By Rabbi Michoel Oishie for COLlive and Hasidic Archives
Getche Vilensky, a prominent Chassidic mentor during the communist era, burst into the synagogue in an exuberant mood. He had always believed that the famous curses read in the Torah portion of Ki Tavo were really blessings in disguise. He said, “They are such great blessings that they had to be disguised as curses.”
He found a Chassidic explanation that turned every curse into a blessing. There was one curse, however, that he could not understand: “You will eat . . . the meat of your sons and daughters” (Deuteronomy 28:53).
How could one ever explain such a despicable curse?
That day, a woman had come to him complaining that her child had become observant.
“Since he returned to Judaism,” she said, “no one in our home can purchase meat. We have to eat only the meat and salami that he buys!”
“This is it!” the jubilant Chassid said. “This is the blessing of the verse ‘you will eat the meat of your sons and daughters’.”
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Reb Getche, such a legend!