His First Meeting With Reb Elimelech
Click here for Hebrew text.
The Yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe of Pshevorsk z‘l (d. 1825) is commemorated on the 12th of Tevet. The following meise / hasidic tale appeared in Sefer HaHasidut, Meah Tzadikim, Raphael, Yitzchak, 1961, Tel Aviv. (Freely translated by Gabbai Seth Fishman.)
Rabbi Moshe Says Tehillim
At a time when Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk would travel around setting exile in order, he also came to Pshevorsk.
It was already after midnight when he arrived in the town and lo, there was a light burning in a single window.
Rabbi Elimelech entered the room and asked: “Might I stay here overnight?” As it happened, it was the room of Rabbi Moshe, who answered:
“Since I left off sleeping for the night, my bed is free and you may sleep there.”
“Might there be a bite to eat?”
Rabbi Moshe gave him something to eat.
Rabbi Elimelech ate and then lay down in the bed. When Rabbi Moshe thought that his guest had fallen asleep, he started to say Tehillim / Psalms.
Rabbi Elimelech heard the Tehillim and just as soon, he arose from the bed and stood near Rabbi Moshe.
When Rabbi Moshe saw him, he suggested to him to go back to sleep and Rabbi Elimelech returned to bed.
Rabbi Moshe began once again to say Tehillim and there he was, once again, standing near the table.
Again, he sent him away to sleep.
When it happened the third time, Rabbi Moshe finally lost his patience and chided him. Rabbi Elimelech answered:
“How could I sleep? I was lying there when all of a sudden, I was seeing King David standing next to His glory.”
When Rabbi Moshe heard this, he asked him:
“Are you Elimelech?”
Thus did they meet and become acquainted with one another.
(Booklet of Tzaddikim)