Episode 1: Rabbi Yozfa's Arrival in Krakow

00:02 The history of Chassidus and Chabad Chassidus. Reb Boruch was a young man who would later become the father of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, known as the Alter Rebbe, who founded Chabad Chassidus. In his youth, Reb Boruch gradually drew close to the teachings of Chassidus, which at that time were led by the Baal Shem Tov. But Reb Boruch wanted to learn the history of Chassidus, and he discovered startling details. On the one hand, Chassidus was developing; on the other, there was fierce opposition to it. The great Torah scholars Rabbi Avraham Zev of Bishenkovitz[?] and Rabbi Simcha Zelig of Vitebsk were among the bitterest opponents of Chassidus and of the group of hidden tzaddikim who preceded it. Where had Rabbi Avraham of Bishenkovitz[?] and Rabbi Simcha Zelig of Vitebsk gotten this fierce opposition? They had received it from Rabbi Nochum, known as the recluse of Zlotshov, who had received it from Rabbi Shammai Zundel of Prague, son of the tzaddik Rabbi Pinchas Zelig of Shpira. Rabbi Pinchas Zelig of Shpira and his son Shammai Zundel of Prague had said that the hidden tzaddikim should be persecuted. Indeed, Rabbi Pinchas Zelig was a great adversary of a Jew named Rabbi Eliyahu Baal Shem of Worms. Young Boruch was deeply impressed when he heard the details of Rabbi Eliyahu Baal Shem’s life and character. It was in the year 5261 or 5265—by the non-Jewish calendar, approximately 1501 to 1505—just a few years after the expulsion from Spain. A Jew of Spanish origin arrived in Krakow. His name was Rabbi Yosef Yuzpa. He was not only a great Torah scholar but also a great tzaddik. He was about fifty years old at the time, and it soon became known in Krakow that he had withdrawn completely from worldly life and was immersed solely in Torah study and prayer, with no contact with other people. He had also never married. In Krakow, Rabbi Yosef Yuzpa spent

03:21 thirty years in seclusion, admired by everyone. It seemed clear to all that he would spend the rest of his life that way, but then something surprising happened. At that time, a Jew named Reb Levi was well known in Krakow. He was a wealthy merchant who conducted extensive trade with the estates of the nobility, and was known for his generous charity and for keeping his home open to everyone. Reb Levi had a son named Yosef, whom he married off to the daughter of Rabbi Avraham, a goldsmith known for his fear of Heaven. After his marriage, Reb Yosef began helping his father with his business, and soon became its driving force. Reb Yosef was not only a shrewd merchant but an intelligent man in general. He knew many languages and had a broad knowledge of worldly affairs. The nobles and landowners who did business with his father were very fond of him because of these qualities, and enjoyed discussing political matters and other subjects important to them with him. Their doors were always open to him. When the Jews saw the influence Reb Yosef had in high places, they began making use of his acquaintances and connections for various communal needs. Individuals, too, came to him frequently, asking him to intervene and use his influence on their behalf. Reb Yosef never refused to act as an advocate for the Jews. Meanwhile, his business expanded greatly, so he had to spend long stretches traveling, and he had especially extensive business ties with the city of Prague. Once, while he and his servant were on their way home, robbers attacked and killed them. When the sad news reached Krakow, the city was plunged into grief and mourning. Reb Yosef left behind a young widow who had not yet borne him any children. In accordance with halachah, the widow received chalitzah from her murdered husband’s brother. In Krakow, it was customary to conduct the chalitzah with great ceremony. Afterward, the beis din would generally bless

06:33 the woman who had undergone chalitzah that she should soon find a suitable husband and be blessed with children by him. After that blessing, the beis din would announce that anyone willing to marry her would receive its blessing. This custom was followed in the case of Reb Yosef’s widow as well, but no one came forward to marry her. Five or six months later, however, the elderly tzaddik Rabbi Yosef Yuzpa, known as the holy Spaniard, came to the beis din. He announced that he was willing to marry the woman if she agreed. Rabbi Yosef Yuzpa explained to the beis din that he had intended to continue living in seclusion and solitude, but for a certain reason that he did not wish to reveal, he had decided to marry. The beis din sent messengers to summon the woman. As soon as she appeared before the beis din, even before hearing why she had been called, she burst into bitter tears. When the beis din asked why she was crying, she said that a great secret weighed on her heart. She could not decide, though, whether or not to reveal it to the beis din. Asked further questions to clarify what she meant, the young woman explained that her father, who had passed away many years earlier and was in the World of Truth, had appeared to her in a dream five or six times and commanded her to do something. She could not bring herself to decide whether to obey him. And, as she had said, she could not decide whether to tell the beis din what her father had commanded. After considering the matter and consulting among themselves, the beis din told her that she had no choice: she would have to reveal her secret. Then, sobbing, she related that the first time her father had appeared in her dream, he was dressed in Shabbos clothes. He placed his hands on her head, blessed her, and wished her mazal tov. He told her that it had been decreed that she would marry the holy Spaniard,

09:33 Rabbi Yosef Yuzpa. When she awoke and remembered her dream, she was shaken at first, but then calmed down and told herself it was only a dream. Not even a week passed before her father appeared to her again in a dream and commanded her to marry the tzaddik. She did not take it seriously that time either. A short while later, her father appeared to her once more. This time he spoke firmly and commanded her sternly to ask someone to speak to Rabbi Yosef Yuzpa about marrying her. Her father told her that this was the will of the Heavenly Court. He went on to say that if she followed this instruction, she would merit to bear a son; if not, it would not end well. When the woman finished her story, the judges looked at one another in astonishment. Then they told her what had happened: Rabbi Yosef Yuzpa himself had come to the beis din and expressed his wish to marry her. The young woman now understood that Heaven did indeed want this match, and she agreed. In Krakow, a widow’s wedding was regarded as a communal occasion in which the whole community should take part. So the wedding of Rabbi Yosef Yuzpa and the young widow was arranged by the community, and all the townspeople attended. In keeping with an old local custom, all the kohanim in the city aged thirteen and older stood in two rows, wrapped in tallises and wearing kittels. The bride and groom walked between them and received the priestly blessing as the kohanim raised their hands. The wedding feast, too, was held according to an ancient custom in the synagogue courtyard, with everyone contributing their meal. Everyone in Krakow sensed that this was no ordinary event and that hidden matters lay behind this marriage.