THE TALES The fifth story in Sipurey Ma'asiot235"A Telling of Tales,” containing all of Rebbe Nachman's major stories. First published by Reb Noson in Ostrog in 1816. Translated into English as Rabbi Nachman's Stories by Breslov Research Institute. is “The Prince of Gems.” I heard from another that before the Rebbe told this story, he said, “I know a tale that contains the entire Forty-Two-Letter Name of God.”236This Name is contained in the initial letters of Ana BeKoach, the prayer of Rabbi Nechunia ben HaKanah. It is spelled: AlephBet Gimel, YodTavTzadi; KufReshAyin, SinTetNun; NunGimelDalet, YodKafShin; BetTetResh, TzadiTavGimel; ChetKufBet, TetNunAyin; YodGimelLamed, PeiZayinKuf; ShinKuf Vav, Tzadi YodTav (the non-italicized letters are discussed in the next paragraph). See Tikkuney Zohar #4, 19a; Etz Chaim, Sha'ar Shevirat HaKelim 2. Also see Zohar II, 132b, 175b, 234b; ibid., III, 256b; Rashi, Avodah Zarah 17b, “Lama"; Sanhedrin 60a, “Shem"; ibid., 101b, “U-VeLashon"; Tosefot, Sukkah 5a, “Yod"; Chagigah 11b, “Ein"; Avodah Zarah 18a, “Hogeh.” Rav Hai Gaon said that this was the Name used in the Yom Kippur service (Rosh, Yoma 8:19; cf. Radal, Kiddushin 71a). He then told the above story. However, it is not certain that this is the story that includes the Name.237See Zimrat Ha'aretz 92b and Rimzey HaMa'asiot ad loc. The latter source writes, “Some say that this story also touches upon the reason why the 'known one' fell into the water several times and almost drowned” (see Nevey Tzaddikim, p. 44).
Many years ago, I also heard the Rebbe say that the Baal Shem Tov knew a story that contained the Forty-Two-Letter Name of God. He then spoke to me about that Name and asked me to find an explanation in Yiddish for the two letters, Vav and Tzadi, which appear in that Name. I tried, but was unable to find any Yiddish word that would be spelled out by these two letters.
It was obvious that the Rebbe already knew the secret of this Name. However, he wanted to disguise this mystery in order to present it, and the two letters, Vav and Tzadi, could not be made part of this presentation.
שָׁמַעְתִּי מֵאִישׁ אֶחָד מֵאַנְשֵׁינוּ שֶׁאָמַר, שֶׁקֹּדֶם שֶׁסִּפֵּר רַבֵּנוּ ז"ל הַמַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ בֵּן שֶׁכֻּלּוּ מֵאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת (הַנִּדְפֶּסֶת בְּסִפּוּרֵי מַעֲשִׂיּוֹת מַעֲשֶׂה ה) אָמַר קֹדֶם שֶׁסִּפֵּר: אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ כָּל הַשֵּׁם שֶׁל מ"ב, וְאַחַר־כָּךְ סִפֵּר זֹאת הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים אִם זֹאת הִיא הַמַּעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל הַשֵּׁם מ"ב.
THE TALES
The fifth story in Sipurey Ma'asiot235"A Telling of Tales,” containing all of Rebbe Nachman's major stories. First published by Reb Noson in Ostrog in 1816. Translated into English as Rabbi Nachman's Stories by Breslov Research Institute. is “The Prince of Gems.” I heard from another that before the Rebbe told this story, he said, “I know a tale that contains the entire Forty-Two-Letter Name of God.”236This Name is contained in the initial letters of Ana BeKoach, the prayer of Rabbi Nechunia ben HaKanah. It is spelled: Aleph Bet Gimel, Yod Tav Tzadi; Kuf Resh Ayin, Sin Tet Nun; Nun Gimel Dalet, Yod Kaf Shin; Bet Tet Resh, Tzadi Tav Gimel; Chet Kuf Bet, Tet Nun Ayin; Yod Gimel Lamed, Pei Zayin Kuf; Shin Kuf Vav, Tzadi Yod Tav (the non-italicized letters are discussed in the next paragraph). See Tikkuney Zohar #4, 19a; Etz Chaim, Sha'ar Shevirat HaKelim 2. Also see Zohar II, 132b, 175b, 234b; ibid., III, 256b; Rashi, Avodah Zarah 17b, “Lama"; Sanhedrin 60a, “Shem"; ibid., 101b, “U-VeLashon"; Tosefot, Sukkah 5a, “Yod"; Chagigah 11b, “Ein"; Avodah Zarah 18a, “Hogeh.” Rav Hai Gaon said that this was the Name used in the Yom Kippur service (Rosh, Yoma 8:19; cf. Radal, Kiddushin 71a). He then told the above story. However, it is not certain that this is the story that includes the Name.237See Zimrat Ha'aretz 92b and Rimzey HaMa'asiot ad loc. The latter source writes, “Some say that this story also touches upon the reason why the 'known one' fell into the water several times and almost drowned” (see Nevey Tzaddikim, p. 44).
וְגַם אָנֹכִי שָׁמַעְתִּי מִפִּיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ לִפְנֵי כַּמָּה שָׁנִים שֶׁאָמַר, שֶׁהַבַּעַל־שֵׁם־טוֹב ז"ל, הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהָיָה בָּה הַשֵּׁם שֶׁל מ"ב, וְדִבֵּר עִמִּי אָז מֵהַשֵּׁם שֶׁל מ"ב. וְשָׁאַל אוֹתִי לִמְצֹא פֵּרוּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן לַעַז עַל שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת ו' צ' שֶׁנִּמְצָא בַּשֵּׁם הַנַּ"ל וְלֹא יָכֹלְתִּי לִמְצֹא.
Many years ago, I also heard the Rebbe say that the Baal Shem Tov knew a story that contained the Forty-Two-Letter Name of God. He then spoke to me about that Name and asked me to find an explanation in Yiddish for the two letters, Vav and Tzadi, which appear in that Name. I tried, but was unable to find any Yiddish word that would be spelled out by these two letters.
וּכְפִי הַמּוּבָן הָיָה, שֶׁכְּבָר יוֹדֵעַ סוֹד כָּל הַשֵּׁם הַנַּ"ל רַק שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ ו' צ' הַנַּ"ל עֲדַיִן אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַכְנִיסָם בְּתוֹךְ הָעִנְיָן שֶׁהָיָה רוֹצֶה לְהַלְבִּישׁ בּוֹ שֵׁם הַנַּ"ל.
It was obvious that the Rebbe already knew the secret of this Name. However, he wanted to disguise this mystery in order to present it, and the two letters, Vav and Tzadi, could not be made part of this presentation.