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TALES OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV
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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.
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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: this is the
work of the Menorah, beaten work of gold; until its
base, and until its flowers, it was beaten work;
according to the pattern which G-d had shown
Moses, so he made the Menorah. Numbers 8:1,4
The Holy One showed him [the Menorah] with His
finger, because Moses had difficulty understanding
[its construction]. Thus, it is written "This is the work of
the Menorah" 1
Why did Moses have a harder time understanding the
construction of the Menorah than of the other vessels
of the Tabernacle? Furthermore, G-d knows
what is in a person's heart. Since he knew that Moses
would not be able to understand through words, but
only by seeing, why did He tell him in the first place?
Why didn't He just show him the completed Menorah
at the outset? Rather, the matter is as follows.
The construction of the Tabernacle paralleled the
creation of the world, as the Sages said: "Betzalel
knew how to combine the letters through which
heaven and earth were made."2 This
implies that they
needed to know the letter combinations of the
creation in order to construct the Tabernacle.
Now, there are Ten Utterances in the work of
creation,3 for the word Bereishis - "In the
beginning" - is also an Utterance, as our Sages
have said.4 But why does it not say: "And
He said" as
in the other instances?5 The answer is
that it was a
Supernal Utterance that was not revealed. For to
G-d, each Utterance is an outflow from Him
that is revealed to the creation - similar to a person
whose words reveal his innermost thoughts to others.
However, the work of the Menorah corresponded to
the first Utterance of creation, in which [the
words] "And He said" were unstated, for it is not
revealed to creation. Therefore, Moses had difficulty
understanding a verbal description of the Menorah's
construction. Because, the Creator wanted Moses to
realize the correspondence between the Menorah and
the first Utterance, in which the words "And He said"
were not explicitly stated, being unrevealed to
creation. Therefore, G-d explained it to him in
words, which he did not understand. Then Moses
realized that it corresponded to the first the Utterance
of creation.
Bnei Yissaschar, in the name of the disciples of the
Baal Shem Tov, Chodesh Kislev- Teves 4:49
1Throughout his commentary on the
Torah, Rashi
consistently explains the word "this" - zeh - as
referring to something visible, that one could point to.
See Rashi on Exodus 12:2, Exodus 15:2, I Samuel
14:1.
2Berachos 55a. Betzalel was the
architect and
executor of the Tabernacle Exodus 31.
According to classic mystical texts, such as the Sefer
Yetzirah, the Hebrew letters are the underlying
components of creation. Through the infinite
combination of these letters, the universe came into
existence. See Sha'ar HaYichud ve'haEmunah, chap.
1, by R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi (printed in Sefer
HaTanya).
3According to tradition, G-d
said, "Let there
be", ten times in the story of creation. However, only
nine such statements can be found in the verses.
4Megilah 21b.
5I.e. "And G-d said, Let there be
a beginning!"
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HEART OF PRAYER
The Baal Shem Tov's Teachings on Prayer
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7-c4 A person is where his thoughts are.
Even when you are in a state of limitation, you can still
maintain a great attachment to the Shechinah for
when you think about the Supernal worlds, you will be
there. A person is where his thoughts are, and if they
were not in the Supernal worlds, they would not be
able to think of them.
Tzava'as HaRivash 69
From
HEART OF PRAYER by Tzvi Meir
Cohn
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DIVINE LIGHT
The Mystical Light of the Baal Shem Tov
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55. The Baal Shem Tov taught us how to bind
ourselves to G-d with every action - even in
mundane conversation. As it says: "'And their leaves
shall not wither'1 - this refers to the
common talk of Torah scholars."2 Thus,
he brought the king before our eyes - the King of
Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
Divrei
Tzaddikim
1Psalms 1:3
2Sukkah 21b
From DIVINE LIGHT by Tzvi Meir
Cohn
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KESER SHEM TOV
Anthology of the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov
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Kst 94
The Baal Shem Tov taught:
One should bind one's thoughts to the Light of the
Eyn Sof (the Infinite One) that is within the letters,
which is the life-giving "Light that is in the King's
presence."1 This is a major rule for
Torah study and prayer, and is also remedy to annul
harsh judgments.2
1 Proverbs 16:15.
2When one studies G-d's Word
in the
Torah, or communicates with Him in prayer, one
should aim to see through the individual ideas,
words, and even letters one is expressing, and
behold the Oneness of the Infinite G-d that is
hidden
behind them. Everything ultimately arises from this
Oneness, and when one reaches this, one has
arrived at the very goal of Torah study and prayer. And
since everything G-d does is for the best,
when one
reaches this level one realizes that there is no such
thing as harsh judgments (cf. #33,85).
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