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TALES OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV
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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.
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Sefer Baal Shem Tov
The Baal Shem Tov's Teachings on the Torah
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"Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an
unrighteous witness." (Mishpatim 23:1)
You must never say anything bad about any Jew,
G-d forbid, because then you will have to
serve as
an "unrighteous witness." When the evil inclination
accuses someone, he will call you to bear witness to
his words.1
If you must speak disparagingly about some bad trait
or person, you should state clearly that you are not
referring to any specific individual, but only to the bad
character trait itself.
Rishpei Aish, Mishpotim 44
One Rosh Hashana, when the disciples of the Baal
Shem Tov were praying together, one of them dropped
a snuff-box, and bent down in the middle of his
prayers to retrieve it. Another of the disciples saw this,
and severely berated him for interrupting his prayers
just to take a whiff of tobacco. The Baal Shem Tov,
with his spiritual insight, realized that the rebuke of his
holy disciple had brought a heavenly judgment upon
his friend, to die within the coming year. The Baal
Shem Tov made a "soul ascension," and argued
fiercely before the Heavenly Court, to no avail. He
continued trying, and on the night of Hoshana
Rabbah,2 his soul ascended one last
time, and he
argued and cried out in prayer. Finally, it was agreed
that if the accuser himself would judge his friend
favorably, the latter would be delivered from the verdict.
The Baal Shem Tov entered the study hall and found
the disciple who had chastised his friend reciting the
book of Devarim.3 The Baal Shem Tov
took away his
ability to concentrate,4 making it
impossible for him to
recite the verses with the appropriate attachment to
G-d. The student began to pace the study hall,
contemplating on the greatness of G-d, His
Oneness,
and other matters (in order to regain his
concentration). Suddenly, a thought entered his
mind. "Why is it that the tobacco plant has only recently
been discovered, making it possible now for people to
snuff or smoke it?5 Perhaps there are
souls in our
generations too sublime to be clothed in the physical
world, and that the only way to rectify them is through
something equally refined, like the sense of smell."
This led him to feelings of regret over the anger he
had showed his friend; for who knows which souls he
raised up by snuffing tobacco with the mystical
intentions?
On the day of Hoshana Rabbah, it was the Baal Shem
Tov's custom to answer all questions about what had
been decreed above and below, and about what
would happen throughout the world (in the coming
year), for with his divinely inspired knowledge, he
could see from one end of the earth to the other. On
that day, he was in especially good spirits. Each of his
students prepared a different question, some in areas
of Torah discourse, and some with questions on the
Talmud, or other matters. The Baal Shem Tov would
answer them all.
That disciple, who had berated his friend, chose to
ask his question about the discovery of tobacco. When
he presented his question, the Baal Shem Tov said to
him, "Tell me what you think!" He gave his reason, and
the Baal Shem Tov said, "But say more! Tell me all the
thoughts that you had last night." The student
remembered what he had thought, and told the Baal
Shem Tov how he had judged his friend favorably. At
that moment, the heavenly decree was annulled. The
Baal Shem Tov was then able to tell him the whole
story, about what he had brought upon his friend. And
he warned him always to judge G d-fearing people
favorably, so as not to bring supernal judgments upon
them, that it should always be good for them.
Otzar HaChaim, Kedoshim, p. 171c
1R. Moshe of Peshavorsk explained that
when the evil
inclination rises above to indict a Jew, his words are
not heeded, since he is only one voice, and the Torah
says: "According to two witnesses, shall the matter be
established." (Devarim 19:15) Thus, he waits until
another individual also speaks badly about the
person. Then, he joins with him, to bear witness and
accuse (Hakdamos Likutey Torah v'Shas).
2According to Kabbalah, the verdict
issued on Rosh
Hashana, and considered during the entire holiday
period, is finally handed over to the Heavenly Court on
the night of Hoshana Rabbah (the last night of
Succot). From then on, it can no longer be
rescinded.
3There is a custom to recite the entire
book of
Deuteronomy on the night of Succot, as the following
days are Shemini Atzerus and Simchos Torah, when
the yearly cycle of Torah reading is complete.
4Literally, "he took away his 'mind'
(mochin)," which
refers, as well, to higher states of consciousness.
5Tobacco was introduced into Eastern
Europe in
about 1600, one hundred years before the birth of the
Baal Shem Tov.
Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Dr.
Eliezer Shore
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THE HEART OF PRAYER
The Baal Shem Tov's Teachings on Prayer
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2.13 We only speak about physical desires because
of our sins.
Why is the Divine Presence in exile? Because "with
the word of G-d, the heavens were made"
(Psalms
33:6). For you must speak for G-d's sake
alone -- to
arouse the Supernal speech which created the world
and cause it to radiate throughout all the worlds.
However, because of our sins, we speak only about is
physical desires. Even our words of prayer and Torah
are filled with foreign thoughts and self-interests.
Thus speech is in exile.
Kisvei Kodesh, p. 22b
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 46.
The Baal Shem Tov taught:
Joyous prayer is certainly more pleasing to
G-d than
depressed and tearful prayers.
Joyous prayer is certainly more pleasing to
G-d,
blessed be He, than depressed and tearful prayers.
For example, a poor man who entreats the king with
great sobs and cries will still only receive a little.
However, when a minister joyfully praises the king
before him and then makes his request, the king will
bestow upon him bountifully, as befits the minister's
stature.
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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210: THE MIDDLE PATH
The Baal Shem Tov taught:
Jacob, with his inner vision, realized the absolute
necessity of the world being guided by the medium
path that harmonizes between kindness and
judgment. Otherwise, if the tendency was to either
extreme, the world could not survive.
Therefore, he lived according to the path of Tifereth,
which is path of mercy, which harmonizes between
kindness and judgment. And because he reached this
perception more than his predecessors, therefore, he
is considered the epitome of the forefathers, for this is
the standard way in which the world is guided, as the
sages said, G-d saw that the world could not
exist with justice alone, so He combined kindness
with it.1
1Genesis Rabbah 8:4. The Baal Shem
Tov's intention in this teaching is to say that this
middle path should be a goal in our personal lives
and interpersonal interactions. This too goes into
following the path of G-d.
Translation and Commentary by Rabbi
Yehoshua
Starrett
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