Once, the Mezricher Maggid’s disciples were sitting and debating in their studies – the Maggid entered the study-house and adjured them not to rule on any halachic questions.

Shortly afterward, a boy came in with a question [regarding the kosher status of an animal]. The students were deliberating about the question, however, and they would have certainly rendered the animal treyfe. However, they remembered Maggid’s warning and sent the boy to the Dayan (religious judge).

The Dayan returned and ruled that the animal was kosher. This was strange for the disciples – what was the legal rationale upon which the kosher ruling was based? The Dayan replied that while he was pondering upon the question, all he could recall was a very obscure position held by the Bach, which according to this rendered the animal in question kosher.

The Maggid later explained to his disciples why he had told them not to answer any halachic questions at the time. A Jew who had long since died and his soul was waiting for rehabilitation had appeared to him in a dream. He had been reincarnated as an animal and his rectification would come about only when found kosher and eaten by another Jew. However, each time he was reincarnated, a question always arose regarding the kosher validity, and invariably always found invalid – his rehabilitation seemed doomed. Therefore, the Maggid arranged that the Dayan should rule on the case and rule that the animal was kosher, and thereby the Jew would receive his rehabilitation.

Y.F.

R’ Dovid Cohen