The Dreamer of Vilna

Rav Chaim of Volozhin heard from the Gaon that once, in Vilna, a dreamer frightened everyone who heard of him. He could tell each person private things they had said or done, even behind the closed doors of their homes. The man was brought before the Gaon. “Rabbi,” he said, “please allow me to say just this. Two weeks ago on Thursday you sat in this very place and said a chiddush, a new approach to several pesukim in Haazinu. Rav Shimon bar Yochai sat at your right hand and the Arizal at your left.”

The Gaon was surprised that an ordinary man could know this. “I remember that before this I even sent the gabbai out of my house,” he said. He admitted to the man, “It is true that I innovated those chiddushim,” and his face showed deep satisfaction, for these were wondrous secrets worthy of being told even to Rashbi himself. Then he looked at the dreamer and saw that he was a deeply depressed man, to whom dreams of this kind are open as well through paths of tumah. He asked the gabbai to lead the man out.