21st Century Bogatyr: The Street Urchin of Liozna

“Reb Yisrael,” Alexei called out from the front of the wagon. “Where would you like me to take you?”

The Baal Shem Tov answered young Alexei in what seemed to be an uncharacteristically casual and unspecific manner. “Just drive around. Perhaps you can just let the horses decide. Go until you find a band of ruffians, riffraff, and guttersnipes lolling about on a street corner. There, we will stop because I have some business to attend to.”

The wagon drove about without rhyme or purpose through the dingier, unkempt parts of town. Alexei spotted a dozen or so disreputable children on a corner and he asked the Baal Shem Tov if they would serve his purpose, as he brought the wagon to a full stop.

The Baal Shem Tov took his walking stick and slowly climbed down from the wagon. He leaned heavily on the stick for support. He was bent as he approached the disheveled children. To Alexei and Mruczek, the Baal Shem Tov seemed to be much older than before. Slowly he made his way forward.

The youngest of the children, the four and five year olds, were each accomplished beggars. The older boys had mostly graduated to petty thievery and picking pockets. They were all dressed in rags and none had shoes on their feet. They all gathered around the Holy Man. The Baal Shem Tov had a kind word and a small coin for each of them. When he turned back towards the wagon, the Baal Shem Tov stood erect. His face was shining. He no longer leaned on his staff when he walked back to the wagon and practically jumped into the front seat next to Alexei. Mruczek climbed into his lap.

Alexei turned and looked at the Baal Shem Tov. A question circulated in his mind about the miraculous transformation that had taken place in his employer's posture. The question almost formed as words before he chose to refrain from asking. Instead, he said “Reb Yisrael, you are looking well. Did you find what you were seeking here?”

The Baal Shem Tov responded, “This was a fortuitous and productive encounter. With these youths, I traded some of my age and wisdom for some of their youthfulness and stamina. Now they are all a bit wiser and I am a bit stronger and healthier. The older of the boys have also committed to stealing less and to be more charitable. So, all told, this was profitable for everyone, the boys, for me, and for the townsfolk of Liozna. I didn't, however, find the person whom I am seeking. For that, we will, it seems, need to search for another gaggle of street urchins.” The Baal Shem Tov waved his hand, signaling to Alexei to continue onward through the streets of Liozna.

When another group of street boys came into view, Alexei urged the horses to a stop. The Baal Shem Tov disembarked and walked to the cluster of urchins. Once again, the Baal Shem Tov had kind words and small coins for each of the troubled boys.

The last lad that the Baal Shem Tov approached was the smallest of the boys, a child that was barely four years old. He stood somewhat apart from the others. He clutched a filthy blanket in one hand and was sucking on a thumb. Tears were running down his cheeks.

The Baal Shem Tov knelt on one knee so as to speak with the child. The Baal Shem Tov removed a handkerchief from a pocket and cleaned the boy's face as he spoke with him. After a few minutes, the Baal Shem Tov stood. He looked about at the rundown buildings of the surrounding area until, it seems, he saw what he was looking for. Then, he took the small boy by his tiny hand and the two walked away from the other boys and the wagon as well where Alexei and Mruczek sat.

Alexei and Mruczek looked in the direction that the Baal Shem Tov and the urchin were walking. The street was desolate and the buildings were bleak, with the exception of one window. From that window a light emitted. This was where they were headed. The closer they got, the brighter the light shone until the Baal Shem Tov and the boy disappeared into the magnificent light and then the light folded into itself and was gone.

Perhaps an hour passed before the Baal Shem Tov re-emerged and walked back alone to the waiting wagon. “Our mission here is accomplished. We can move on,” he informed Alexei.

“I thought that you said that we were coming to Liozna because a great sage will be born here soon. What of this birth and the sage?” asked Alexei.

“All is now settled on that account,” the Baal Shem Tov responded. “He will assuredly be born a few decades from now.”

“Decades?” Stuttered Alexei. “But, but, but…”

The Baal Shem Tov calmly explained. “That young boy, I took him to the cheder and presented him to the melamed. I paid his tuition and arranged for the boy, a place to live. He will be a wonderful student and excel in all of his learning. When he has learned what he can from the cheder he will go on to the Gymnasium and then the University where he will study medicine. He will become one of the best doctors in the entire region.”

“But,” asked Alexei, “what does that have to do with the sage?”

The Baal Shem Tov sighed, before continuing. “Years from now there will be a small girl in Liozna who will be very sick. No one will know what to do for her. Her family will be desperate. She will be close to death when she is placed in the care of the doctor that the street urchin will become. He will save her life.”

The Baal Shem Tov sat quietly for a few minutes. “She will grow up. She will marry. She will give birth to a boy who will grow to be a great sage. Our work here, for now, is done. Now, head south. We have much to do in other places and many, many versts to travel, before we can go home.”