A Tosafos Explained From Heaven

The Chida writes that he heard from Rav Hirsch of Balchov about the time Rebbe Reb Heschel of Cracow fled to Vilna, escaping the Cossacks and Chmielniczki during the riots of Tach and Tat. When he came before the Av Bais Din, Rav Sheptil Horowitz, author of Vavei HaAmudim and son of the Shela HaKadosh, Rav Sheptil did not recognize Reb Heschel or honor his greatness.

Reb Heschel then asked the son of the Shela to explain a Tosafos. Rav Sheptil said he would study it, but he could not understand it at all. He fasted and wept, and then his own father, the author of the Shela HaKadosh, appeared to him in a dream. The Shela explained the Tosafos to him, and also admonished him to honor Reb Heschel, who had the soul of Rabbeinu Tam.

Rav Sheptil woke, sent for Reb Heschel at once and showed him honor, and explained the Tosafos to him. Reb Heschel declared in public, “The only way you could have this explanation is by a revelation from Heaven.”