BEHALOSACHA
LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK the language of birds
and
animals!
The Torah portion reads, "and I will cause some
of the spirit which is upon you to emanate, and I will
place it on them" Numbers 11:17
G-d describes how he will cause some of the
spirit of prophesy that Moses possesses to rest upon
an
assembly of seventy of Israel's elders. Then they will
be able to help lead the people.
THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS
AND ANIMALS
And then there was the time that Rabbi Aryeh
Leib of Polonoye, the Maggid (Preacher),
desperately wanted to learn the language of birds
and animals. He thought this knowledge would be
useful in soothing the souls of his followers to whom
he preached.
The language of the animals, birds and even the
plants and rocks is always known by at least one
person in every generation. At that time, this
knowledge was known by Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer,
the Holy Baal Shem Tov.
Reb Aryeh Leib decided, although possibly
presumptuous, to beg the Holy Baal Shem Tov to
teach him this language. He reasoned that it was
okay to ask because, "after all, I only plan to use the
power for the sake of Heaven. With the knowledge
of the physical world, I will really be able to help my
followers overcome their worldly concerns."
Having made up his mind, Reb Aryeh Leib
traveled to Medzibush. The trip took almost no time
because his mind was engrossed with thoughts of
listening to the speech of birds and animals.
It was already night when he arrived in
Medzibush. The study house of the Baal Shem Tov
was lit up and filled with his followers. Reb Aryeh
Leib entered the study house and saw the Baal Shem
Tov sitting at a table speaking with his close
followers. While he was sure that the Baal Shem Tov
had noticed him, the Rebbe's eyes didn't meet his to
acknowledge his arrival. Later, after most of the
followers had already left the study house, Reb Aryeh
Leib still waited and hoped to be recognized by the
Baal Shem Tov. Finally, when the Baal Shem Tov
walked out of the study hall, he glanced over to Reb
Aryeh Leib and greeted him without any emotion,
"Shalom Aleichem (Peace be unto you)".
Reb Aryeh Leib was very upset. "Why didn't he
greet me as he always had before?" he
thought. "Maybe I should just leave. But then
again,
there is nothing more important to me than learning
the language of the birds and animals. No! I won't
leave. I'll just wait for a good time to approach him."
For the next few days, the Baal Shem Tov didn't
say anything special to Reb Aryeh Leib. Then, after
Shabbos, the Baal Shem Tov instructed Alexei, his
wagon driver, to prepare his wagon for a journey. He
then invited Reb Aryeh Leib and several other of his
close
followers to join him. They all readily agreed. Reb
Aryeh Leib was filled with excitement thinking that
his
wish might finally be fulfilled.
The next day, after many long hours of travel,
the wagon with the Baal Shem Tov and his followers
stopped at an inn. The Baal Shem Tov went right up
stairs to a room that was especially prepared for him
by
the
innkeeper. The rest of the travelers stayed together
in the main
room of the inn. Being tired after the long trip, they
all immediately fell asleep.
Only Reb Aryeh Leib couldn't fall asleep. He kept
wondering if the Baal Shem Tov would teach him the
knowledge he desperately wanted to learn. Later in
the night, he heard
the Baal Shem Tov pacing back and forth in his
room. So he gathered his courage and went upstairs
to speak with him. When he reached the top of the
stairs, he saw a bright light shining from the Baal
Shem Tov's room. He started to go into the room
but
then realized that the bright light was shining from
the face of the Baal Shem Tov. He stood glued to
the floor, unable to look away from the Rebbe's face
that was ablaze like a fire.
When the Baal Shem Tov walked over to him, Reb
Aryeh Leib nearly fell to the floor with fear. He
begged forgiveness for disturbing the Baal Shem Tov.
The Baal Shem Tov gently put his hand on his
shoulder and said "Reb Aryeh Leib, stand up. Don't
be afraid. What is it that you want?"
But Reb Aryeh Leib was too embarrassed to say
anything. So he turned around and went back
downstairs.
The next day, as they continued their journey in
the wagon, the Baal Shem Tov asked Reb Aryeh Leib
to sit next to him.
After some time passed, the Baal Shem Tov
said, "I know that the reason for your coming to see
me is to learn the language of the birds and animals.
I've decided to teach it to you. There is, however,
one condition that is of utmost importance. You
must listen with your full attention to what I'm about
to say."
"Oh yes Rebbe, I promise to give my undivided
attention to all that you say," Reb Aryeh Leib
answered.
The Baal Shem Tov continued, "To begin, it is
known that the Heavenly Chariot is supported by a
face of an eagle at one corner, the face of an ox at
another corner, the face of a lion at another corner,
and the face of a man at the last corner. It is also
known that from the eagle face flows the life power
to the birds, from the ox face flows the life power to
the domestic animals, from the lion face flows the life
power to the wild animals and from the man's face
flows the life power down to the lower man. Also the
language of the birds, the animals and people comes
from the Heavenly Chariot. A wise person that can
see things at their source in the Heavenly Chariot
can understand the speech of the birds and
animals."
As the Baal Shem Tov continued explaining the
deepest teachings from several Holy Books (the
Zohar and the Tikkunim),
the wagon entered a forest.
Reb Aryeh Leib listened with all his attention to
the Baal Shem Tov. Suddenly a branch brushed
against his cheek and he began to hear the animals
and birds speaking to each other.
Meanwhile the Baal Shem Tov continued talking.
Reb Aryeh was so enthralled with hearing the speech
of the animals and birds that he divided his
attention. With one ear he listened to the Baal Shem
Tov and with the other ear he listened to the birds
and animals.
Later, when the wagon came out of the forest,
the Baal Shem Tov said, "So you understand all that
I
said."
"Oh yes!" answered Reb Aryeh Leib.
Then the Baal Shem Tov passed his hand
over the face of Reb Aryeh Leib and while Reb Aryeh
Leib still heard the sounds of the animals and birds
he could no longer understand their speech.
The Baal Shem Tov said, "Because you
couldn't hold your full attention on what I was
saying, you're not ready to be entrusted with the
knowledge of the language of birds and animals.
And so it was.
Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir Cohn (Howard M.
Cohn, Patent Attorney) from a story in Shivchei
Habesht as translated in Praise of the Baal Shem
Tov by Ben-Amos and Mintz.
