“So It Will Be”

by Dovid Zaklikowski for Hasidic Archives

One time, Rabbi Dovber, the Maggid of Mezritch, sent one of his prized disciples, Rabbi Israel of Polotsk, to guide a man who was impatient and quick to anger.

On a particularly rainy day, Rabbi Israel slowly walked past this man’s home. Standing at the window, the man asked him why he was out during the downpour and invited him inside. Rabbi Israel stood waiting at the door. The man thought he was out of his mind and angrily said, “Aren’t you tired from your long journey? Come inside and sit down.”

Rabbi Israel calmly replied, “So it will be,” and sat down, still carrying his bag over his shoulder.

“Why are you still holding your bag?” the man asked in annoyance. Rabbi Israel placed his belongings on the table.

“Why did you put your wet bag on the table? Place it in the corner.” He went to the corner, placed the bag there, and stood waiting.

“Why are you just standing there? Go change your clothes and drink a cup of tea.”

As he did so, Rabbi Israel again said, “So it will be.”

And so it continued, day after day, while Rabbi Israel stayed in the man’s home. Eventually, the man realized that his constant anger at Rabbi Israel’s behavior was improper, and in frustration he exclaimed, “I feel like you were sent to me just to make me suffer over my imperfections!”

Rabbi Israel then revealed to him that he had been sent by Rabbi Dovber to help him recognize his struggle with anger. “You must believe that everything comes from G-d,” he told the man, “If you become angry, it shows you are lacking faith in divine providence.”

He then explained what it says in Psalms (144:15): “Happy is the nation for whom this is so.” What does this is so mean? 

When you believe that everything is as it should be, Rabbi Israel explained, that all is from the hand of G-d, you will not fall into anger. Then indeed, as the verse ends: “Happy is the nation whose G-d is the L-rd.”

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