Rav Uziel Meets the Maggid

Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev is most famous as one of the greatest of the early Chassidic masters, an extraordinary tzaddik aflame with love for Hashem and His people. At the same time, he was an outstanding gaon who served as rav and head of the beis din in the city with which he is associated. He did not take the post of Rav of Berditchev until 1785, when he was forty-five years old. Before that he was rav in several other cities, the first of which was Ryczywohl. The illustrious Rav Schmelke of Nikolsburg had been the rav of Ryczywohl before he was invited to serve as rav of Nikolsburg. When he left, he was succeeded by his brilliant talmid, Rav Levi Yitzchok, who was only twenty-one years old.

Rav Levi Yitzchok became a talmid of Rav Schmelke because of a dream. After his marriage to his wife Perel, he lived in the home of his wealthy father-in-law, Rav Yisrael Peretz, in the city of Levertov. He did not feel that Levertov was the place for him. He yearned to learn in the yeshiva of Rav Schmelke, but his father-in-law insisted that he remain. At that time Levertov was a bright star in the Torah world. Among its illustrious talmidei chachamim were Rav Yosef Thumim, author of Pri Megodim, and Rav Yissochor Ber of Zlotchov, author of Mevaser Tzedek and Bas Eini. What better place could there be for a young Torah prodigy such as Rav Levi Yitzchok?

As time went on, his discontent showed in his physical appearance. “Why do you look so drawn?” his father-in-law asked him.

“Every night I dream,” he said, “that I must go learn with Rav Schmelke.”

“Very well. If your heart is so set on it, then you must go.”

Rav Levi Yitzchok became one of the star talmidim that Rav Schmelke brought to the holy Rebbe Rav Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov as leader of the Chassidic movement. The others were Rav Yisrael, who later became the Maggid of Kozhnitz, and Rav Yaakov Yitzchok, who later became known as the Chozeh of Lublin.

Another young prodigy was living in Ryczywohl when Rav Levi Yitzchok became its rav. His name was Rav Uziel Meisels, the future author of Kerem Shlomo, Tiferes Uziel and Etz HaDaas Tov. Recently married, he was living in the home of his wealthy father-in-law while he learned Torah.

Rav Levi Yitzchok was a fiery chassid of the Maggid of Mezritch and followed his ways. When he davened or made berachos, his body trembled uncontrollably and he would cry out at the top of his lungs in an ecstasy of devotion. Rav Uziel was not accustomed to such behavior. It offended his sensibilities, and he disapproved. Since he was wealthy and learned, he felt no need to hide his distaste, even though Rav Levi Yitzchok was the rav of the city.

The first time Rav Uziel attended one of Rav Levi Yitzchok's deroshos, he sat quietly among the people with his hands folded in his lap, listening with intense concentration. Rav Levi Yitzchok began by posing a number of sharp and perplexing questions on a difficult sugya. Then he proved one point after another, with numerous citations and seemingly impeccable logic, laying foundation upon foundation until he had built a stunning intellectual edifice and resolved all the questions in one sweeping revelation of the true meaning of the sugya.

Those in the audience who could follow the intricacies of his reasoning were awed by his insight and genius. Rav Uziel, however, was not so impressed. He pointed out an inconsistency in the reasoning, and the entire edifice collapsed. Rav Levi Yitzchok listened quietly, nodded his head and walked away. Rav Uziel felt it was his duty to expose the rav's flaws, and he was pleased that he had done so. Over the next few months this happened several times. Rav Levi Yitzchok would deliver a dazzling derosha, and Rav Uziel would dismantle it with a few surgical arguments and questions.

One time Rav Uziel had to travel to a distant town, and his father-in-law placed at his disposal his carriage, drawn by three fine horses, and his coachman. As he rode along in plush comfort, he noticed a Jewish man with a bundle slung over his shoulder trudging along the roadside. Rav Uziel ordered his coachman to stop the carriage.

“Sholom aleichem,” he called out to the traveler.

“Aleichem sholom,” the man replied.

“Where are you going?” asked Rav Uziel. “Perhaps I can give you a lift. Why should you tire yourself out going on foot when you can ride in comfort with me?”

“I am going to Mezritch,” said the man.

“Perfect. We will be passing that town, and it will be my pleasure to take you to your destination.”

The man smiled. “Thank you so much. I will gladly take you up on your offer.”

Rav Uziel helped the man into the carriage, then gave the signal to his coachman, and they continued on their way. Rav Uziel extended his hand. “My name is Uziel Meisels. And what is yours?”

“I am Elimelech. You can call me Meilech.”

“You look like a talmid chochom, Rav Meilech. I would love to hear some words of Torah from you.”

Rav Meilech shook his head. “It is true that I try to learn a little, but I can see that you are the talmid chochom. And you are obviously wealthy. Torah and greatness in one place. No, Rav Uziel, it is you who should be saying words of Torah.”

“Well, perhaps later. By the way, Rav Meilech, where are you from?”

“I am from Lizhensk.”

“Lizhensk? You are certainly a long way from home. And you are going to Mezritch?”

“Yes.”

“Very interesting. Why are you going to Mezritch? What business do you have there?”

“That is where my Rebbe is. I am going to learn Torah from him.”

“And who is your Rebbe?”

Rav Meilech's face lit up. “The Rebbe Rav Ber, the holy Maggid of Mezritch.”

Rav Uziel stroked his beard and knitted his brows. “You are not a young boy any more, Rav Meilech, and I can see just by looking at you that you are a real talmid chochom in your own right. Why must you travel so far to learn Torah? Is he such a genius? Does he have what no one else possesses?”

“My Rebbe's greatness in Torah has no bounds. The entire world is open before him, and when he speaks, I catch glimpses of the ultimate truth of the universe.”

Rav Uziel was intrigued. “If he is indeed so great, I would like to meet him and see his greatness for myself. Do you think I could come with you to Mezritch? Would he meet me?”

“I am sure he would,” said Rav Meilech.

When they reached Mezritch, Rav Uziel stepped down from the carriage together with Rav Meilech. He told his coachman to stable the horses and get him a room at the inn. Then he walked with Rav Meilech to the house of the Maggid of Mezritch.

The attendant who opened the door solemnly shook their hands. He nodded familiarly to Rav Meilech and asked both of them to wait. It would be a few minutes before the Maggid could see them. Other than that, they did not speak. The attendant did not ask who Rav Uziel was. As they waited, Rav Uziel saw that Rav Meilech grew more excited by the minute, and he too felt his breath quicken with anticipation.

Finally the door opened and they were shown into the Maggid's presence. Rav Uziel took one look at the Maggid's face, alight with a spiritual glow such as he had never seen before, and he shrank back.

“Now, whom should I greet first?” said the Maggid. “Should it be you, Meilech, because you are a talmid chochom? But our guest is also a talmid chochom, and a wealthy man besides. Perhaps I should greet him first.” He closed his eyes and thought over this question for a moment. Then he looked up. “Sholom aleichem, Meilech. Sholom aleichem, Rav Uziel.”

Rav Uziel was so astonished that it took him a moment to gather his wits and respond. How could the Maggid, who had never laid eyes on him, know his name?

“Aleichem sholom,” he finally managed to say.

“Where are you from, Rav Uziel?” said the Maggid.

“Ryczywohl.”

“Ah, Ryczywohl. So you know my talmid Rav Levi Yitzchok.”

“Yes, I do.”

“What do you say to his brilliance and vast knowledge? He is an amazing genius. Wouldn't you agree?”

Rav Uziel did not want to contradict the Maggid, but he felt compelled to answer honestly. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

“Actually,” he said, “I am not very impressed with him.”

The Maggid lifted his eyebrows. “And why would you say that?”

“Because on a number of occasions I have pointed out errors and inconsistencies in his derashos, and each time he nodded his head and retracted.”

“Indeed?” said the Maggid. “I would like to hear more about this. Do you happen to recall any of these derashos that you refuted?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Good. Then tell me what he said, and also the errors you pointed out.”

Rav Uziel had a phenomenal memory, and he was able to repeat several of Rav Levi Yitzchok's derashos almost word for word. Then he set out the arguments with which he had forced Rav Levi Yitzchok to retract.

“Very well,” said the Maggid when he had finished. “Listen closely while I explain what Rav Levi Yitzchok said and meant, and you will see that there was no basis at all for the objections you raised.”

The Maggid patiently explained what Rav Levi Yitzchok had said. As he spoke and the structure of the argument was rebuilt with great clarity, all the objections were shown to be baseless. Rav Uziel suddenly realized that this was exactly what Rav Levi Yitzchok had intended, and that it was he who had misunderstood. He found it deeply disturbing that he should have missed the essential points of the derashos when the logic was so clear. At the same time he was overcome with amazement at the genius of the Maggid, before whose eyes, it seemed, the entire Torah, the revealed and the hidden, lay open like a book.

“Rebbe, you are the light of Yisroel,” he cried out. “I am so grateful that I now see the truth in Rav Levi Yitzchok's words. It is so clear now that I cannot imagine how I did not see it before. But I do not understand why he retracted. Why didn't he just answer my questions?”

“He certainly could have,” said the Maggid. “But he does not care about his own honor, and he did not want to humiliate you.”

As soon as he left the room, Rav Uziel sent the carriage and coachman back with a message to his family that he would be staying in Mezritch for an extended time. He had found the wellspring of Torah from which he would drink for the rest of his life.