Stops Along the Way

The Sabba Kadisha once took his sons-in-law to Mezibuz to visit the Ohev Yisroel, so they would benefit from seeing the tzaddik and from the many stops he made on the way. At each stop Rav Yissocher would look for some recluse whom even the townspeople did not know, and spend time with him in private.

The journey stretched on for several wearying weeks. Once the young sons-in-law chose not to join him on one of these visits. When he came back he told them, "What a pity you did not come with me this time. The man I just visited has the power to atone for all your sins from childhood, even sins from earlier gilgulim (transmigrations)."

"Why did you not tell us?" they cried, jumping up to stop the coach. "Let us go back." "I am sorry," he said, "but it is too late. If you were not with me then, you cannot visit him now."