The Secret of the Eternal Life of the Tzaddikim: From Rabbi Akiva to Feiga the Prophetess

Lesson No. 12 | * Friday, Parashas Bechukosai, 19 Iyar 5755 - At the Yeshiva (Continued from No. 11)

An in-depth article on the power of the true tzaddikim who live and endure even after their histalkus (passing away). Through the mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) of Rabbi Akiva, the suffering of Rabbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon, and the wondrous connection of Rebbe Nachman's mother with the Baal Shem Tov, it is revealed how the tzaddikim continue to hear, guide, and awaken us to teshuvah (repentance).

After the passing of Rabbi Akiva's students, Rabbi Akiva remained the root of the Oral Torah, and the entire Torah was transmitted through him. When they combed his flesh with iron combs, Rabbi Eliezer the Great said that this happened because he did not come to hear the Torah classes. Had he come to hear the classes, he would have sweetened everything. A person must go to hear a Torah class even in the snow and the morning frost, because with these sufferings he can atone for all of his sins.

The Humility of the Son of Converts

Rabbi Akiva was the son of converts. Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin explains that specifically because of this, he was able to transmit the entire Torah. Only the son of converts, who possesses true lowliness and humility, is capable of transmitting the entire Torah. Out of that very humility, he transmitted the Torah to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai taught his students:

"For us, the matter depends on love."

Everything depends solely on love of friends. A person must love all of his friends, and through this, a pillar of fire surrounds them. It is brought in the Zohar that when Rabbi Chiya arrived, the pillar of fire did not open before him, and Rabbi Shimon sent his son, Rabbi Elazar, to open the pillar of fire for him.

The Suffering of Rabbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon

Rabbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon lay in the attic and suffered terrible afflictions for twenty-two years. When a hair was plucked from him, blood would emerge, and the blood remained fresh. Once, his wife saw a worm coming out of his ear, and she became very frightened. They showed her in a dream and told her: "Do not worry, nothing has happened. His body will remain enduring and whole. The worm emerged because once he heard a Torah scholar being disgraced and did not protest, and through these sufferings, the matter is atoned for him."

The Gemara in Tractate Bava Metzia relates that after the passing of Rabbi Elazar, they did not bury him immediately but left him in the attic. People would come and stand behind the door to judge monetary disputes. One would say, "This one stole money from me," the other would claim, "This one cheated me in business," and Rabbi Elazar would answer after his passing and rule: "So-and-so is liable, so-and-so is innocent."

Eventually, people began to realize that something was amiss. A man lies in the attic for years and speaks from behind the door. They began to whisper: "What is going on here? A person passes away and they do not bury him? They let him speak after death? It is not respectful to the deceased that he has to answer each and every person."

Feiga the Prophetess and the Baal Shem Tov

This reality, that tzaddikim speak even after their histalkus (passing away), we also find with our holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. When Rabbi Yudel would go up to the Tziyon (holy gravesite), a voice would emerge from the grave, and Rabbi Nosson said that there is someone there who hears.

So it was as well with the Rebbe's mother, Feigele. She would always go to the grave of her grandfather, the holy Baal Shem Tov, and speak with him. She would say to him: "Grandfather, I am your granddaughter, I have questions, difficulties, and problems."

Once, her husband was delayed and did not arrive. The sun was about to set, and she began to worry lest a lion had devoured him in the forests where he practiced hisbodedus (secluded prayer), or that a gentile had harmed him. She went to the grave of the Baal Shem Tov, and he answered her: "Do not worry, he is already within the Shabbos boundary, he will come for Shabbos."

They called her "Feiga di Neviah" (Feiga the Prophetess). The name Feigy is a very special name, testifying to a high and rare soul that can barely exist in this world, a soul that belongs to the upper worlds.

The Tzaddikim Live and Hear Us

Everyone must know that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai lives and endures, and Rabbi Elazar lives and endures. One can approach and speak with them, and they hear and see us. The true tzaddikim live, speak, and hear even after their histalkus (passing away).

Rebbe Nachman says that whoever is drawn close to the true tzaddik, his face will be like a mirror. The main thing is that we merit to see our flaws, return in true teshuvah (repentance), and through this, we will merit the complete Geulah (Redemption) speedily in our days, Amen.

Part 2 of 3 — Lesson No. 12

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