How Rav Zev Wolf Saved the Baal Shem

It is told that the Shpoler Zeide was once travelling with an older companion who had known the Baal Shem Tov. The Zeide asked him to tell a story about the holy Baal Shem, and this is what he related.

On Yom Kippur, after Shacharis, the Baal Shem Tov called over his talmid Rav Zev Wolf Kitzes and whispered something in his ear. It had been a bright, sunny day, but at Neilah the sky suddenly turned dark and heavy with clouds. They davened Neilah and Maariv, but could not say Kiddush Levanah because the moon was hidden.

This did not dim the joy of the talmidim. On Motzaei Yom Kippur, after the Baal Shem Tov made Havdalah and they had tasted something, they began to dance, and soon the Baal Shem Tov joined them. In the middle of the dancing one of them noticed that Rav Zev Wolf was missing and asked where he was. The Baal Shem Tov acted as if he had not heard. Afterward they all lay down to sleep.

Then Rav Zev Wolf appeared and knocked on his Rebbe's window, calling, “Rebbe, come and say Kiddush Levanah. The clouds are gone and the moon is shining brightly.” The Baal Shem Tov rose, and all the talmidim rose with him, and together they said Kiddush Levanah with great simchah. Then the Baal Shem Tov and Rav Zev Wolf danced, and everyone understood that something special had happened.

Afterwards the Baal Shem Tov sat down and, as was his custom, told them what had taken place in the upper worlds. “This morning, as I davened Shacharis, I sensed that a heavenly court had convened and delivered a terrible case against me. They ruled that I must leave this world. The sign that the decree was sealed would be that at Neilah the heavens would fill with clouds so that we could not say Kiddush Levanah. That is what I whispered to Rav Zev Wolf, and that is why he was missing. After he heard me, he toiled and davened that Hashem cancel the decree. When he finally succeeded, the clouds cleared and we were able to say Kiddush Levanah.”

When the older man finished, the Shpoler Zeide said, “This story has the mark of truth.”