The Besht had a Gentile [worker] by the name of Alexi who used to heat the furnace. The Besht saw with the Holy Spirit that he is a very evil person – he can even destroy the world. He therefore used to caress him and sometimes gave him an extra Rubel.
Once he traveled with him and he engaged in kefitzas haderech.1 Suddenly the Gentile stopped in the middle of the forest and shouted to the Besht that he wanted to kill him. The Besht believed that the Gentile was joking and began to laugh. “No,” shouted the Gentile, “I am going to kill you right now.”
The Besht thought: from where does the Gentile derive such strength? He sensed with [the aid of] the Holy Spirit that he was standing in the place where Cain killed Abel. The location combined with the murderous soul of the Gentile caused the Gentile to display such strength and murderousness.
The Besht asked him: nu, allow me just one request – I want to wash myself before my death. He moved away a few steps – and distanced himself from the spot of danger and the strength of the Gentile vanished. He fell to his feet and asked him for forgiveness.
I.F.
Sanzer Rebbe
Rabbi Rotenberg
