Know What to Answer

On Acharon Shel Pesach, tav-reish-samech-dalet, Rav Yisroel Chortkover told how Rav Zev Wolf Kitzes once decided to travel to Eretz Yisroel. He came to his Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov, for a farewell blessing. The Baal Shem Tov blessed him that he should go in peace, sheyisa lesholom. Then he added, “But Rav Zev Wolf, take care. Know what to answer.” Rav Zev Wolf wondered at the strange remark and went on his way.

During the voyage the ship anchored at a small island. Most of the passengers went to buy food and drink and quickly returned to the ship. Rav Zev Wolf used the opportunity to be alone in hisbodedus, and he was so absorbed in dveikus that he did not notice the ship sail away without him.

He walked along a path until he reached a secluded little house. There he found an old, bearded Jew who greeted him warmly and asked why he looked so upset. “How can I not worry,” said Rav Zev Wolf. “My ship has sailed without me.” The old man said, “Don’t worry, Rav Wolf. Here we have a minyan and a mikveh. Spend Shabbos with us, and after Shabbos more ships will surely come.”

So Rav Zev Wolf spent Shabbos on the island. After Shabbos a small fleet of ships arrived, and the old man walked with his guest to see him off. Rav Zev Wolf was anxious and distracted, wondering whether he would be given a place on a ship, and he paid his companion little attention. The old man said, “Rav Wolf, I almost forgot to ask. How are the Jews doing in your land?”

“Hashem has not forgotten them,” answered Rav Zev Wolf absently. “He does not forsake them.” He thanked his host and boarded the ship. Only after it had set sail, when he had calmed down, did he begin to think about what he had said. “What have I done?” he cried out, remembering the Baal Shem Tov’s warning. “Why didn’t I tell him what life is really like for us in galus, the suffering, the lack, the hardship?”

He gave up his journey to Eretz Yisroel, and as soon as the ship landed he hurried back to his Rebbe in Mezhibuzh. The Baal Shem Tov greeted him, held out his hand and said, “That old man was Avrohom Avinu. Every day Avrohom Avinu stands before Hashem and asks, ‘Ribbono Shel Olam, how are my children?’ Hashem answers, ‘I do not forsake them, and here is the proof. Rav Zev Wolf is travelling to Eretz Yisroel. He is an ehrlicher Yid. Ask him.’

“Had you told Avrohom Avinu of our plight and our suffering in galus, Moshiach would have come and redeemed us. But you did not heed my advice. Now the galus will go on, and because of our sins it will be prolonged until Hashem has mercy on us.”