Friday, October 19, 2012

Joy and the Tzaddik


  Rabbi Nachman left Bratslav soon after a fire had destroyed part of the town.
  He said, "It was right that I leave after this [fire]. It would not be right that while others are in sorrow, I am joyful. If [my house] had not been burned, I would have to join the others in their sorrow, because when a Jew has such a sorrow I must take part.
  "But now that my house was also burned, I must accept this in love and joy, and I need to be tremendously joyful. So it isn't right that I should be with the others; for how can I be joyful while they are full of sorrow?"
  Understand this well.