The Birth of Mashiach ben Yosef

It is told that Rav Yehuda Tzvi once announced, “Today Mashiach ben Yosef was born in Hungary.” He explained that the child would be one of the tzaddikim nistarim (hidden tzaddikim who remain anonymous), and that if Hashem granted him years, he meant to visit him one day. Many chassidim heard this, though not all of them took it to heart. The Rebbe's personal shochet (ritual slaughterer), however, kept it in mind.

Many years later, the Rebbe prepared a journey to Pest, the capital of Hungary, and brought many chassidim along, including that same shochet. He stayed there for several weeks, and no one knew the purpose of the trip.

During his stay, a young man of remarkable beauty and stature came to see him. He walked into the Rebbe's room without knocking or asking permission and shut the door behind him. He remained inside with the Rebbe for many hours, and the chassidim waiting outside were astonished. The shochet suddenly remembered the Rebbe's announcement of years before and stood by the door, ready to greet the visitor when he came out.

After several hours the door opened, and the two men walked together to the outer door. Rav Yehuda Tzvi bade the stranger farewell, and in a moment he vanished from sight. The shochet was disappointed that he had received only a single “Shalom” from him.

The Rebbe then prepared to return home. On the way the chassidim kept discussing the mysterious visitor, though only the shochet knew who he was. Many years afterward he would say that he still felt the effect of that “Shalom” and the new life it had poured into him, and that the mere memory of the man's face still inspired him.