And then there was the time, approximately 350 years ago, that there lived Rabbi Eliezer and his wife Rebbetzyn Sarah in the small village of Okup by the Carpathian Mountains. The Rabbi and his wife were very old and childless and they devoted their lives to helping poor people.

In those days, life was very hard for Jewish people. There were many government decrees that prevented them from owning land, entering into certain professions, and even living in many places. After an uprising of the Cossacks, when hundreds of thousands of Jews were massacred, the Jewish people were left in a desperate state, never knowing when they would be attacked and even killed.

Rabbi Eliezer frequently said, "Do not despair because G-d is everywhere." Rabbi Eliezer prayed over and over to the Holy One Blessed Be He, "L-rd of the Universe, please send someone that can uplift the Jewish people."

Rabbi Eliezer's prayers finally pierced though the heavens and reached G-d. He ordered a very, very special soul from among the chamber of souls to be sent into the world to guide the Jewish People. This soul was so special that its light shone across the heavens. The parents were to be Rabbi Eliezer and Rebbetzyn Sarah, even though they were old and long past their childbearing ages.

The prayers and preparation of this special soul did not go unnoticed by the angel Satan. The Satan is the Angel appointed by G-d to erect obstacles before people so that they have an opportunity to overcome their challenges and build their character.

The Satan came running before G-d and complained. "Yes, it is true that Rebbetzyn Sarah, Rabbi Eliezer's wife is a Saint and worthy of a child with such a soul. But Rabbi Eliezer has never been properly tested, such as with the test of a life of poverty." G-d agreed.

The very next day, Rabbi Eliezer was accosted by robbers. They tied him up, covered his eyes and threw him into the back of a wagon. For days they traveled. Finally, they arrived at a seaport where he was sold to slave traders. They took Rabbi Eliezer by sailing ship to a faraway land where no Jews lived. There he was sold as a slave.

Rabbi Eliezer thought "My G-d, I could be a slave for the rest of my life." But soon after he started to feel bad, he began thinking, "Just as I've taught others, I'm not going to despair. G-d is everywhere." And so he served his master faithfully and soon was appointed as overseer over the master's house.

It was clear in Heaven that Rabbi Eliezer had passed the test. Preparation of the special soul for birth into the world continued.

The Satan appeared again before the throne of G-d. "Holy One, it is true that Rabbi Eliezer passed the test of being poor, but the test of great wealth is much harder. He must also pass this test to warrant such a soul." G-d again agreed.

The very next day Rabbi Eliezer was given as a slave to the Viceroy of the King. The Viceroy immediately took a liking to Rabbi Eliezer and gave him a private room to live. His only duty was to welcome the Viceroy when he returned home and to wash his feet as was the custom for great people in that country. Soon, the Viceroy realized that not only was Rabbi Eliezer a faithful servant but also an attentive listener. Everyday the Viceroy would come home from serving the King and unburden himself to Rabbi Eliezer.

Shortly thereafter, the King became involved in a great war and his army was being defeated. The King blamed the Viceroy because the army was following the plans the Viceroy had supported. Finally, in a fit of rage, the King told the Viceroy, "You had better come up with a new battle plan by tomorrow or else. Now get out of here."

When the Viceroy returned home, he was afraid for his life. Rabbi Eliezer saw that he was deeply troubled. "My master, why are you so troubled?" But the Viceroy was speechless because of his fear. Finally, after constant coaxing, he told Rabbi Eliezer what just happened with the King.

"Don't worry," said Rabbi Eliezer in a reassuring way, "I'll fast for the rest of the day and then pray to G-d for help." But the Viceroy remained deeply worried and couldn't stop wringing his hands.

That night Rabbi Eliezer asked a dream question (a written question placed next to the questioner's head where they sleep). "Dear G-d, what should the King's army do to defeat the enemy army." While he slept, an elaborate battle plan of how to defeat the enemy's army was revealed to him.

The next morning, as soon as the Viceroy was awake, Rabbi Eliezer went to him. "Master, master, last night I had a dream of how the King's army can defeat the enemies." Then he described the whole battle plan to his master. All the Viceroy could say was, "That's brilliant, just brilliant."

Immediately, the Viceroy rushed to the King. "Your Majesty, I have a plan for defeating our enemies." As soon as he told the King the whole battle plan, the King was extremely impressed, "My dear Viceroy, I commend you. It's a stroke of genius." So the King ordered his generals to immediately proceed with the battle plan and the enemy army was quickly defeated.

The King was thrilled but he couldn't believe that his Viceroy could come up with such a plan. "My dear Viceroy, I honestly can't believe that you could devise such an intricate, brilliant battle plan." After some prodding, the Viceroy told the King that the battle plan came from his slave Rabbi Eliezer.

The King immediately called for Rabbi Eliezer and elevated him to the position of his closest advisor. As time passed, the King offered Rabbi Eliezer whatever was in his kingdom. But Rabbi Eliezer did not indulge himself in any of the wonderful opportunities and pleasures that were presented to him because of his new status. Throughout the time he served as the King's close advisor, he never strayed from his thought, "I'm not going to despair, G-d is everywhere."

Soon Rabbi Eliezer was even offered married to the daughter of the king. Although he protested the marriage, he was forced to marry her. Rabbi Eliezer refused to live with the Princess as a wife because he was still married to Rebbetzyn Sarah and planned to return to her.

When his new wife repeatedly asked him what was wrong, he finally told her that he was already married and she agreed to help him return to his home.

Now that Rabbi Eliezer passed the test of great wealth, the final preparation for the birth of the soul began. For one last time, the Satan rushed to the throne of the Holy One Blessed Be He. "Holy One, it is true that Rabbi Eliezer passed the test of riches and power but the greatest test of loving a fellow Jew that openly rebels against the ways of the Torah has yet to be passed. Again, G-d consented and the Satan arranged the greatest test of all.

This time, Elijah the Prophet who was also present, begged G-d to allow him to administer the test. To this, G-d also agreed.

Soon, the King summoned Rabbi Eliezer. "My dearest counselor, I owe my kingdom to you and I would give you anything in my power. Yet I see you are unhappy because you want to return to your home. Your new wife also agrees to this. So please take this great treasure and return to your home as you desire."

Rabbi Eliezer immediately returned to his home and wife Sarah. When Rebbetzyn Sarah saw him, she could hardly believe her eyes. "My G-d what happened. Where have you been?"

"It's a long story!" answered Rabbi Eliezer.

In another story, Rabbi Eliezer and Rebbetzyn Sarah pass the greatest test loving a fellow Jew that openly rebels against the ways of the Torah and are blessed with a cherished son named Yisrael. Later, Yisrael attained renown as Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name).

And so it was. Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney) from a story in SHIVCHEI HA- BESHT as translated in IN PRAISE OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV by Ben Amos and Mintz.

And he said, I am seeking my brothers. . . . (Genesis 37:16)

The Zohar says:

Rabbi Yehuda commented on the verse: "O, were you like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother. When I would find you outside, I would kiss you." (Song of Songs 8:1). I would find You outside -- meaning, in the exile, in other lands."¹

In this piece of Zohar, one can find the words of the Baal Shem Tov, that in the Diaspora, special help is available to a person seeking Divine inspiration,² despite the fact that the Shechinah does not dwell in exile.³ Even if a person is not entirely worthy, heaven is still not so particular with him, as in the Land of Israel. For when a king is on the road, he must sleep in inns and hotels that are not as clean and beautiful as befitting his honor; yet, the king is not disgraced, because everyone knows that he is traveling. Understand this well.⁴
Igra d'Pirka 148

¹Zohar I:184a, on Genesis 37:16.
² Ruach HaKodesh.
³ Zohar II:5a, 82a.
⁴ The Baal Shem Tov means that because the Divine Presence is in exile in the world, and no longer focused in the land of Israel and the Holy Temple, it is actually easier to come to a perception of G-d than in the past. On this idea, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye writes (Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Ekev, 181b): "Especially in our time, when the Divine Presence is in exile and finds no place to rest, as soon as a person prepares all of his actions for the sake of heaven, he immediately becomes a "throne" for the Shechinah, which rests upon him. He is even considered higher than those of earlier generations, when there were many Tzaddikim in the world; whereas today, "the pious man ceases" (Psalms 12:2) - that is, those who are pious before their Creator (Zohar III:281b). A person should strengthen himself like a warrior, and show kindness to the Shechinah, so that he becomes a throne for the attribute of Loving-Kindness (Chesed). Just as in Abraham's time, when there was no one to help the Shechinah but him, now too, besides a very few individuals, no one thinks about how to help and support the Shechinah in this bitter exile. Thus, a person who is willing to sacrifice will certainly become a throne for the Divine Presence with the trait of loving- kindness."

Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore

2.4 G-d sends words needed to fix, uplift and improve the individual and the world.

These words are sent when you make yourself into a chariot for Wisdom, and your thoughts constantly cling to G-d. As it is written: "to Him you shall cling" (Deuteronomy 10:20). The Holy One sends you words that are needed to fix, uplift and improve both you and the world.
Degel Machane Ephraim, Bereishis

Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore

Section 36.

The Baal Shem Tov taught: Be very careful what you say [in the morning, before praying]. Our Sages were strict even regarding the use of permissible words, such as greeting someone before prayer,¹ because such an action can also cause a blemish. It is known that the world was created with thought, speech, and action. The first level is thought. Speech is an offshoot of thought, and action an offshoot of speech. When a person rises each morning, he is also a new creation, as the verse says, "They are new every morning." (Lamentations 3:23) If his first words are mundane (and all the more so, if they are forbidden²), everything he says later will be influenced by these first words - even his prayers and Torah studies. This is because just as speech follows from thought, so the second word follows from the first.

This is similar to the teaching of the Zohar³ and the Arizal on the obligation of siblings to honor the firstborn.⁴ The firstborn takes the main portion, whereas all other siblings are as offshoots from him. Similarly, one must be very careful to sanctify and purify the first words and thoughts of the day, and attach them to holiness. Then, all subsequent words will follow their character. When one he starts to pray, amidst the joy of having fulfilled the mitzvah of sanctifying speech and thought, the words spoken will surely be answered.
Kesser Shem Tov, 20b

¹Berachos 14a.
²Forbidden words are profanity, gossip, or slander, among others.
³Zohar 3:83a.
⁴The Arizal writes that just as children are obligated to respect their parents, so must they respect their firstborn sibling. For the firstborn represents the initial creative act of the parents, from which all subsequent births draw their vitality. Thus, Jacob said about Reuben, "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength. .. . " (Genesis 49:3).

Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore

Section 199: DVEIKUT-MEDITATIONS

The Baal Shem Tov taught:

Disrobing or detaching oneself from the physical means that one does not feel any bodily sensations, nor have any images in the mind of worldly affairs, but envisions only the higher worlds, that is, the angels and seraphim.

Yet a higher level is when one enters the world of Atzilut, where one's sensations are extremely subtle, at which level one experiences everything as emanating from G-d. At this level, one can know the future, but sometimes even in lower worlds one can know the future, since the cherubim announce it.

Hence, the Baal Shem Tov said of himself that when he attaches his thoughts to G-d in dveikut, he just allows his mouth to speak spontaneously, since he has connected all things to their Source, in G-d, for everything has a Source Above, in the Sefirot.

Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett

The Baal Shem Tov Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, uses emails, teleclasses and other material to spread and publicize the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov throughout the world. Please visit us at www.baalshemtov.com to learn more about the Baal Shem Tov and the work of the Foundation.

The goal of the Foundation is to hasten the imminent coming of the Moshiach (Messiah) by acting on the answer of the Moshiach to the Baal Shem Tov's question: 'When are you coming Master?' (The Moshiach answered) "When your teachings have become well-known and revealed throughout the world, and when your well springs have spread outwards, imparting to others what I have taught you, so that they too will be able to perform contemplative unifications and ascents of the soul…" [quoted from a letter from the Baal Shem Tov to his brother-in-law Rabbi Gershon Kitover.]

One of the major projects of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation is the World Wide Mezuzah Campaign whose goal is to insure that every Jewish person in the world has a kosher Mezuzah attached to the doorpost of their home. Please visit www.mezuzah.net for more information.

Tzvi Meir is always available for questions and to support your work in this area.

Tzvi Meir Cohn (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney)
21625 Chagrin Blvd. #220
Beachwood, Ohio 44122
800-613-0955
bst_times@baalshemtov.com
www.baalshemtov.com