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Wolf Messing – the true story of Russia’s greatest psychic – Tatiana Lungin

At six years of age I went to a Jewish school to study. The main subject in the curriculum was the Talmud, which had to be learned by heart.  I had a good memory and managed this quite easily. My teachers even held me as an example to the lazier pupils. That is why they presented me to Sholom Aleichem. 

As a child I did not doubt the existence of God. Any other view seemed blasphemous, criminally audacious. The rabbi, noticing my early piety, decided to send me to the yeshiva to prepare for religious services and devotion. My parents were extremely pleased; they considered this a great honour. And the word of the rabbi was considered absolute. But I have to admit that I wasn’t very pleased by such a turn of events. Why? I don’t know ... perhaps I was tired of cramming, or maybe it was something else ... but I began to resolutely protest the destiny being prepared for me.

They entreated me persistently, and when that didn’t work, they beat me. But I persisted too, and finally they left me alone."……

"Once toward evening, my father sent me to the store for matches. Twilight was falling, and it was dark by the time I returned home. And here is where the first 'miracle' in my life occurred, the one that sealed my destiny. It was filled with meaning.

"On the steps of the porch, in the patches of fading sunset, a gigantic white robed figure appeared before me. Even now I can hear his words, spoken in a deep bass.

"My son! I am sent to you from above to determine your future. Become a yeshiva student! Your Prayers will please heaven!"

Wolf grew silent, vividly recalling his childhood vision. After pausing several moments, he started again, but his voice was much quieter.

"It's difficult for me to convey the state I was in after my encounter with the mysterious giant. You must remember that then I was mystically impressionable. I must have lost consciousness, because, when I came to, I saw the faces of my parents over me, praying in ecstasy. After I had calmed down, I remembered what happened and told my parents. My mother shook her head sorrowfully, muttering something incoherent.

My father, displaying admirable restraint and concentrating for a moment on some inner reflection, suddenly pronounced: 'So He wishes!'

"I was so strongly shaken up, and my father's words were so weighty and decisive, that I ceased to resist."

Wolf stopped again and asked for a glass of strong tea. He remained silent while the teakettle heated up, and he even seemed depressed. He stared into space, distracted. But several gulps of tea revived him. The creases at the bridge of his nose and on his brow smoothed, and his gaze warmed.

I figured now was the time to stir his memory, to wake in his heart everything that had been repressed for so many years. But Wolf remained silent. Not wanting to rush things, I simply waited patiently…..

"The religious school was in another settlement," he explained. "For the first time I left my father's house to begin an independent life. Prayers, the Talmud, everything took place within the boundaries of the prayer house where I lived.

"Soon I was in for another shock. One of the religious pilgrims who often took shelter in our school was the 'messenger from heaven,' he who announced  my calling in the name of God! I recognized him immediately by his enormous height and his unusual voice.

I thought ,'So all this had been set up by my father!'

"That event shook my faith that earlier had been so deep. How could God have permitted this heathen to speak in His name!  Disillusioned I set out for parts unknown.