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This is the story of the great Bolshevmi Michalstadt, a boy named Abzeka Labe Vormser, a child of extraordinary genius who lived in Germany in the 1800s. From a very young age, he displayed an intelligence far beyond his years. His reputation reached the ears of the Count of the province, a man intrigued by the boy’s extraordinary mind. The Count decided he wanted to meet him, to nurture him, and perhaps guide him toward a life of scholarship and greatness.
The Count sent a messenger: he wished to see this little boy personally. And when the boy arrived at the Count’s vast estate — a mansion with hundreds of rooms, several stories high — he was met with a challenge. The Count had instructed his servants: Do not reveal my location. Do not guide the boy. I want to see if he can find me on his own.
Many would have been lost, confused, or hesitant. But not Abzeka Labe. With a quiet confidence, he stepped into the immense palace. He walked up a few flights of stairs, made careful turns, and eventually approached a door. Knocking, he revealed himself to the Count.
The Count, surprised, asked, “How did you know where I was hiding?”
Abzeka Labe simply smiled and said, “I looked at all the windows. Most of the curtains were open, letting in light. Only one room’s curtain was closed. That must be where you were hiding. Sometimes, those who try to hide reveal themselves in the smallest ways.”
There is a profound lesson in this story. Just as the young boy could see through the hidden clues to find the Count, so too in life, we are called to look beyond the obvious — beyond what is immediately visible. Even when the world around us seems chaotic, even when tragedies and destruction obscure the truth — the Churban, the burning of the Beit Hamikdash, the scattering of the Jewish people — the signs of Hashem’s guidance are still there, often subtle, often hidden behind the “curtains” of life.
We must train ourselves to see with insight, to notice what others overlook, and to have the faith and courage to follow those hidden signs. Life may seem confusing, overwhelming, and even lost, but Hashem’s presence is always there, quietly guiding those who know how to look.
Sometimes, the greatest clarity comes from looking not at what is revealed, but at what is intentionally concealed. Like Abzeka Labe, we are called to perceive the hidden truths, to read between the lines, and to follow the divine guidance that is always present, even behind the curtain.