It is important to note that Tzfas was always the place brimming with kedushah and holy mysticism. The greatest mekubalim walked its golden streets. Perhaps one of the most famous stories involves Reb Yosef Karo, famed tzaddik, mekubal, and author of many monumental works, including the Shulchan Aruch.

One Shavuos night Reb Yosef Karo sat saying the Tikkun Leil Shavuos with incredible devotion. Amongst those present was the famous Reb Shlomo Alkabetz, the prolific poet who wrote the words to Lecha Dodi. They sang the words out loud and in unison. When they finished, they began learning mishnayos. Who can imagine how devoutly and intensely they studied on the night of kabbalas haTorah!

Suddenly, Reb Yosef Karo looked up and a loud voice issued from his throat. “You cannot imagine how much pleasure your learning is creating in Shamayim,” he said. “Since the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed and burned to the ground, nothing has ever caused such an enormous stir in the upper realms. Know that the malachim are standing and listening closely to your Torah and that your Torah is so very beautiful and cherished before Hashem.”

There was a moment of silence and then the voice boomed forth again.

“Stand up! Call out the words, ‘Baruch Sheim kevod Malchuso l’olam va’ed,’ just as you do on Yom Kippur!”

Everyone present leaped from their sitting positions and stood as they shouted out the words, “Baruch Sheim kevod Malchuso l’olam va’ed!” Their voices shook the roof.

The second night they sat down to learn again, hoping to hear once more the powerful voice of the special bas kol. Sure enough, as they learned on the second night, the bas kol returned, and told them how special their learning was and how great their reward was in the World to Come.

When the Arizal arrived in Tzfas, Reb Chaim Vital was learning under the Ramak. The Arizal too began his stay in Tzfas by learning under the Ramak, but within the same year of his arrival, the Ramak passed away.

The Arizal was chosen as the Ramak’s successor.

The wisdom and power of the Arizal spread far and wide. The endless depths of his knowledge of Torah, and the secrets of the Torah that lay open before him, were astounding. His primary talmid, Reb Chaim Vital, wrote that the Arizal could look at someone and see all of the person’s aveiros. But it was not only the present lifetime that the Arizal saw. He could see far back, even into the person’s previous gilgulim and know who the person had been in a past life. Even the reason why the person had been sent back to earth was revealed to the Arizal.

Reb Chaim wrote that people who were reshaim fled before the Arizal like they were escaping a wildfire. They were terrified to let him gaze even for a moment at their faces, for he would see all that they had done and what they were thinking. But for those seeking to do teshuvah, a visit to the Arizal was truly life-changing. He would prescribe a unique pathway of teshuvah and good deeds for each individual who came his way, all based on his intimate knowledge of what that person needed to rectify.

And the ability to help others extended even to neshamos that were forced to wander the earth, being too evil to be allowed entry into Gehinnom. The Arizal would relate how these neshamos would come to him and seek out his help. Even in such scenarios, if Hashem allowed, the Arizal could provide a pathway for them to achieve teshuvah.

If Reb Chaim Vital had not written such incredible things about his master, we would probably not believe all of it. But it is all recorded by Reb Chaim.

Once a man approached the Arizal.

“I have spent my days doing teshuvah, searching my every deed to rectify any wrongdoing I possibly could have committed. But I know my master has a power to look at a person and see all the sins that they have ever committed during their lifetime. So please tell me if there is any sin I have overlooked.”

The Arizal stared penetratingly at the man’s face.

“You are indeed a tzaddik, but there is something I see that you have overlooked. You must go home and take care of an issue involving tzaar baalei chayim…”

The man immediately went home and discovered that the Arizal was exactly right. His servant was neglectful in feeding their chickens, and this caused the chickens to have to scavenge for food elsewhere.

The man took care of the problem and returned to the Arizal. This time, the Arizal looked at his face and informed the man that the aveirah had been wiped away.

to be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 859)