וידבר העם באלקים ובמשה…(חקת כא:ה)

Two chassidim were traveling on business, and along the way, stopped in the city of Vilednik for Shabbos. One of them said, “Since we’re already here in Vilednik, let’s go to the tzaddik Reb Yisroel Dov of Vilednik zt”l, who was renowned as a holy Yid through whom people experienced great miracles.”

They went to the Shalosh Seudos tish, which was very crowded. They couldn’t find a place in front of the Rebbe, but found a spot directly behind his chair — the Rebbe facing the crowd, unable to see the two guests.

When the tzaddik began saying Divrei Torah, the hall fell silent with reverence — except for the two out-of-town chassidim, who were whispering among themselves. Someone nearby told them it wasn’t appropriate to talk while the Rebbe was saying Torah, and they quieted down.

One of them thought to himself: “The tzaddik isn’t my Rebbe — why do I need to listen to his Torah?”

But the Tzaddik of Vilednik sensed his thoughts and stopped mid-Torah. He said: “The passuk by Moshe Rabbeinu states, וידבר העם באלקים ובמשה — and Chazal (סנהדרין קי) say on these words: כל המהרהר אחרי רבו כאילו מהרהר אחר השכינה — one who harbors unworthy thoughts about his Rebbe is as if he harbors unworthy thoughts about the Shechina.”

The chassidim in the crowd couldn’t understand at whom these words were aimed. But the visiting chassid wondered — could the tzaddik mean me? I am a chassid of a different Rebbe entirely.

The tzaddik continued: “המהרהר אחרי רבו — this means that one who thinks a second tzaddik is not his Rebbe, it is as if he is thinking badly about the Shechina!”

The chassid was shaken by such open ruach hakodesh — yet he thought, surely the Rebbe doesn’t mean me specifically. There are so many people here, and I am a stranger, here for the first time.

Then he heard the tzaddik repeat it a third time: “המהרהר אחרי רבו — the one who thinks the tzaddik is referring to someone else and not to him, it is as if he is thinking badly about the Shechina!”

Still, he wasn’t fully convinced. After all, the tzaddik hadn’t even seen him yet.

Then he heard the tzaddik repeat המהרהר אחרי רבו a fourth time: “If the very person harboring these thoughts is standing אחרי רבו — behind the tzaddik — and still believes the tzaddik is not referring to him — it is as if he is speaking badly about the Shechina!”