Lovesick for Chassidus

When Rav Moshe first joined the derech of Chassidus, he longed to travel to Rav Mordechai of Lechovitch. His father-in-law, a strong misnagid, forbade it firmly. Rav Moshe's yearning grew until it made him ill, so ill that a physician was called in. The doctor declared that he was lovesick: his longing for something was so strong that it was making him physically sick.

His father-in-law understood that the root of the illness was Rav Moshe's yearning for the Lechovitcher, and at last he relented. He hired a coach, a wagon and horses, and they set out. As they drew nearer to their destination, Rav Moshe slowly recovered. Seeing his son-in-law getting well, the father-in-law decided to turn back. The moment Rav Moshe saw them heading home, his illness returned in full. With no other choice, they turned around again and continued to Lechovitch.

They arrived on the Shabbos before Selichos. Rav Moshe quickly absorbed the derech of Chassidus and became an ardent and devoted chossid of the Lechovitcher Rebbe.