This vignette comes to us from Rabbi Yaakov Kaidaner (author of Sippurim Nora’im) who heard it from a respected householder in Vitebsk, who heard it from the grandson of Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua Falk, author of the Pnei Yehoshua and one of the main protagonists of the story.

At the time our story takes place, Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua—a renowned Talmudist who served as rabbi of Frankfurt—had never seen the Baal Shem Tov, but had heard rumors of his piety, scholarship, and kindness.

Every year, Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua had the privilege of hosting Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezrich, a fellow Talmudist of the highest order. By nature sickly, Rabbi Dov Ber would travel to the hot springs in Karlsbad, making it a point to journey via Frankfurt where he could delight in discussing Torah thoughts with the rabbi.

At times, their conversations turned to the Baal Shem Tov, who was fast gaining acclaim. Rabbi Dov Ber was wary of the Baal Shem Tov’s new perspective and approach, and voiced his concerns.

It once happened that while Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua was teaching his students a carriage pulled up outside the study hall. The passenger sent his assistant into the building to request that the rabbi come out and speak to him about a confidential matter.

“I am sorry,” said Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua, “but I cannot interrupt the Torah learning of the group for the sake of an individual. He may come inside, and I will be happy to speak to him when I am done.”

The aide soon returned with the message that the issue his master wished to discuss was so important it took precedence over the Torah lecture.

Hearing that, Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua went outside and extended his greeting to the stranger in the wagon.

“..the butcher in your town, the one everyone trusts to supply them with kosher meat, is actually selling non-kosher meats.“Listen,” said the man from his seat, “the butcher in your town, the one everyone trusts to supply them with kosher meat, is actually selling non-kosher meats. This has been going on for more than 10 years. After your lecture, summon him and speak to him, and you’ll see that he’ll admit his wrongdoing.”

With that, he signaled his driver and the carriage sped off before the rabbi had a chance to ask any questions.

The rabbi summoned the butcher and was dismayed to discover that the stranger was right. The Jewish denizens of Frankfurt had been eating non-kosher meat for a decade!

Although he couldn’t be certain, the rabbi suspected that the mysterious stranger who seemed to know the most closely-kept secret was none other than the Baal Shem Tov.

Time passed, and the same carriage pulled up once again outside the Frankfurt yeshivah. This time, the rabbi went out as soon as the assistant asked. Sure enough, the same man was sitting inside. “The next time Rabbi Dov Ber comes to visit,” he instructed, “please tell him that it is impossible for his feet to heal unless he comes to me.”

Again, the carriage clattered away before the rabbi could ascertain the identity of its passenger, but he had no doubt. It had to be the Baal Shem Tov.

And so it was. The next time Rabbi Dov Ber came to Frankfurt, his host recounted the strange chain of events and encouraged him to visit the Baal Shem Tov. Rabbi Dov Ber traveled to Mezhibuzh, where he became the Baal Shem Tov’s devoted disciple (and also was healed from his painful foot ailments).

In time, the Baal Shem Tov counseled his newfound student to make the trip to Frankfurt. There, he told his host all about his newly-acquired reverence for the Baal Shem Tov, whom he considered to be on par with the sages of the Mishnaic period.

“But what happened to all your questions?” asked Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua. “How were they answered?”

“I will explain,” replied Rabbi Dov Ber. “Until now, I thought him to be mere man like us, and I therefore questioned him and his path. Now I know him, and I have observed that he is more of an angel than a man. Recognizing that we cannot even begin to fathom who he really is, it is only natural that we cannot understand him or his ways, nor can we expect to.”

Adapted and translated from Sippurim Noraim.