A Kiss on the Forehead

A story that illustrates the immense greatness of Morinu HaRav shlit"a and the absolute refinement of his character traits. When one of the informers slapped the Rav in the interrogation room before the eyes of the shocked police officers, the Rav's only reaction was to ask that the attacker be brought back into the room so he could give him a kiss on the forehead.

A True Tzaddik is Cleaved to Hashem

Rabbi Avraham Chananya shlit"a recounted that he remembers how Morinu HaRav shlit"a said many years ago that a tzaddik has no "turbid blood" (impure spiritual life-force) whatsoever. A true tzaddik is cleaved to Hashem until his last drop of blood, to the point that even if someone were to stab the tzaddik, Heaven forbid, and drain all his blood, leaving him with only one final drop, then with his remaining strength and in the last second of his life, he would rise, approach the forehead of the stabber, and give him a kiss on the forehead.

These are the words of those who possess exceedingly high spiritual attainment, dwelling in hidden realms that we cannot grasp or even begin to understand—yet such tzaddikim exist. The reason we do not behave this way, and instead boil with rage over any slight long before anyone has stabbed us or drawn a single drop of blood, is because we are filled with turbid blood and have not yet refined our character traits and our blood. However, the tzaddik, as mentioned, has completely refined all his blood, his traits, and his desires, to the point that he has absolutely no anger or strict judgment (hakpadah), even toward his persecutors.

One of the stories publicized by those present at this dreadful event reveals a glimpse of the greatness of Morinu HaRav and the great wonder that the tzaddik can bring about within himself, leaving not a single drop of turbid blood or any trait that is not completely rectified. And this is what happened.

A Slap in the Interrogation Room

During one of the proceedings that took place in the police interrogation rooms in the presence of Morinu HaRav, one of the informers [may Hashem return him in complete teshuvah (repentance)] approached, lashed out at the face of Morinu HaRav, and slapped his cheek. Even the secular police officers present were shocked by this, and they immediately distanced the informer from Morinu HaRav. When things calmed down, the chief warden arrived and asked the Rav for forgiveness for their failure to stop the man from committing such an act. He submissively asked the Rav: "What does the Rav want us to do to him?"

The tzaddik asked that they call the informer and bring him back into the room. In response to the warden's question about what the Rav planned to do to him, the Rav said: "I want to give him a kiss on the forehead."

From the book "Pele Elyon, Part 3"