One time, Rebbe Yeshaya of Peshdeburez asked Rebbe Yitzchak of Vorki: "Why are you so enthralled by Rebbe Bunim (from Pashisscha)? Does your rabbi really have such great power?"
Rebbe Yitzchak replied: "The strength of our Rebbe Bunim can be compared to the strength of the Prophet Eliyahu. Just picture Eliyahu, when he found Elisha leading a pair of oxen, plowing a field [see Melachim Aleph Ch. 19]. Like any farmer from a village, urging the oxen on with his cry, 'Nu, hey! Ksaava! Get a move on!' But the moment that Eliyahu threw his cloak to Elisha, Elisha changed from one extreme to the other. He immediately slaughtered the oxen, burned the plow, used the fire to cook the meat from the oxen, and distributed it to the people who were there. And when Eliyahu asked him, 'What did I do to you?' Elisha replied, 'Host mir a sach getton! – You did me a lot of good!' You remember that Elisha immediately left his father and mother and ran after Eliyahu. He became so attached to Eliyahu that he could not be separated from him in any way. In the end, Elisha received twice as much as his rabbi."
And Rebbe Yitzchak of Vorki continued, "The same is true of Rebbe Bunim. When he takes somebody else's hand in his own, even if it is a simple man, he immediately becomes very enthusiastic – ess hot on-gehoben tzu brennen Yidishkeit (the rabbi lifts him up to fiery Judaism). Every such person immediately wants to kiss the Blessed G-d. Such a person runs to study right away, and he feels that he is part of the Torah and all of its letters, with great love. He kisses all the letters, and with tears in his eyes he dedicates himself to the Altar of sanctifying G-d's name, and his entire being is ready, with wonderful passion, dedicating all of his strength and his entire life..."
["Simchat Yisrael" 5670 (1910), page 40 - translated in Shabat Bi-shabbato Va-eschanan].
