Parshat Nasso
Experiencing the giving of the Torah, even for a saint, is difficult.
"When Moses came into the Tabernacle, to speak [with God], he would hear the Voice speaking with him" (Bamidbar 7:8,9).
* * *
A successful businessman by the name of Reb Naftali, who lived in the town of Mezibush where the holy Baal Shem Tov lived, lost touch with his only son Joseph.
Reb Naftali always worked long hours in his dry-goods store, and had little time to devote to Torah study, communal activities, or even some family gatherings. He told himself that the generous charity he gave to the needy would make up for his lack of Torah study, and that his family would surely understand that he was working for their benefit.
Reb Naftali's only son, Joseph, worked with him in the store.
Reb Joseph was well learned in Torah and known for his midot tovot — fine character traits. Every year, he would take several business trips to the large town of Breslov to buy merchandise to stock the store. Usually, the trip took about one month.
Once, after a month had passed and he still did not returned from his usual trip to Breslov, his parents were not overly concerned. Sometimes he would find additional merchandise that would take additional time. But after two months had passed and there was no sign or word from their son, they became worried for his safety.
Reb Naftali's wife begged her husband to speak to the Baal Shem Tov for advice and a blessing for their son's safe return. But Reb Naftali came from a family of mitnagdim — those fiercely opposed to the holy Baal Shem Tov and his teachings. Finally, Reb Naftali's wife begged him: "Please Naftali, put aside your personal feelings and your family's dislikes, and ask the Baal Shem Tov for his advice about our son. People travel from all over to Mezhibuzh to seek his advice and blessing, and he helps them. You, who live right here, five minutes away, refuse to go! The welfare of our son may be at stake — I beg you to go!"
But Reb Naftali wasn't easily swayed by his wife's pleading, and he refused to go. But as the days passed and Reb Josef still did not return home, Reb Naftali became increasingly worried. "What could be so bad about asking the Baal Shem Tov his opinion?" he reasoned. So he made his way to the Baal Shem Tov's shul.
It was late Friday afternoon, before the holy Shabbat, when he approached the Baal Shem Tov's gabai (assistant) to ask if he could have a few minutes of the Rebbe's time. When he was admitted to the Baal Shem Tov's study, he asked: "Rabbi, it is more than two months since our only son, Josef, left for Breslov to purchase merchandise for our store. He hasn't yet returned, and we've heard not a word from him or about him."
The Baal Shem Tov sat quietly at his desk for a moment, then rose and walked to his bookshelf and removed a volume of the holy Zohar from the shelf. He opened it at random and closely studied the page open before him. After a few minutes of silence, he looked up at Reb Naftali and said: "With God's, help your son is alive and well. This very Shabbat he will stay in a small village not too far from our town."
Reb Naftali couldn't believe his ears! "How could that be?" he thought. "No doubt Joseph knows how his mother and I are worried about him. If he were close to home, surely he would spend whatever necessary to rent a carriage and return home for Shabbat. Perhaps he ran out of money?" he thought.
It would soon be Shabbat, so Reb Naftali quickly arranged for one of his non-Jewish servants to take the carriage, ride to the nearby village and remain there until nightfall. Perhaps his son would arrive in enough time to travel home with his servant before the Shabbat.
It was well after dark when Reb Naftali's servant returned and reported that Reb Joseph had not arrived in the village.
Reb Naftali was livid! "You see," he screamed at his wife, "This proves what I've been saying. This rabbi is a fake, with words of empty promises. It's probably just another scheme to make money."
Actually, Reb Joseph had set out for Mezibush with ample time to arrive home before Shabbat. But, Divine Providence would have it otherwise, and his wagon had broken down several times on the road. He arrived at the little village as predicted by the Baal Shem Tov just minutes before the beginning of Shabbat, with just enough time to find lodging at the local inn. He remained there until the holy Shabbat had ended, and then returned home, where his parents where overjoyed to see him in good health.
When Reb Joseph explained his delay to his parents, Reb Naftali realized that the Baal Shem Tov's words were indeed true.
He immediately went to the Baal Shem Tov to ask forgiveness. "Rebbe, I have said some terrible things about you. Please forgive me."
The Baal Shem Tov smiled: "Don't worry Reb Naftali. All has turned out for the best. I completely forgive you for whatever you may have said."
Then Reb Naftali asked the Baal Shem Tov, "Rebbe, how were you able to know the whereabouts of my son?
The Baal Shem Tov explained: "To the Almighty, each Jew is a ben yochid — an only son. Just as a father is always mindful of his only child, and always tries to protect him from danger, so too our Father Above protects each and every Jew as if he or she were His only child. Sometimes, even the Jew who realizes that he is a ben yochid, becomes lost, or perhaps overly 'occupied' with material pursuits, then he may forget that his father is concerned about him. And sometimes, the father needs to send a 'messenger' to remind his son of his purpose in this world.
You asked how I knew of your son's whereabouts: The Almighty first created light. Light illuminates — if one can use it correctly, one can see from one end of the world to the other — and even use it to find a lost child.
And so it was.