The Storm and the Shofar

Once, a foreign ruler summoned Rav Shmelke to appear before him. Rav Shmelke traveled together with his talmid Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov. They journeyed by ship and were at sea for many weeks.

On the night of Rosh Hashanah a great storm raged and began to toss the ship to and fro among the high waves. The entire crew was seized with fear and thought that at any moment the ship might capsize and they would drown. Rav Shmelke was deep in meditation, while Rav Moshe Leib sang and danced all night, singing Shiras HaYam, "Az yashir Moshe," bellowing in a loud voice.

Every few minutes Rav Shmelke asked whether it was already dawn. He sat in eager anticipation, burning with hislahavus, aflame with excitement for the moment when he could blow the shofar. As soon as dawn broke, he blew the shofar, and the storm ceased at once. The waves calmed and the sea returned to normal. They were saved.

Afterward, Rav Shmelke asked Rav Moshe Leib why he had sung and danced. "I thought that at any moment we would drown and I would come face to face with my Maker," he answered. "I was so excited to meet and see Hashem, how could I refrain from singing and dancing?"

When they came before the king, Rav Shmelke's regal, stately appearance filled everyone with awe, respect and reverence. They saw that he was a man of Hashem, and they freed him of all charges and wrongdoing.

Tzaddikim who retold this story explained further that it was not the blowing of the shofar that calmed the sea. It was his gaagu'im, his pining, heartfelt desire all night long for the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah, that did it.