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It's Him...
About a hundred years ago in a village in Russia, lived a student named Yaakov who was exceptionally bright. He dedicated himself to Torah study, with considerable success. In the same village lived a number of Lubavitcher Chasidim, who tried to persuade Yaakov to come with them to their Rebbe. Yaakov, who was not from a Chasidic home, always refused. One time Yaakov agreed to go with them to Lubavitch, to the Rebbe Rashab.
In Yechidus, Yaakov saw the Rebbe sitting at his desk, concentrating in a book. The Rebbe did not even glance up at him. Yaakov, unsure of what to do, tiptoed up to the desk and placed his note on it. The Rebbe's eyes never left his book. Suddenly the Rebbe stood up and started pacing back and forth. The Rebbe, muttered as if he were talking to himself, but in Russian. "Ohn!" ("It is him"). "Nyeh ohn!" ("It's not him"). "It is him." It's not him." "It..." The Rebbe was silent for a moment, and then pronounced in a firm, decisive voice, "Nyeh ohn-it's not him." Then the Rebbe sat back down and resumed his book, still not acknowledging Yaakov's presence. Yaakov backed out of the room, totally confused. Not only had the Rebbe completely ignored him, but what was the significance of the Russian litany the Rebbe had muttered? It was a strange riddle. He had no clue as to its meaning.
Time passed. One day Yaakov noticed in the newspaper an intricate mathematical problem, presented by the university in Petersburg. They were offering a three hundred ruble prize for whoever could solve it. The young Talmudic scholar took it as a personal challenge and mailed in his answer to the university. Shortly thereafter, he received a notification that his solution was correct and that he would be awarded the stipulated prize. The envelope also contained an invitation to meet with the chairman of the Mathematics Department in Petersburg, together with a train ticket for the journey. Yaakov went. The department chairman and the other representatives of the university were astonished to see that this mathematical wizard was a young religious Jew. They invited him to remain at the university and complete a degree in mathematics, under a full scholarship. Yaakov accepted. At first, he kept his Jewish appearance. As he progressed in his secular studies, he gradually fell away from his Torah lifestyle. After several more years, Yaakov was offered a full professorship in the mathematics department, which required that he convert. By then, it was no problem, he even married a non-Jewish woman.
As time went by, Yaakov's conscience began to plague him. How could he have done such a deed? He totally regretted it. Nevertheless, he found himself unable to commit himself to change. Not only were there the obvious social and economic penalties, but, any Jew who converted and reverted back was subject to execution. One day, while out riding, his horse suddenly started to gallop wildly. Yaakov lost all control. At that moment, he made a firm promise that if he were to be saved, he would return to being Jewish. Amazingly, as soon as he made this resolution, the horse became calm and slowed down to a canter. Yaakov immediately left town.
One day, when he was taking a meal in an out-of-the-way inn, several policemen suddenly burst in and began checking everyone's papers. Since Yaakov had none, he was arrested. A cruel-faced investigator sat at his table. He stared at Yaakov, looked down at a picture of Yaakov in his hand, and then at Yaakov's face again. Suddenly, the investigator began a dialogue with himself. "Ohn!" "Nyeh ohn!" "It is him." It's not him." "It is him." It's not him." "It is him." Yaakov remembered where he had first heard those words. He held his breath. Back and forth the investigator repeated: "It is him." "It's not him." "It is him." Finally, he decided: "Nyeh ohn!"- "It's not him" and ordered the Jew's release. Yaakov could barely believe it. He was saved! Within a short time he set off for Lubavitch, and once there, never departed.
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