What Enters The Mouth -A Hasidic Story-

One day,

Yakov Dziedziczasz Rabinovich of Przyszucza,

Current Poland,

Also known as the Holy Jew,

Encouraged his disciple Rabbi Simcha Bunim to go on a trip.

Rabinovich did not tell him where he should go.

Rabbi Bunim,

Who already knew his unique ways of teaching,

Did not ask him either.

He simply headed towards the outskirts of the town in the company of other Hasidim and followed the path that was laid out in front of them.

After a long morning's journey,

They arrived at the inn of a small village,

Whose owner was very happy to welcome such pious guests.

Rabbi Bunim sat down in the living room to rest his legs,

While his companions pried here and there concerned about the purity of the meat.

Whether it had complied with the strict Jewish prescriptions,

Whether a knife without dents had been used and the ritual of slaughter had been faithfully followed.

Then,

All of the sudden,

An elderly man with a very humble outfit appeared with a pilgrim's staff in his hand,

Who rebuked them.

You,

Hasidim,

Are always so scrupulous about what you put in your mouth,

Yet you do not take care with the same zeal that which comes out of it.

Rabbi Bunim felt a great desire to approach this enigmatic man,

But the pilgrim,

Like the prophet Elijah,

Immediately disappeared.

That same afternoon,

They started their way back home.

Rabbi Bunim understood that the purpose of this mission had taken place during that fleeting encounter.