Canceling the Vilna Gaon's Decree

In the sefer Shemen HaTov, the following story is cited in the name of the Apta Rav, author of Ohev Yisroel. Originally, Rav Shmelke and his brother Rav Pinchas Horowitz, author of the Haflo'a, were both talmidim of the Vilna Gaon. The Gaon decided to gather a minyan and convene a Beis Din to decree that no one should marry any of the talmidim of the Maggid of Mezritch. Rav Shmelke and the Haflo'a were counted among the dayanim of this Beis Din.

When word of the pending decree reached the Maggid, he sent his talmidim Rav Avrohom Kalisker and Reb Zusha to Vilna to try to prevent it. He advised them how to draw close to the Gaon. "When you come to Vilna," he said, "the Gaon will be dealing with a certain Tosafos and studying it with his talmidim, discussing its meaning. I will teach you a way to explain this Tosafos, and when you present the solution to the Gaon, he will be impressed and draw you near."

And so it was. The Vilna Gaon asked the identity of the two anonymous strangers who were obviously talmidei chachomim of some caliber, since they could explain so difficult a Tosafos so well. They told him the truth, that they were talmidim of the Maggid of Mezritch. The decree was never issued, and Rav Shmelke and the Haflo'a both decided to go to Mezritch and see for themselves who this Maggid was.

The sefer Maasei Tzaddikim describes their first encounter with the Maggid. When Rav Shmelke suggested that they travel to him, his brother countered, "And what will be with all the bitul Torah on the way?" "I have heard that he is a great gaon and that he is great in Torah as well," answered Rav Shmelke, and his brother agreed. They traveled to Mezritch.

They were extremely disappointed by the first encounter, on Erev Shabbos. Instead of engaging them with divrei Torah and a pilpul, as they expected, the Maggid told them he needed to prepare to greet the Shabbos Queen and dismissed them. His Shalosh Seudos Torah disappointed them as well, for they expected a pilpul and a discourse as they were accustomed to, and not Chassidus. They decided to take leave of the Maggid.

"Before you go on your way, please take leave of Reb Zusha as well," the Maggid asked. They went to the beis medrash and found Reb Zusha, who challenged them. "The Midrash says in the name of Chazal that if your Rav is compared to an angel, then you can ask Torah from his mouth and study, and if not, then no. But I ask you, have you ever met or seen an angel? If you cannot recognize an angel, how would you know whether your Rav is comparable to one and whether you can accept Torah from him?"

The two brothers agreed, and said to one another that such profound wisdom from Reb Zusha proved that his master and teacher, the Maggid, must truly be like an angel, great in Torah. They stayed and became devoted talmidim.