A Single Glance
By Eliezer Shore
The first thing young Moshe Yitzchak did upon arriving in Vienna was to change his name; the second was to enroll in an academy of secular studies. Neither step would have pleased his parents, but it would be a long time before they found out. Moshe Yitzchak had been traveling for several years now and his contact with them during that time had been minimal. Of course he still loved them and had many fond memories of his childhood, but life had carried him to a place where they could not go.
Moshe Yitzchak had grown up in the small Polish town of Linden. He had received a traditional Jewish education and his father had tried hard to instill in him an appreciation for his religious heritage. But young Moshe’s heart was drawn to something else to: a wider world, to new ways of thinking and acting. The ghetto walls were collapsing, and new possibilities were opening themselves to the Jews. Moshe read avidly, and was drawn to philosophy and science. As soon as he was old enough, he left Linden and began to travel. Slowly his outer appearance adapted to the new world in which he found himself, and likewise did his beliefs, How archaic were the superstitions of his parents, how unsuited too the modern world in which he now lived!
Finally, Moshe Yitzhak arrived in Vienna. He changed his name to Moses, and enrolled in a conservatory. Because he was bright, he quickly made up for years of lost studies. And as he progressed, he took on more and store of the local customs. It was not long before he lost all semblance of a small town Jewish boy. On finishing his steadies, he decided to pursue a career in medicine. He enrolled university and quickly rose in prominence. After receiving his degree, he began to work as a surgeon in the Central Vienna Hospital. He was admired for his skill and expertise; his Jewishness was never an issue.
Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach, the Grand-Rabbi of Belz, was one of the leaders of European Jewry. From his Chassidic court in Galicia, his influence spread throughout Europe. In 1855, at the age of thirty, he had inherited his father's place as Rebbe, arid for nearly forty years, he led his flock with wisdom and insight. He was not only a scholar of Torah, but a man of the world, engage in politics and every area of communal activity. Like his father, he was a fierce antagonist of the Haskalah, the ''Enlightenment'' movement that was stealing so many European Jews away from their heritage.
Now, at only sixty-nine years of age, he was showing serious signs of weakness. A strange illness gripped his body, and though outwardly, he remained positive and encouraging; inwardly suffered terribly. He had visited nearly every doctor in Galicia, but none could offer him a cure. His chassidim were even more none concerned, for the Rebbe had hinted to them that soon, his guiding presence would no longer be available to lead them.
When his condition deteriorated further, his followers pressed him to travel to Vienna, for treatment by Europe's finest doctors. The trip from Galicia was difficult, and the Rebbe arrived weak and depleted. At the CentralViennaHospital, the experts assessed his condition – he would need a major operation as soon as possible, and even then, the chances of his recovery were slim. The operation was scheduled for one o'clock the following afternoon. The chassidim spent that entire morning fasting and praying for their leader's welfare.
At about a quarter to one, the Rebbe was brought into the operating room. Before separating from his chassidim, he spoke to them privately. He told them not to fear, that God would not abandon them, that they needed only to follow in the path he set to speed the final redemption. Then, as the attendant wheeled him away, the Rebbe closed his eyes and went deep inside of himself. His face was still, his lips were uttering a silent prayer.
The doctors in the operating room were all ready. They were only waiting for the anesthesiologist. Moses stood among them, towards the back. When the Rebbe was wheeled in, Moses was struck by his beauty – such a love and gentleness radiated from his pale face. The room was quiet; the Rebbe was in another place.
Suddenly, the Rebbe opened his eyes and began to survey the doctors who surrounded him. It was as though he was looking for something familiar that he sensed in the room. Finally, he noticed the young doctor standing beside the wall.
''Doctor, what is your name?” he asked. Moses was taken aback by the sudden, personal call.
''Moses Wilner,” he answered.
''Moses, are you Jewish?'' the Rebbe asked gently.
Moses coughed. He nodded his head in acknowledgement.
The Rebbe continued. ''Moses, do you believe in the Creator and Ruler of the world?”
Moses' face went red. What a question! He wanted to leave the room, to avoid the stares of his colleagues – but the operation was about to begin. He paused a moment. ''Yes, Rebbe, I do,” he answered.
The other doctors in the room were bewildered. They looked on in amazement as a strange dialogue began to unfold between patient and doctor. The Rebbe, however, paid them no attention. All his concentration was focused upon the young Jewish doctor who had turned his back on his faith.
''And in our righteous Messiah, who is ready to come at any moment and redeem his people from exile, do you believe in him too, Moses?''
Moses was dead still. There was no place to hide. He closed his eyes from the Rebbe's enquiring gaze and tried to formulate an answer. The words came out slowly.
''Ah, hmm, you see, Rebbe, I believe in the historical process, that mankind is gradually progressing. One day, there will come a time of world peace, and then our people will experience their redemption and find a place among the nations of the world. But I do not believe that this will come about through the influence of one man, the Messiah, who will somehow transform all of humanity. That strikes me as completely impossible.”
The Rebbe of Belz was silent. Then, suddenly, he turned his whole head to face the young doctor. His glance was penetrating.
For the first time, Moses looked directly into his eyes – they were so deep, so full of wisdom; kind but strong, gentle but intense. Moses was transfixed. He felt himself being drawn into the Rebbe's gaze, as though it contained some profound secret. Then, in his own mind, hidden clambers of memory slowly began to open. Memories of a forgotten past, of his childhood and his parents' home, beautiful memories – and disturbing ones. Powerful emotions surged through him: Elation, ecstasy, fear, longing. The Rebbe's eyes grabbed him, they were touching his soul. Enough! He had to look away. Too much was being revealed, emotions that he could of not face.
He tried to avert his gaze; but he could not. He tried to turn his head, but it was impossible. It was as though he was gripped by the Rebbe's gaze. Moses' face became white, then red, then white again. The veins on his neck began to protrude. His body started to shake, his hands to tremble.
The other doctors stared on in amazement. A storm was raging inside their colleague, though they could not perceive its source. Moses gasped for air. All his efforts to calm himself failed, which only increased his panic. The Rebbe held him firmly with his eyes, they penetrated to his depths. The young doctor began to softly cry.
Another moment passed, and then the Rebbe removed his gaze from him. Moses felt his composition slowly returning. Afterward, the Rebbe looked at him once more. This time his eyes were gentle, comforting.
''Moses, now do you believe that one person can influence another with a single glance alone? That is exactly how it will be when the Messiah comes. God has chosen him to lead the world to perfection. He will return all people from their erroneous ways.”
Moses lowered his eyes and nodded in submission. ''The Rebbe is right, and I was mistaken,'' he said in a whisper.
The anesthesiologist had already arrived and in a few moments, the Rebbe was asleep. The operation lasted several hours, and was a success. Throughout Europe, chassidim rejoiced.
Two weeks passed, and the Rebbe recuperated in the hospital. During that time, an air of sanctity and peace rested upon the building. Finally, he left Vienna to return home. On the train-ride back to Galicia, Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach, the Grand-Rabbi of Belz, passed away. He was surrounded by a small group of chassidim at the time. Among them was a young doctor named Moshe Yitzchak Wilner, who was returning home to recover a treasure he had long ago left behind. d
Moshe Yitzchak had grown up in the small Polish town of Linden. He had received a traditional Jewish education and his father had tried hard to instill in him an appreciation for his religious heritage. But young Moshe’s heart was drawn to something else to: a wider world, to new ways of thinking and acting. The ghetto walls were collapsing, and new possibilities were opening themselves to the Jews. Moshe read avidly, and was drawn to philosophy and science. As soon as he was old enough, he left Linden and began to travel. Slowly his outer appearance adapted to the new world in which he found himself, and likewise did his beliefs, How archaic were the superstitions of his parents, how unsuited too the modern world in which he now lived!
Finally, Moshe Yitzhak arrived in Vienna. He changed his name to Moses, and enrolled in a conservatory. Because he was bright, he quickly made up for years of lost studies. And as he progressed, he took on more and store of the local customs. It was not long before he lost all semblance of a small town Jewish boy. On finishing his steadies, he decided to pursue a career in medicine. He enrolled university and quickly rose in prominence. After receiving his degree, he began to work as a surgeon in the Central Vienna Hospital. He was admired for his skill and expertise; his Jewishness was never an issue.
Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach, the Grand-Rabbi of Belz, was one of the leaders of European Jewry. From his Chassidic court in Galicia, his influence spread throughout Europe. In 1855, at the age of thirty, he had inherited his father's place as Rebbe, arid for nearly forty years, he led his flock with wisdom and insight. He was not only a scholar of Torah, but a man of the world, engage in politics and every area of communal activity. Like his father, he was a fierce antagonist of the Haskalah, the ''Enlightenment'' movement that was stealing so many European Jews away from their heritage.
Now, at only sixty-nine years of age, he was showing serious signs of weakness. A strange illness gripped his body, and though outwardly, he remained positive and encouraging; inwardly suffered terribly. He had visited nearly every doctor in Galicia, but none could offer him a cure. His chassidim were even more none concerned, for the Rebbe had hinted to them that soon, his guiding presence would no longer be available to lead them.
When his condition deteriorated further, his followers pressed him to travel to Vienna, for treatment by Europe's finest doctors. The trip from Galicia was difficult, and the Rebbe arrived weak and depleted. At the CentralViennaHospital, the experts assessed his condition – he would need a major operation as soon as possible, and even then, the chances of his recovery were slim. The operation was scheduled for one o'clock the following afternoon. The chassidim spent that entire morning fasting and praying for their leader's welfare.
At about a quarter to one, the Rebbe was brought into the operating room. Before separating from his chassidim, he spoke to them privately. He told them not to fear, that God would not abandon them, that they needed only to follow in the path he set to speed the final redemption. Then, as the attendant wheeled him away, the Rebbe closed his eyes and went deep inside of himself. His face was still, his lips were uttering a silent prayer.
The doctors in the operating room were all ready. They were only waiting for the anesthesiologist. Moses stood among them, towards the back. When the Rebbe was wheeled in, Moses was struck by his beauty – such a love and gentleness radiated from his pale face. The room was quiet; the Rebbe was in another place.
Suddenly, the Rebbe opened his eyes and began to survey the doctors who surrounded him. It was as though he was looking for something familiar that he sensed in the room. Finally, he noticed the young doctor standing beside the wall.
''Doctor, what is your name?” he asked. Moses was taken aback by the sudden, personal call.
''Moses Wilner,” he answered.
''Moses, are you Jewish?'' the Rebbe asked gently.
Moses coughed. He nodded his head in acknowledgement.
The Rebbe continued. ''Moses, do you believe in the Creator and Ruler of the world?”
Moses' face went red. What a question! He wanted to leave the room, to avoid the stares of his colleagues – but the operation was about to begin. He paused a moment. ''Yes, Rebbe, I do,” he answered.
The other doctors in the room were bewildered. They looked on in amazement as a strange dialogue began to unfold between patient and doctor. The Rebbe, however, paid them no attention. All his concentration was focused upon the young Jewish doctor who had turned his back on his faith.
''And in our righteous Messiah, who is ready to come at any moment and redeem his people from exile, do you believe in him too, Moses?''
Moses was dead still. There was no place to hide. He closed his eyes from the Rebbe's enquiring gaze and tried to formulate an answer. The words came out slowly.
''Ah, hmm, you see, Rebbe, I believe in the historical process, that mankind is gradually progressing. One day, there will come a time of world peace, and then our people will experience their redemption and find a place among the nations of the world. But I do not believe that this will come about through the influence of one man, the Messiah, who will somehow transform all of humanity. That strikes me as completely impossible.”
The Rebbe of Belz was silent. Then, suddenly, he turned his whole head to face the young doctor. His glance was penetrating.
For the first time, Moses looked directly into his eyes – they were so deep, so full of wisdom; kind but strong, gentle but intense. Moses was transfixed. He felt himself being drawn into the Rebbe's gaze, as though it contained some profound secret. Then, in his own mind, hidden clambers of memory slowly began to open. Memories of a forgotten past, of his childhood and his parents' home, beautiful memories – and disturbing ones. Powerful emotions surged through him: Elation, ecstasy, fear, longing. The Rebbe's eyes grabbed him, they were touching his soul. Enough! He had to look away. Too much was being revealed, emotions that he could of not face.
He tried to avert his gaze; but he could not. He tried to turn his head, but it was impossible. It was as though he was gripped by the Rebbe's gaze. Moses' face became white, then red, then white again. The veins on his neck began to protrude. His body started to shake, his hands to tremble.
The other doctors stared on in amazement. A storm was raging inside their colleague, though they could not perceive its source. Moses gasped for air. All his efforts to calm himself failed, which only increased his panic. The Rebbe held him firmly with his eyes, they penetrated to his depths. The young doctor began to softly cry.
Another moment passed, and then the Rebbe removed his gaze from him. Moses felt his composition slowly returning. Afterward, the Rebbe looked at him once more. This time his eyes were gentle, comforting.
''Moses, now do you believe that one person can influence another with a single glance alone? That is exactly how it will be when the Messiah comes. God has chosen him to lead the world to perfection. He will return all people from their erroneous ways.”
Moses lowered his eyes and nodded in submission. ''The Rebbe is right, and I was mistaken,'' he said in a whisper.
The anesthesiologist had already arrived and in a few moments, the Rebbe was asleep. The operation lasted several hours, and was a success. Throughout Europe, chassidim rejoiced.
Two weeks passed, and the Rebbe recuperated in the hospital. During that time, an air of sanctity and peace rested upon the building. Finally, he left Vienna to return home. On the train-ride back to Galicia, Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach, the Grand-Rabbi of Belz, passed away. He was surrounded by a small group of chassidim at the time. Among them was a young doctor named Moshe Yitzchak Wilner, who was returning home to recover a treasure he had long ago left behind. d
