The Chozeh of Lublin

The Seer of Lublin, the Holy Seer of Lublin was the greatest pupil of Rebbe Elimelech. And he was really his successor.

One day the Seer of Lublin said, Reb Elimelech said to him I taught you a lot of things. But there is one thing I cannot teach you. You have to go to my holy brother, the Rebbe, Reb Zusha. He will teach you.

So he comes to the Rebbe Reb Zusha, and the Heilage Rebbe Reb Zusha says to the Holy Seer of Lublin, Reb Yaakov Yitzchak.

Tell me one thing. When you want a person to become better, how do you reach them?

He answered, it's very simple, I point out to them everything they do wrong. I say, you did this, you're not permitted, you did this, oy, it's even more forbidden. I'll show you this, oy vey, it's terrible. You better do tshuvah. And then I'll tell you, tell me your lifetime. Your life story, oy vey!

What an ugly story, gevaldt, WOW! You better repent.

Rebbe Reb Zusha says, you know what you are doing with them? You push them down in a garbage pail. You take away their last ounce of self confidence. You take away their last ounce of self confidence.

So the Heilage Chozeh said to Reb Zusha? How are you doing it?

Ah, he says, I do it differently. I don't tell anything bad to them. I'm just praying so hard, I'm opening gates of light for them. I open gates of light for them. And when a great light of heaven is shining into them, they won't do wrong by themselves. You don't have to struggle.¹

1. from ELUL (1987)