Before the Besht revealed himself, he was a Melamed in a village near Tchortkov. In those days they did not make a Minyan in a village. An innkeeper however wanted a Minyan, and the Besht led the prayers.
When the Meir Nesivim heard about this, he summoned the Besht to the synagogue and asked him: “You really know how to pray? Nu, start reciting the Kol Nidrei.”
So the Besht commenced [the prayer] and as soon as he mentioned the word kol, the lecterns began to [physically] rise as a result of his fervor.
The Meir Nesivim said: “nu, you can continue praying.”
The Besht replied: had I also uttered the word Nidrei, no one would have survived.
I.F.
Boyaner Rav
212 East Broadway
