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22 Adar 5766 - March 22, 2006 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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TRUE TALES OF YESTERYEAR
A Powerful Song
by Yisca Shimony

"Where are you running to?" the merchant, R' Boruch, asked R' Yehoshua the butcher as he followed him down the main road.

"I am running to the synagogue! Didn't you hear? The Kelemer Magid, R' Moshe Yitzchok, has come to town!" R' Yehosha continued running, with R' Boruch following close behind.

The synagogue was packed! All seats were taken, and many people stood crowded in the isles. Outside, dozens of spectators stood upon the windowsills; the entrance to the synagogue was completely blocked. The children, too, tried to peek inside, and climbed on the backs and shoulders of one another, reaching greater heights so that they could look through the upper parts of the windows.

"Please, move your foot, just a little more, so I can stand up there, too!" begged a young lad. His friend almost lost his footing, but at the last moment they both stood erect on the windowsill, hugging each other and looking eagerly into the interior of the synagogue.

"Keep quiet!" called another friend, "You are not letting me hear a thing!"

Up the stairwell slowly climbed an elderly lady, breathing heavily. Right by her, several young girls skipped up lithely, trying to reach the women's gallery, which was just as crowded. Women of all ages tried to peek down at the Magid.

The place was packed, and the noise was ear-shattering. All faces were turned towards the bimah, where the Magid stood. At last, in a loud booming voice, he began a beautiful song, "What will be when Moshiach comes?" Everybody joined in and sang along , "Vos vet zein ven Moshiach vet koomen?"

The voice of the Magid boomed above the crowd, "Moshe our leader will teach us Torah; Aaron Hakohen will bless us then; Dovid Hamelech will sing his psalms; This is what will take place when Moshiach comes!" The Magid's famous song boomed loud and clear. The crowd was clearly enthused, and with shining eyes, the menfolk sang along with him. Men and women alike, wiped the tears streaming from their eyes . . .

Women wiped away the tears and in trembling sotto voce, echoed the words, "This is how it will be when Moshiach comes . . . Oh, let him come soon!"

The voice of the Magid boomed again, "What do we have to do in order to speed his coming? How can we improve our ways, to merit his arrival?"

Everyone in the audience knew the answers:

"We should be exact in our weights!" called Boruch, the merchant . . .

"We will slaughter an ox, and make a feast, just as in the time of King Solomon!" said Yehoshua the butcher.

"We should include all poor people in the feast, and give them all their needs for Shabbos, free of charge," the gabbai tzedokoh cried out.

"We should launder our garments in his honor," called Masha the washerwoman.

"We must fix all torn clothes, and sew new ones to the poor and needy," said Beila, as she hugged her little son tightly, "All in the honor of Moshiach!"

"We must help our parents; and do much more housework!" a young girl exclaimed.

"We must do many more mitzvos!" Keila, an elderly woman, cried hoarsely.

"We should all do teshuvoh immediately!" echoed her friend, another elderly woman.

The entire crowd was enveloped in great enthusiasm. The voice of the Magid boomed above all voices, "This is how we are going to speed the arrival of Moshiach, and bring him to us soon!"

"Let him come soon!" echoed everybody in the crowd.

Indeed, may this month of Nisson be the month of the Redemption for all of Klall Yisroel, here and now!

 

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