The Light of the Gartel

The Rav of Madin, a grandson of the Ropshitzer, related the following. After Minchah each day, Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk had the custom of speaking with his close chassidim, and then he went into a private room to daven Maariv alone, in purity and holiness. His talmid, Rav Naftoli, longed to see how his Rebbe davened there and to watch his every deed.

One day he slipped into the room unnoticed and hid under the bed. The Rebbe came in, closed the door and took out his gartel to put it on. As he wound it around his waist the first time, an awesome, unearthly light filled the room. At the second winding the light grew so intense that Rav Naftoli could no longer bear it. He felt faint and cried out.

Rav Elimelech recognized the voice. “Naftali, my son, are you here?” he asked. “It is fortunate that you did not stay for the third winding. Had you remained, your soul would have left your body from the intensity of that light.”