The Forgotten Revelation

On the first day of Pesach, two of the Gaon’s main disciples were visiting their rebbe on Yom Tov. They knew that the Gaon was always exceptionally joyful on Yom Tov, in keeping with the mitzvah of simchas Yom Tov, and they were surprised to see him troubled. When they asked what was wrong, at first he refused to say. After they pressed him, he gave way.

“I am not accustomed to do this, but I must tell you something, so that I fulfill Chazal’s teaching that a person with a burdensome worry should speak of it with others. Last night I was visited by Eliyahu HaNavi, though it is possible that it was some other great figure from the Heavenly Academy, if my memory serves me. He revealed to me new understandings of the twelve-letter Name of Hashem and of the pasuk ‘Alu zeh baNegev.’ I woke with joy and could not stop thinking about these chiddushim before I said Birkas HaTorah. I was punished for it, and I forgot them all.” In the Gaon’s own opinion it is forbidden even to think Torah thoughts before saying the berachah.

His disciples comforted him and blessed him that Hashem would return his lost object. After some time, one of them asked whether he had recovered his chiddushim. “Baruch Hashem, they were revealed to me a second time,” the Gaon answered. “There were 2,260 explanations. Just as I knew why they were taken from me, I also know why they were given to me again. One of these insights gave me the ability to discern the powers of all creatures and the purpose of each limb.”

Rav Chaim of Volozhin adds that such ascents seemed natural to the Gaon, and that he needed no kavanos or yichudim, meditations on holy Names, to reach them, since all that passed his lips and filled his heart and mind was Torah, day and night.