When the Shabbos Queen made her graceful exit the Baal Shem Tov directed that his horses be harnessed forthwith. Before long the rebbe little Shaul and some of the rebbe’s talmidim were riding into town. As they neared a local tavern the rowdy and boisterous sounds from within filtered through the outdoor air. To their utter astonishment the Baal Shem Tov had them dismount announcing that they would be stepping inside for a respite.
Disheveled and inebriated peasants at scattered tables were the source of raucous tumult. The Baal Shem Tov stood at the threshold and observed for a while then banged his fist on a nearby table and called for quiet. When the din died down he declared If you wish to hear a gratifying sound I will instruct this young lad here to sing for you. You will then know what singing is.
Shaul on cue climbed atop the table to take his stand and was enjoined in Yiddish by the tzaddik to Zing Shaul’ke zing far de goyim… zing Shoshanas Yaakov mit hartz – Sing Shaul… sing… with heart. This the youngster did his mellifluous tune ringing and resonating electrifying his audience who watched and listened with rapt fascination.
Bravo! Bravo! The applause was sincere and sustained. The Baal Shem Tov signaled to three roughneck youths. Shaul was introduced to Stephan Ivan and Anton. Remember this moment intoned the tzaddik as you presently bear no ill will to one another make sure to incur none in the future. For the befuddled talmidim the scene they had been witness to was to remain a mystery.
Years later R’ Shaul by then a talmid chacham and well-traveled tradesman made his way home from a distant merchandising event. Purim was at hand and he found himself anxiously traversing a wide expanse of dense forest country. At once out of nowhere three knife-brandishing bandits pounced upon him stripping him of his wares and money. They mercilessly bound him to a tree ready to do him in.
R’ Shaul pleaded to be spared some final moments to recite vidui (confession). His request granted he squeezed his eyes shut and cried out to the Almighty his mind unleashing a replay of all the years of his life. He visualized the forthcoming Purim holiday in his home without his presence and mournfully thought of not ever hearing the megillah again…of never again distributing mishloach manos…of the alms to the poor he would no longer be in a position to tender.
A powerful and heartbreaking rendition of Shoshanas Yaakov arose from the depths of his anguished being. The heart that let loose sweet yet mighty song flooded his consciousness with a memory of long ago when in the company of the Baal Shem Tov he had mesmerized some peasants in a tavern with this same melody. He recalled the names – Stephan Ivan and Anton.
R’ Shaul waited for his soul to ascend eyes still closed. The song coming to a close his eyes fluttered open to meet the gaze of his three stone-like captors. You are Stephan and you are Anton and you are Ivan! he called out. But they had ascertained R’ Shaul’s identity when he first burst into song. As he addressed them by name they fell to their knees before him and begged his forgiveness. They set him free of his constraints restoring to him his dignity and all of his belongings and escorted him out to the main road. They bid their old friend a fond farewell even as he exhorted them to forsake their lawless ways.
At long last he had come to realize the farsightedness of the saintly Baal Shem Tov understanding finally why the tzaddik had asked that little Shaul remain with him past Purim – and the lofty purpose of his serenade in a foreign milieu.
