When the first Stefaneshter Rebbe was en route to the therapeutic baths for the last time, he stopped over in Sadigora. While taking his leave, he stood with one foot on the ground and with the other on the carriage and told the following story:
When the Almighty wanted to destroy the Temple, none of the angels were willing to take on such a task. He even approached Satan (S”M) who also refused – he argued that in the future he would be held culpable.
Therefore, the Almighty promised him that he would give him a secret name that no one in the world would know of, and until the name was revealed, the final redemption would not come. Only the Tzaddik of every generation will know that the name exists but they would not know the secret of the name even though they would endeavor with all their might to uncover it.
The knowledge of the name was passed over from Tzaddik to Tzaddik. The Holy R”Y (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the Arizal) passed it over to the Besht, the Besht to the Maggid – the Maggid to the Malach and the Malach to R’ Sholem Prohobishter.
The Stefaneshter continued to recount: What did the grandfather (R’ Shalom) do – he made up his mind to associate with Satan? He donned “shprankess” [(modern dress?)] and told Satan that his acting as a Rebbe is only a front – in reality, he is one of his colleagues. And so, he dupes the masses. At one point R’ Sholem however, asked him what-
will ultimately become of both of us – we will eventually both be judged. Satan (the S”M) replied that he did not need to be afraid as he had an insurance policy – a secret name that could not be vanquished.
Thus Satan (the S”M) and R’ Sholem remained close colleagues until at one point Satan (the S”M) sensed that someone amongst the heavenly plane was conspiring against him. He soon suspected R’ Shalom. But presently he saw R’ Sholem go to the marketplace, buy a chicken and eggs from a non-Jewish woman, bargain with her, and then hand her money – and was soon no longer under suspicion.
In the end, he gave him the name. As he did so, Satan (the S”M) saw that the heavens were glowing with a light of redemption – and he wanted to know where it was coming from and for what reason.
He divided the world into eight parts and concluded that Russia was the source. He in turn divided Russia into eight parts and further narrowed it down to the governorate/province (gubernia) where Prohobisht was located.
The governorate was further divided and so on, time and again – until he settled upon Prohobisht, on the very street R’ Shalom lived, and finally upon R’ Shalom himself – and sought vengeance on him. But R’ Shalom showed him no fear – and answered: I am not afraid of you – my children’s souls will be greater than you – and their bodies I have long since sacrificed until Moshiach’s arrival. And should their bodies will not be able to withstand it, they will travel to the therapeutic baths.
Y.F.
Mattisyahu Spektor
Boyaner Chossid
