By Paulo Coelho
Elie Wiesel recalls that the great Rabbi Israel Shem Tov, when he saw that the Jews were being mistreated, went into the forest, lit a holy fire, and said a special prayer, asking God to protect his people. And God sent him a miracle.
Later, his disciple Maggid de Mezritch, following in his master’s footsteps, would go to the same part of the forest and say: “Master of the Universe, I do not know how to light the holy fire, but I do know the special prayer; hear me, please!” The miracle always came about.
A generation passed, and Rabbi Moshe-leib of Sasov, when he saw how his people were persecuted, went to the forest, saying: “I don’t know how to light the holy fire, nor do I know the special prayer, but I still remember the place. Help us, Lord!” And the Lord helped.
Fifty years later, Rabbi Israel de Rizhin, in his wheelchair, spoke to God: “I don’t know how to light the holy fire, nor the prayer, and I can’t even find the place in the forest. All I can do is tell this story, and hope God hears me.”
And telling the story was enough for the danger to pass; according to Wiesel, God created man because He adores stories.
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