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Story: Rabbi Elimelekh and
the Contrite Man
There came before the esteemed Hasidic Rabbi Elimelekh a man. This man's life was one of many sins; he wished to make repentance. He sought direction on what would be essential for a complete return to the LORD.
Rabbi Elimelekh informed the man that first he would have to liquidate all his assets: furniture, jewelry, real estate, his inheritance. After converting all this to cash, the man was to return to the Rabbi. The man soon returned with everything he owned as a pile of money on the table in front of the Rabbi. The bills were paid. The last link to the goods of this life were severed fully.
"Now we are ready to begin the rite of repentance. Write for us," said Rabbi Elimelekh, "all your sins and evil deeds and transgressions on a sheet of paper and give it to me." The man did as he was told, and Rabbi Elimelekh began to read the confession aloud. The man was overcome by his shame and guilt, but the Rabbi kept reading. After a short time even the Rabbi appeared shocked by the enormity of sins and he cried out in anguish. The man, then, swooned and collapsed to the floor unconscious. Rabbi Elimelekh revived him and continued the reading. Again, the Rabbi cried out in astonishment; again, the man collapsed at the recounting of his evil. The Rabbi awakene3d him, again. This crying out in disbelief and fainting and reviving went on seven times during the reading.
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When the ordeal was completed, finally, Rabbi Elimelekh shook his head. "For sins as grave as these there can be but one atonement--death. Such would have been the verdict of the High Court when the Temple stood. The execution is by burning."
The Rabbi explained how such a death sentence was to be carried out according to ancient legal tradition. They would take molten lead and pour it down the throat, burning the condemned man from the inside. But even when the man heard this, his desire to make repentance and return to God was so great he willingly accepted the verdict and with trembling the punishment. He spoke, "I will do whatever must be done."
He took a few coins from the pile of money and bought a metal spoon, some tin (for the flux), and some lead. He returned to the Rabbi's home. Rabbi Elimelekh told him to make a fire and melt the tin and the lead in the spoon, being careful that they were properly mixed. The man did this with full devotion.
The man reported the smelting completed, and the Rabbi asked him to lay himself on the floor and put on a blindfold. Rabbi Elimelekh had him recite the final confession, which the man did with broken heart and great trembling. He took upon himself full responsibility for his sins and the punishment. He, then, recited the six words of the Shema, the declaration of God's unity.
"Now open your mouth," instructed Rabbi Elimelekh," that I may pour the molten lead down your throat." The Rabbi took instead a spoonful of marmalade and put it in the man's open mouth. The Rabbi said, "You have made full atonement. Get up, stand on your feet, serve the One whose Name is blessed, for you are, now, another being. Take this money on the table and use it as a righteous man."
Continued... |
