אות - קעג

HIS ATTAINMENTS I heard the following conversation which the Rebbe had with R' Shimon 281 R' Shimon ben Ber, Rebbe Nachman's first follower (see Kokhavey Or , p. 23, #17). when R’Shimon returned from over the border. R' Shimon had been away and had not seen the Rebbe for more than three years. I do not know the exact details, but something happened in Medvedevka that caused the Rebbe to become upset with him.

The Rebbe said, “I am banishing you to the other side of the Don River.”

God caused the Rebbe’s words to be fulfilled. A short time later, R' Shimon traveled to the vicinity of the Don River, some one hundred leagues 282 In Tovot Zikhronot , p. 14, we find that a league or parsah is used to designate a Russian mal , equivalent to ten verst or 6.629 miles. At its closest point near Liski, the Don River is 325 miles from Medvedevka. from Medvedevka. This is deep in Russia where Jews are a tiny minority, less than one in a thousand. They were an even smaller minority many years ago when this event took place. 283 Up until the eighteenth century, this area had been closed to Jews completely. A number later settled there, but were driven out under the provisions of the “Jewish Constitution” of 1804. This roughly corresponds to the time of R' Shimon's return.

R' Shimon traveled to this area intending to remain for a short while. But God willed that the Rebbe’s words be fulfilled, and R' Shimon was forced to remain there for several years. What happened during this time would consume many volumes. R' Shimon lived among non-Jews during this time and was subject to untold difficulties and temptations.

While R' Shimon was away, the Rebbe moved from Zlatipolia and settled in Breslov. By the time R' Shimon returned, the Rebbe had already lived here for two or three years.

The Rebbe told R' Shimon, “I have advanced as much between the time you left and today, as I advanced between the day I was born and the time you left.”

The Rebbe constantly rose higher and higher, from one level to the next. What he meant was that he had advanced through as many levels during the three years of R' Shimon’s absence as he had advanced from his birth until that time.

This should give you some idea of the Rebbe’s greatness.

When R' Shimon left, the Rebbe had already been in the Holy Land. He had already gone through years of self-discipline. Even before reaching the Holy Land, he had attained an awesome level of greatness and a most wonderful perception into the deepest mysteries. He was already on a level never before seen or heard. Then, after a traumatic journey, he was able to reach the Holy Land and return in peace. It was in the Holy Land that the Rebbe attained what he did.

He himself said, “What I perceived before coming to the Land of Israel was literally nothing. I am ashamed of the limited scope of my teachings before then.”

After returning, he elevated himself from one level to the next every day and every hour. When R' Shimon left him, he had already been back from the Hoy Land for several years. Just try to imagine the high level that he stood upon at that time. After all this, R' Shimon was separated from him for a little over three years. The Rebbe could still say that he had advanced as much during those three years as he had advanced from the time he was born until R' Shimon left.