When the Rebbe left Medzeboz and went to live with his father-in-law,²⁷ #2, #5; "His Wisdom" #117. there were still many occasions when he wanted to speak to the Baal Shem Tov. Since he could not actually visit his grave, he would go to the grave of the renowned Rabbi Yeshaya of Yanov²⁸. The traditional date ascribed to Rabbi Yeshaya’s passing is 22 Iyar 5534 (May 21, 1794), but this must be emended to an earlier date on the basis of what is written here. Rebbe Nachman left Ossatin around 1790. in the nearby city of Smela. He would ask the famed tzaddik to transmit his message to the Baal Shem Tov, telling him what he needed.²⁹, #14, p.25.

footnotes: ²⁷ In Ossatin, where he lived between the ages of 13 and 18. See Tzaddik ²⁸ Rabbi Yeshaya was a leading disciple of the Baal Shem Tov and the one to whom the latter entrusted his ethical will, Tzava'at HaBaal Shem Tov ²⁹ This practice was also carried out with great secrecy; see Avenehah Barzel