A young man came to the Ropshitzer – a gem of a Jew – relatively affluent – well-achieved and virtuous.
He arrived in Ropshitz when it was already late. He floundered about town – it was dark everywhere – but in one house it was light – so he went straight inside.
This was indeed the Rospshitzer’s house, but the Jew had no idea.
The Ropshitzer sat there – the Jew does not recognize him and the Ropshitzer acts as if unaware of his own identity – and asks him: What brings a Jew here at so late an hour? He replied that he had come to the Rebbe. For what? The Rebbe asks him – he answers that he came because he heard that when an individual who believes he is an achieved virtuous person comes to him (the Rebbe) he dismantles him. The Jew wants to see this and himself achieve such levels that the holy Ropshitzer should do the same to him.
The Ropshitzer called out: look here – I’m a Jew whose beard is already long and gray and would eagerly like to discover that I am worth something, and then act to obliterate my sense of greatness.
You, a young man, are already certain that you are worth something you already travel to a Rebbe to undo this (?!)
Y.F.
Dovid Cohen
