R. Michel Zlotchover, the son of R. Yitzchak of Radivil1 (one of the sages of Brody) heard about the Malach and insisted that he wanted to visit him. Before he traveled, R. Yitzchak told him that he should only meet the Malach during the High Holy Days.
On the way, he experienced one setback after another, and he arrived in Postov on Erev Tisha B’av. He quickly ran to the house of the Malach, but the Malach was already in the synagogue. He saw the Malach sit the entire Tisha B’av with his head buried between his knees.2
After Tisha B’av, he traveled back home because R. Yitzchak instructed him to meet with the Malach only during the High Holy Days.
When he returned, he told his father R. Yitzchak that he wanted to emulate the Malach – [by] not eating, not drinking, and spending his entire day in the service of God.
He started following in the footsteps of the Malach.
Yom Kippur night arrived, and R. Michel dozed off in the synagogue. He dreamt that he was in the supernal worlds. On one [wing of] Heaven he saw people seated on majestic chairs being fed the best delicacies. They told him that this was reserved for people who did not derive any pleasure from this [physical] world.
He came to another [wing of] Heaven – and he sees people seated at tables laden with delicious foods, but the food is only heard about.3
They told him that these foods are for those who imitate others.
At that very moment, R. Yitzchak awakened him and told him you nearly burnt yourself. Don’t continue to behave this way.
I.F.
Rabbi Reiter
Prohovitcher Rav
- Apparently the writer got confused between R. Yitzchak of Drohbitsh, the father of R. Michel of Zlotchov and R. Yitzhak Yungerlieb of Radwil, the son of R. Michel of Zlotchov.
- See Babylonian Talmud Brachot 34b; Avoda Zara 17a.
- Meaning is a bit unclear. Apparently he did not see them eat but only heard them eating. The meaning is still unclear.
