וידבר העם באלקים ובמשה…(חקת כא:ה)

Two chassidim traveled on business, and they needed to stay over Shabbos in the city of Viladnik.  They figured that if they were already in Viladnik, then they may as well go to the tzaddik, Reb Yisroel Dov zt’’l, who was known as a holy Yid who performed great miracles.

They attended the Shalosh Seudas Tish; however, it was very crowded, and they couldn’t stand near the Rebbe, so they squeezed themselves in behind the Rebbe’s place.

The room was silent as the tzaddik began reciting the Torah, and everyone listened intently, except for these two chassidim who whispered between themselves.  Someone told them that it isn’t respectful to shmooze while the Rebbe is talking, and they got quiet.

One of them thought to himself: ‘If the Rebbe isn’t my Rebbe, why do I need to listen to  his Divrei Torah?’ However, the tzaddik of Viladnik was able to sense his thoughts. He got up in the middle of saying his Torah and said: ‘It says in the Parsha וידבר העם באלקים ובמשה – chazal say “כל המהרהר אחרי רבו כאילו מהרהר אחר השכינה – one who has evil thoughts about his Rebbe is as if he thinks bad thoughts on the Shechina.

The chassidim couldn’t understand what the Rebbe meant with these words.  However, that foreign chassid wondered, ‘Does the Rebbe mean me? I’m a chassid from a different Rebbe!”

The tzaddik continued: “המהרהר אחרי רבו” – one who thinks that a different tzaddik is not his Rebbe, is as if he thinks badly about the Shechina!”

The foreign chassid was astounded by the Rebbe’s Ruach Hakodash – divine prophecy, but he thought he probably didn’t mean me, there are so many others in this room, and the tzaddik doesn’t know me, it’s the first time I’m here.

Then he heard the tzaddik continue, “המהרהר אחרי רבו,” and if the tzaddik thinks he doesn’t mean me, that he’s referring to someone else, is as if he feels badly about the Shechina.”

The Yid still wasn’t convinced.  “The tzaddik never saw me,” he thought to himself.  And the tzaddik said for the fourth time: “ המהרהר אחרי רבו” – if the person who is having negative thoughts is standing “אחרי רבו” – behind the tzaddik and he thinks that the tzaddik isn’t referring to him, it is as if he has evil thoughts on the Shechina!”