אות - קמט

The thirteenth story in Sipurey Ma'asiot is “The Seven Beggars.” It was told over a period of several days. Each part of the story alluded to some discussion that preceded its telling. (The story speaks of a boy and girl, lost in the woods, who meet seven beggars. Each of these beggars appears to have a deformity – blindness, deafness, stuttering, a crooked neck, a hunchback, deformed hands, crippled feet. Later, the boy and girl marry each other, and on seven successive days, each of these beggars tells his story. Each demonstrates that his apparent deformity is really an illusion, masking a unique capability.)

The Rebbe began telling this story on a Friday night. 239 This was on 25 Adar II 5570 (March 30, 1810) ( Tzaddik #185; Yemey Moharnat #42). It all began because of a snuff box that was given to him by one of his followers. I had written to one of my friends about this and told him to remain happy.

The Rebbe saw this letter and remarked, “I will tell you how people once used to rejoice!” Then he began the story. 240 In Tzaddik #189, the following is added: “What do you know about how to rejoice when you're in such a depressed state. I will tell you how people once used to rejoice.”

He told the beginning of the story, continuing until the end of the first day of the wedding where they speak to the Blind Beggar.

All this occurred on a Friday night while I was home in Nemirov. On the following Tuesday, my friend 241 This was R' Naftali ( Yemey Moharnat loc. cit.). This entire episode is also told there. came to my house and repeated the story. I was so astonished, I stood there trembling (Daniel 10:11) . I had heard many stories from the Rebbe, but I had never heard anything like this.

I immediately traveled to Breslov, but when I came to the Rebbe’s house that night, he was already secluded in his room.

On Wednesday morning, I went in to see the Rebbe and spoke with him at length. I told him some news about the surrounding areas, and the Rebbe then brought up the subject of the story he had begun the previous Friday night.

The Rebbe said that he was anxious to know – that is, to tell - how the story continued and what happened on each of the seven days of the wedding feast. He also wanted to know what happened to the prince who inherited his kingdom during his father’s lifetime, the episode that introduces the story. Even though the Rebbe was telling the story, he spoke as if he was hearing it himself.

The Rebbe outlined the entire story for me. On each of the seven days of the wedding feast, one of the beggars blesses the couple and gives them gifts. The Rebbe also cleared up the subplot of the ancient men who could remember back to the beginning of their existence. This is part of the Blind Beggar’s story, and my friend had not told it very clearly.

The Rebbe explained what the Blind Beggar meant when he said, “ Ich gedenk gahr nisht! – I remember nothing at all!” ( Rabbi Nachman’s Stories #13, p. 369) . He told me that this beggar goes back the farthest when he says that he remembers “nothing,” since this means he can remember the time when absolutely nothing existed. He was astounded by this.

I was very anxious for the Rebbe to continue and tell the story of the second day. However, just then the Rebbe’s attendant 242 In Yemey Moharnat (#26) it mentions that the Rebbe had an attendant named Michel, but this was two years earlier. came in and announced that it was time for the Rebbe’s meal. He set the table and I had to leave.

After the Rebbe had eaten and taken a short nap, I was able to see him again. I stood before him and told him some current news, especially about Berditchev where I had recently been. 243 Since the previous summer, Reb Noson had been attending to the Rebbe's business affairs in Berdichov (ibid., 27b). Reb Noson's father also had a large business in Berdichov ( Kokhavey Or , p. 9, #1). See “ His Wisdom ” #198. I told him how the people there are always worried and in need – especially the rich, who are lacking so much.

I quoted the verse, “ He has set the world in peoples’ hearts, in a way that they cannot fathom God’s deeds, from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) .

The Rebbe replied, “Is this not our tale? Where are we holding now?”

Completely taken aback by my great desire to hear the rest, I replied excitedly that we were up to the second day. The Rebbe immediately began, “On the second day, the young couple had a great longing to see the Deaf Beggar ….”

The Rebbe told the entire story of the second day on that Wednesday.

On Friday night, he told the story of the third and fourth days.

On Sunday, he told about the fifth day.

On the following Tuesday, he completed the tale of the sixth day.

We were standing around the Rebbe after he completed the account of the sixth day. One of us then told him a short anecdote and he remarked, “Is this not the story of the seventh day? It seems that people are already telling my story. I would very much like to complete it.” However, we were not worthy that he tell it at that time, and the Rebbe never completed the story. 244 The Rebbe himself said that he would tell no more ( Rabbi Nachman’s Stories , p. 436). On the way from Breslov to Uman, he said, “We will not be worthy of hearing the end until the Mashiach comes” ( Yemey Moharnat #43). See Kokhavey Or , p. 96.