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TALES OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV
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Cont'd. from Shabbos Bechukosai Behar
In the last edition, the Satan came to the earth near
the place where the boy Srulick was living.
The Satan approached all manner of nature, from
plants and trees to insects and animals, to help him
in his task. But none were ready to frighten or attack
Srulick, after all, "he loves each and everyone of
us."
But there was an old man, a charcoal
burner that lived alone in the forest outside of the
village. Everyone was afraid of the charcoal burner
because rumors had spread that he was a sorcerer.
In fact, people said, at night, evil spirits would creep
into him and change him into an animal-like, shaped
creature (a werewolf). And when the townspeople
heard howling coming from the forest, and they
thought it was him.
They were right.
The Satan didn't have to do any coaxing to get the
charcoal burner to do his bidding. By this time, the
charcoal burner was used to being controlled by
the evil spirits. So the Satan (the innermost source of
darkness) was free to inhabit the werewolf's heart.
The very next day, when Srulick was walking
the
children to Cheder, the werewolf ran out of the forest
and towards them. It was a foul smelling beast and
its fangs were bared. The children screamed in fear
and ran in every direction. Just then, the werewolf
disappeared back into the forest. Srulick tried to
gather the children but they were so frightened that
they had all run home.
When the parents heard the report of the werewolf and
saw their children so upset, they decided they would
not send them to Cheder again.
Afterwards,the Baal Shem Tov remembered the words
his father had spoken just before he departed from
this world. "My sweetest beloved son, remember
always
don't fear anything but G-d. And love every Jew
dearly."
So the very next day, Srulick went
to each house and told the
parents, "The wolf ran back into the forest because the
children frightened it. Please send your children to
Cheder with me. I assure you that nothing will happen
to them."
The parents were comforted by his words and agreed
to send their children to Cheder the next day. As
always, the children were singing, however with
apprehension, as they walked through the fields to
Cheder. Srulick instructed them, "No matter what
happens, walk directly behind me and don't run.
As soon as came near to the forest, they
could hear
snorting. Srulick quickly walked towards the forest as
the werewolf came running out towards him. The
werewolf appeared to grow larger and larger but
Srulick was not afraid. The werewolf started snorting
and pawing the ground. Srulick, without hesitation,
walked right up to the beast and killed it with a club.
Then he cut open its chest and pulled out its heart.
The heart was pulsating and squirming around in his
hand. Srulick could feel the pain in this heart in
himself. So he took pity on the heart and placed it on
the earth. Without warning, the earth opened and
swallowed the heart.
When Srulick looked around, he found the children
huddled together in a little group. He led them to
Cheder.
Later that day, the villagers found the charcoal burner
dead in the forest near where Srulick had killed the
werewolf. His eyes were closed and he had a
peaceful, child-like look on his face.
From then on, the children of Horodenka didn't sing
as they followed Srulick to Cheder. They became like
their fathers and their fathers' fathers, walking with
their worries always with them.
So after, Yisrael, now about fourteen years old, left the
holy community of Horodenka, and wandered back to
Okup, the village where he was born. It was then that
he discovered a yearning in his heart that was only
satisfied by the study of the Holy Torah.
Young Yisrael (then known as Yisroelic) was a
shamash and lived in the same synagogue. But, he
was very careful not to show his passion for the Torah
to anyone. By day, he slept on the benches, and
everyone thought he was just an ignorant Jewish boy.
But after the last man closed the holy book he was
studying and left the synagogue, Yisroelic stood and
studied the Holy Torah all night by candlelight.
Soon after, an event occurred that changed
his life towards his future as a Baal Shem (One that
utilizes the powers of Kabbalah to heal the sick, ward
of Demonic spirits and predict the future).
To be continued next week. . . . .
Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir Cohn (Howard Cohn
Patent Attrorney) from Legends and Stories of
the Baal Shem Tov by Rabbi Menachem Gutman
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Sefer Baal Shem Tov
The Baal Shem Tov's Teachings on the Torah
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And G-d spoke to Moses, saying: Bring near
the tribe
of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest, so that
they may minister to him. (Numbers 3:5-6)
Thus it is written: "A Tzaddik shall flourish like the date
tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." (Psalms
92:13).1
There are two types of Tzaddikim. Both are complete
Tzaddikim, yet there is a difference between them.
One is constantly attached to G-d, and fulfills
the
service that is required of him. However, he is a
Tzaddik for himself alone and for no one else. He
does not share his righteousness with others, and is
like the cedar tree that does not bear
fruit.2 That is, he
does not help others become better, to increase the
number of Tzaddikim in the world.
The second type of Tzaddik is like the date tree that
bears fruit. That is, he removes the valuable from the
dross, and increases goodness in the world. Thus,
our Rabbis have said: "In the place where the Baal
Teshuvah (penitent) stands, even a complete Tzaddik
cannot stand there."3 Meaning to say,
this second
type of Tzaddik is himself called
a "penitent,"4 for
he "rules" over repentance. He causes people back to
become good, "and turned many away from iniquity"
(Malachi 2:6). He brings repentance to the world and
his reward is far greater than the first type of Tzaddik,
even though the first is a complete Tzaddik as well.
Tzava'as HaRivash, p.15b
1Bamidbar Rabbah 3:1.
2Bamidbar Rabbah 3:1.
3Berachos 34b.
4Baal teshuva, literally "a Master of
Return."
Translation and commentary by Rabbi Dr.
Eliezer
Shore.
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HEART OF PRAYER
The Baal Shem Tov's Teachings on Prayer
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Section 3.9
Before prayer, bring yourself to a
state of awe by meditating on the greatness of
G-d.
When you want to pray, first bring yourself to a state of
awe1, for this is the gate to enter before
the Blessed
One.2Say in your heart: "To Whom do I
want to attach
myself? To He Who Created all the worlds with His
words, and Who enlivens and sustains them!" You
should meditate on His greatness and exaltedness;
then you can enter the supernal worlds.
Tzava'as HaRivash, 66
1Reverance of G-d
2See Shabbat 31b
Translation
and
Commentary by Rabbi Dr.
Eliezer Shore
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DIVINE LIGHT
The Mystical Light of the Baal Shem Tov
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Section 9.
The Baal Shem Tov was
incapable of speaking with ordinary people because
of his devekus1 - until his Heavenly
mentor, Achiyah HaShaloni,2 taught him
to recite certain psalms which enabled him to speak
plainly without losing his concentration.Shivchei Baal
Shem Tov
1An intense attachment to Heaven
2In prior incarnations, Achiyah
HaShaloni witnessed the exodus from Egypt, was a
prophet during the time of King David, and taught
Elijah the Prophet.
Translation
and Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore
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KESER SHEM TOV
Anthology of the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov
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KST. 13
"The spirit of G-d hovered above the
surface of the water"1
"The spirit of G-d," refers to the human
soul,2 which
must hover over "the surface of the water," which
refers to the Torah.3 Then, "G-d
said, 'There shall be
light,'4 which means that G-d will
then enlighten the person with the Light of the Torah.
1Genesis 1:2
2The Midrash says that this phrase
refers to the spirit
of the Adam and to the spirit of Moshiach (Yalkut
Shimoni, Genesis #4). Actually, Adam, the first man,
encompassed all mankind, and his name is seen as
the acronym of A(dam), D(avid), M(oshiach). The Baal
Shem Tov is adding here that this teaching, which is
based on the verse that speaks about the purpose of
Creation - "Let there be light" - is relevant to each and
every one of us. Each of us can bring more light into
our own lives, and automatically into the world, and be
part of the "Moshiach," by connecting to G-d
through
His Torah.
3Baba Kama 17a
4Genesis 1:3
Translation and commentary by Rabbi
Yehoshua Starrett.
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