the blazing light that you saw.”

That very night the Baal Shem Tov removed his mask and revealed his true identity to Rav Dovid. Rav Dovid pledged his loyalty and went on to become one of the foremost of his talmidim and a spreader of his Torah.