All We Have is the Story

When the great Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov saw a misfortune threatening Jews it was his custom to go to a certain place Forest to meditate. There he would light a fire, say a special prayer, and miracle would be accomplished in misfortune averted.

 Later, when his disciple, the celebrated Maggid of Mezritch  had occasion, for the same reason, to intercede with heaven, he  would go to the same place in forest and say, “Master of universe, listen! I do not know how to light the fire but I am still able to say the prayer.”  And again the miracle would be accomplished.

Still later, Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sasov, in order to save his people once more, would go into the forest and say, "I do not know how to light the fire. I do not know the prayer but I know the place and this must be sufficient.” It was sufficient and the miracle was accomplished.

Then it fell to Rabbi Israel of Rizhin to overcome misfortune.  Sitting in his armchair, his head in his hands, he spoke to God, “I am unable to light the fire. And I do not know the prayer. I cannot find a place in the forest. All I can do is tell the story an d this must be sufficient.” And that was sufficient. – Elie Wiesel

All we have is the story.