The Gaze of Reb Zisha

In the course of his wanderings in self-imposed exile, Reb Zisha of Anipoli reached Yozepaf, the home of Rav Avrohom Eliezer Horowitz, the father of Rav Yaakov Yitzchok. As was his custom, Reb Zisha sat at the very back of the beis medrash near the stove, a place reserved for beggars and wanderers.

The young Yaakov Yitzchok, who was ten years old, walked by. At once Reb Zisha, wrapped in his tallis, turned his eyes to the boy. The tzaddik's holy eyes fixed on the child's and gazed deep into his soul.

When their gaze ended, the boy's eyes began to tear and he wept uncontrollably for an hour or two, until his tears turned to blood. Then Reb Zisha healed him and said, "I have given you the nefesh and ruach of your holy soul. Now go to my brother, Reb Melech, and he will give you the neshamah." From then on the Chozeh's soul was bound up with Chassidus.