The Rabbi of Apta once gave over a teaching and R. Isaac Meir his son was present and listened in.
He recalled that he remembered that he had seen this teaching in a book. When the Rabbi of Apta left the house R. Isaac Meir checked that book and noticed that his father’s teaching was written word for word in the book.
R. Isaac Meir took the book, bent the page where he had found the teaching, and placed it on the table.
When the Rabbi of Apta returned, he saw the book with the bent pages and he understood what his son meant to say, and that R. Isaac Meir himself had recognized the teaching.
So, he said to R. Isaac Meir: “Believe me that when I gave over this teaching, I sensed that this teaching had already been written somewhere. Why? Usually, when I give over a teaching I experience birth pangs – but with this teaching I did not feel any birth pangs. But believe me my son – this teaching I had never seen before.”
J.F.
Jacob Teitelbaum