The sheik’s popularity and success grew after that incident. Arabs from far and wide traveled to sit at the sheik’s feet and hear if they would be successful, if they would be healed, and if they would yet live to see another day. The sheik somehow had knowledge that no one else had, and the people flocked to hear his almost prophetic predictions.

It did not take long for the rumors to begin spreading in the Jewish community as well. And one day the topic was brought up by the table of a tremendous tzaddik and mekubal who happened to be sojourning in Damascus at the time, the saintly Rav Moshe Galante. Rav Galante was the son of the illustrious Reb Yehonasan who had learned together with Reb Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch. Rav Moshe was the head dayan in Yerushalayim and his grandson was the holy and famous chassidishe rebbe, Reb Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter of Ger, the Sfas Emes!

On this day two Jews were talking excitedly before Rav Moshe about this sheik.

“Did you hear that he possesses powers that are, l’havdil, like the powers of Reb Chanina ben Dosa? He can heal people through his prayers and tell people if they will survive their sickness or perish — and he is always right!”

“And on top of all that, he also knows all seven branches of worldly wisdom there are in This World!”

“Where does this sheik live?” Rav Moshe interjected, his interest piqued. “How can someone who is not learned in Torah possess such powers? What devices is he using to access such koach?”

Rav Moshe was genuinely perplexed. Was such a thing possible? An Arab sheik who had never learned a word of Torah, neither the revealed or hidden portions, could possess greater abilities than someone like himself and his chaverim who spent their entire lives connected to Hashem through Torah and mitzvos?

“Are you sure all of the stories about this sheik are accurate? Do you have firsthand information?”

“Oh, I certainly do have firsthand information,” replied one of the men. “The sheik predicted that my wife would survive a very severe sickness a few months ago that had claimed the lives of five other people in my community. I visited him, he listened to my story, and then disappeared for around a half hour. When he returned, he told me with a big smile that my wife would certainly have a speedy and successful recovery and that all would be alright. And, of course, his words came true.”

“I must meet such person and find out his secret.”

“I’m afraid that cannot happen. The sheik is notorious for guarding his secret extremely carefully and he will never reveal even a hint about how he gets his incredible powers.”

to be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 875)