The Besht once informed R. Ber, the Magid of Mezritch, that a soul would descend who would become a great advocate for Jews. “I will no longer have the privilege of knowing him, but you will. How will you recognize him? When he will come to lead the afternoon prayer service (minkha) and a Jew would stand at the amud (lectern) to prevent him from approaching it [you will know it’s him].” Many years later, a young man who would later become the Rabbi of Berditchev came to the Maggid and requested to lead the afternoon prayer service, but was denied. At that moment, the Maggid exclaimed, “This is indeed the young man the Besht referred to.”
Y.F.
Gedalya Schwartz
