The New Mikveh

Near the home of the Baba Sali we built a new mikveh during the month of Tammuz, in the middle of the dry, hot summer. When the structure was finished, we still lacked water, rainwater of course, to complete the mikveh. Our master, the Baba Sali, lifted his eyes to Heaven and said, "Master of the universe, You commanded us to conduct ourselves in holiness and purity, and we wish to fulfill Your will. Please, for the sake of Your great name, let it rain."

Suddenly clouds gathered in the sky, and rain fell at once. In no time the mikveh filled with water. But then we realized that the mikveh was not built according to the opinion of the Beis Yehudah, and we told our master, the Baba Sali. He ordered us immediately to empty the mikveh. Someone objected, "It does not rain like this in the middle of the summer. This is a rare miracle." He turned to the Baba Sali and said, "I take upon myself the sin that this mikveh is not perfect according to the opinion of the Beis Yehudah."

But our master, the Baba Sali, stood firm. "We are obligated to empty the mikveh," he replied. So we drained it and completed the construction according to the Beis Yehudah, in splendor and perfection.

The Baba Sali then raised his eyes to Heaven again and pleaded with Hashem, "Master of the universe, You know very well that we made this mikveh not for my honor, or the honor of my father, but only to increase purity among Yisrael, Your people. Please do not turn Your face from us, and let it rain. Let the mikveh fill with fresh, new rainwater." Then, as before, in the middle of the dry, scorching summer, the sky darkened, clouds gathered, and rain began to fall.