Chassidic story
The Rokeiach and the Ramban: A Tale of Mysticism, Power, and Deliverance[1]
In medieval Spain, Rabbi Moses ben Nachman—the Ramban—was renowned for his scholarship, yet he was troubled by profound questions that eluded even his brilliant mind. These were not ordinary queries; their answers lay hidden in the esoteric teachings of Kabbalah, a realm the Ramban had not yet entered. His frustration grew, as did the suffering of the Jewish community under the rule of a cruel and oppressive minister. The Jews endured relentless persecution, their lives shadowed by fear and uncertainty.😔
One night, in the celestial courts, a call went out: Who would descend to teach the Ramban the secrets of Kabbalah and bring an end to the tyranny tormenting the Jews? The soul of the Rokeiach, a sage from distant Worms, volunteered. Granted permission, he prepared for his mission with mystical precision—baking matzah, invoking sacred names, and summoning a supernatural cloud to transport him across continents in a single night.🌌🍞
Arriving in Spain on the eve of Passover, the Rokeiach entered the synagogue, where the Ramban noticed the enigmatic stranger. Invited to the Seder, the Rokeiach remained silent, observing the scholars’ debates. He recognized their discussions as superficial, lacking the depth of mystical insight. The Ramban, misjudging his guest, regretted the invitation, suspecting the old man was ignorant or eccentric.😒
After the meal, the Ramban warned the Rokeiach not to wander alone, especially near the forbidden street controlled by the ruthless minister—a place where any Jew caught would face certain death. Yet, the next morning, the Rokeiach deliberately entered the forbidden zone. He was seized and brought before the minister, who, relishing the opportunity for cruelty, ordered a public execution by fire, intending to make an example of the Jew during the Christian holiday.🔥
The Jewish community was paralyzed with fear. The Ramban, wracked with guilt, could do nothing as his guest was led to the pyre. As the flames rose, the Rokeiach called out to the Ramban, asking him to wait with the Kiddush—he wished to hear the blessings one last time. The Ramban, bewildered by the request, watched as the minister gloated, anticipating the spectacle.
But the Rokeiach, wielding the hidden power of Kabbalah, uttered a sacred name. In an instant, the minister’s appearance was transformed to resemble the Rokeiach, and the guards, unaware, cast their own master into the fire. The minister perished, and the Rokeiach remained unharmed.
Sometime later, as the Ramban sat deep in thought, a sudden knock echoed through his door. When he opened it, his heart nearly stopped—the figure before him was none other than the Rokeiach, the very man who had been publicly burned! Word spread quickly, and soon the house was filled with bewildered faces. People stood speechless, unable to comprehend what their eyes beheld. It was then, through calm and deliberate words, that the Rokeiach revealed the truth of this wondrous mystery.
The Rokeiach revealed his identity and mission: he was sent from Heaven to teach the Ramban the mystical wisdom he sought and to liberate the Jews from oppression. For a month, the Rokeiach instructed the Ramban in the secrets of Kabbalah, answering every question that had troubled him. The Ramban, transformed by this knowledge, became a conduit for the spread of Kabbalistic teachings throughout the Jewish world.📖✨
Thus, through courage, faith, and the intervention of the mystical, the Jewish community found both spiritual enlightenment and physical salvation. The legacy of that Passover night would echo through generations, a testament to the power of wisdom and the mysterious ways of providence.🌟
[1] Sefer Rebbe Eliezer Migramiza Chapter 6 in name of Sefer Maaseh Nissim
