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Volume 6 Number 58
| Ki Tavo |
15 September 2011 - 16 Elul 5771 |
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BAAL SHEM TOV
EXODUS
Mystical Stories on the Weekly Torah Portion
Volume 2
Two Baal Shem Tov stories for each week's Torah portion by Tzvi Meir Cohn, Founder and Executive Director of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation.
Order your copy.
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This week's edition of the Baal Shem Tov Times relates to Ki Tavo. There is the continuing selection for the Origins of the Baal Shem Tov, a Baal Shem Tov story and other teachings relating to Ki Tavo and other topics.
PLEASE help spread the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov by forwarding this edition of the Baal Shem Tov Times to a friend or relative, and making a copy for your home and synagogue.
Blessings that you should have a restful and joyful Shabbos.
Tzvi Meir Cohn (Howard M. Cohn, Patent & Trademark Attorney)
Founder and Executive Director
Baal Shem Tov Foundation |
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ORIGINS OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV No. 53 |
In the last installment, the people of Slotzk realized when the great rabbi left, he was indeed Reb Adam Baal Shem and that the others thatleft with him were a group of Mekublim and Nistorim.
This incident caused a revolution in Slotzk. Never before had the zealots of the city been confronted with a nistor like Reb Adam, face to face. This meeting with Reb Adam left an indelible impression upon them. Many began to soften their attitude towards the mekubolim and the nistorim, because they had seen with their very eyes, and had heard with their own ears, a true tzadik, overflowing with exceptional genius and outstanding righteousness. They had even heard from Reb Adam's own lips that he too had opposed the mekubolim in his youth, but had later been convinced that his opposition was unjustified and had become a nistor himself. This all gave the extremists of Slotzk something to think about. Their consciences began bothering them about their blind opposition. They felt they should at least have delved deeper into the matter rather than grope in the dark as they had done. So thought many of them, but there were many others who became even more embittered against the mekubolim. They felt that they had been outwitted and they were outraged.
The hatred in Slotzk was still quite strong, but not as it had formerly been. Reb Adam, by his visit to the city, had broken the back of the opposition.
The people who lived around Slotzk were more impressed than the city people. Many former talmidim from Reb Boruch Wiesner's yeshiva now lived on the outskirts of the city. True, they had not been taught the ways of the mekubolim, for Reb Boruch did not wish to reveal that he was a mekubol. But they were receptive to the ways of the nistorim and eventually became talmidim of Reb Adam Baal Shem. Reb Boruch thereby paved the way for the mekubolim and nistorim who later spread the way of Chassidus as taught by Reb Yisroel Baal Shem Tov.
When Reb Boruch Weisner was well on in years he decided to give up his business and to devote all his time to study and prayer. He summoned his two sons from Lemberg and took stock of all his wealth.
Reb Boruch's wife, the daughter of the Nistor of Smila, also served as his chief advisor. He was well aware that it was she who had brought all the pros-perity into their lives, and he never did a thing without her consent. He included her in the partitioning of his wealth. When he had finished reckoning the cash value of his assets he divided everything into five parts, giving one of these parts to charity. The remaining assets he again divided into five portions, two for his sons, two for himself and his wife, and again, another fifth for charity. Half of the money he had set aside for charity he now gave over to the head of the mekubolim, Reb Adam Baal Shem, while the second half he distributed to various institutions and worthy causes.
He gave over his business and property to his two sons, the yearly income thereof being divided into four parts after the Maaser - tenth for charity - had been deducted.
To be continued. . . . . .
Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir Cohn from Eretz Chaim as translated in Stories of the Baal Shem Tov by Y.Y. klapholtz |
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CHAI (18TH) ELUL
Chai Elul is a special day among Chassidim. On this day was the birth of the Baal Shem Tov in 5458 (1698); the day his Heavenly teacher and master Achiya HaShiloni appeared to him in 5484 (1724); the day the Baal Shem Tov became revealed to the world in 5494 (1734); and the birth of the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman) 5505 (1745).
HAYOM YOM compiled by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson o.b.m.
THE BAAL SHEM TOV AND THE BIRTH OF SCHNEUR ZALMAN
And then there was the time, an a small shtetl in Poland, during the times of bloody pogroms and fierce anti-Semitism, there lived what appeared to be a simple Jew by the name of Reb Boruch, and his wife, Rivka. Actually, Reb Boruch was a Tzaddik nistar (a hidden Saint) and one of the members of a group of Tzaddik nistars that included the Baal Shem Tov.
Reb Boruch and his wife Rivkah had been married for some years but had not been blessed with a child. At the prompting of his wife, Reb Boruch traveled many miles in the freezing, snowy winter to reach the holy community of Medzibush and ask his Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov, for a blessing.
Without pause, the Baal Shem Tov blessed Reb Boruch and his wife that they merit to be blessed with a child, and added the words that the child "should reveal heavenly light hidden in this world."
Soon thereafter Rivka became pregnant and on "Chai Ellul" - the eighteenth day of the month of Ellul, twelve days before Rosh Hashanah - the same birthday as that of the Holy Baal Shem Tov, Rivka gave birth to a baby boy whom they named Schneur Zalman.
On that day, the Baal Shem Tov's close followers noted the particularly jubilant mood of their Rebbe. He led the daily prayers with deep kavanah (intention), and afterwards a festive meal was held at which the Baal Shem Tov sang lively niggunim (chassidic melodies) and even danced with unusual joy.
During the festive meal, the Baal Shem Tov said: "Today a Neshamah Chadasha (a new soul that had not previously occupied a physical body) has come into the world. This soul will illuminate the world by spreading Torah and Chassidus (mystical explanations of the Torah) to sustain the spiritual well being of the Jewish people and will bring closer coming of the Moshiach (Messiah)."
After Yom Kippur, as is the tradition of Chassidim, Reb Boruch visited his Rebbe and requested a blessing for his newly born son. The Baal Shem Tov asked Reb Boruch to keep the news of the birth of their new son secret, and also gave specific instructions for the care and education of their child. In the following weeks, the Chassidim noted that the Baal Shem Tov mentioned the name Schneur Zalman three times during his Torah discourses.
The following year, Reb Boruch again returned to visit his Rebbe for the Yom Tov holidays. The Baal Shem Tov was very interested in the development of young Schneur Zalman, and asked Reb Boruch specific questions about the child. Again the Baal Shem Tov warned Reb Boruch not to talk to others about their son, particularly regarding his apparent intelligence - as is the nature of parents.
The following year, Reb Boruch again came to the Rebbe for Yom Tov and the Baal Shem Tov again asked many questions about the welfare of the child. Before departing for home, Reb Boruch told the Rebbe that G-d willing, on his next visit, when the child would turn three years old, he would bring his Schneur Zalman with him.
On the following Chai Elul, Reb Boruch brought young Schneur Zalman along with mother Rebbetzyn Rivka and his aunt Rebbetzyn Devorah Leah to the Baal Shem Tov to celebrate little Schneur Zalman's Upscherinish (the first cutting of a boys hair at three years old).
The Baal Shem Tov appeared very pleased at the joyous event. He cut some of the boy's locks, and then placing his holy hand son the boy's head, and blessed little Schneur Zalman with the words of the Birchas Kohanim (Priestly blessing).
During their visit, young Schneur Zalman asked his mother who was the "old" man that had been the first to cut his hair. His mother told him he was his Zaide (Jewish for grandfather and the term used until this day by Chassidim when speaking of the Baal Shem Tov). Following the joyous event, the Baal Shem Tov asked the child's mother and aunt to return home and not to reveal the events of the day.
Later on that day of Chai Elul, there was a special gathering of the chassidim in celebration of the Baal Shem Tov's birthday. The Baal Shem Tov mentioned that the Torah tells us that at three years of age, Avraham Avenu (The Patriarch Abraham, our father) recognized that there was one G-d. The Baal Shem Tov continued, "There is a great Neshamah (soul) in Poland that today reached the age of three years old and has recognized the Creator. He too will undergo Mesirus Nefesh (great self sacrifice) to reveal a new teaching of the holy Torah that will touch the souls of all Jews.
At that time there, was a great Torah scholar named Rabbi Yissochar Dov of Kalbink. The Baal Shem Tov arranged for him to be young Schneur Zalman's teacher, but asked Reb Yissochar Dov not to tell Schneur Zalman that the Baal Shem Tov had sent him.
Under the watchful eye of the Baal Shem Tov, the young Schneur Zalman flourished in his studies. He later became one of the 'Chevraya Kadisha' - The Holy Brotherhood of disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, who would spread the teachings of Chassidus through Eastern Europe, and who would later become known as 'The Alter Rebbe-the first Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch.
And so it was.
Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney) from a story found in Sefer HaToldos. |
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SEFER BAAL SHEM TOV
The Teachings Of The Baal Shem Tov On Prayer |
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"The L●rd whom you have glorified today to be your G●d . . . .and the L●rd has glorified you today to be His special nation." Devorim 26:17-18
It is written: "Israel, in whom I will be glorified." Isaiah 49:3, and "the glory of Israel." Lamentations 2:1.
That is, G●d cannot laud Himself, for who can comprehend His essence? Therefore, He exalts Himself in His children, like a father prides himself in his son. With this love, G●d emanated the Children of Israel, in order to be exalted through them. It comes out that [spiritual] delight is revealed in this exaltation. Kisvei Kodesh, p. 24c
Because you did not serve the L●rd your G●d in joy and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things. (Ibid. 28:47)
When the leaders of the generation are happy, they arouse joy in the entire world.
Dibras Shlomo, Shemini |
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DIVINE LIGHT
The Mystical Light Of The Baal Shem Tov |
51. Regarding praying for G-d's sake, the Baal Shem Tov taught:
Prayers for physical needs, such as: "Heal us and we shall be healed," "Bless us with a good year," etc., (Shemonah Esrei) are like turning to a father who longs to fulfill his son's desires, and to make sure that he lacks nothing, even foolish things. For it is the nature of one who is good to do good.
G-d's only thought is how to bestow material goodness on the Congregation of Israel, who are called His children. Prayer draws down sustenance and sheaf (The flow of Divine life force into creation) into all the worlds, even into the material worlds, to satisfy G-d's longing. Thus, prayers on behalf of G-d are accepted immediately. For heaven scrutinizes the prayers you pray for yourself, to see if they are worthy of being received. But when you pray for G-d's sake, there is nothing to stop them. Kedushas Levi, Likutim Shonim, p. 509 |
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HEART OF PRAYER
Anthology of the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov on Prayer |
13-1 Attaching thoughts and words to G-d.
WHEN I attach my thoughts to G-d, I let my mouth speak whatever it wants. I bind the words to their source in G-d for everything has a root in the sefirot above. At times, I sit among people who are discussing mundane things and attach myself to G-d so that I bind all of their words Above. Likkutim Yekarim p. 3c
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KESER SHEM TOV
An anthology of Teachings on the Torah by the Baal Shem Tov |
Kst 97
"A prayer of the poor man when he beseeches, pouring out his words before G-d."[1]
The Baal Shem Tov explained with a parable:
A king once proclaimed on a day of his rejoicing that any request presented on that day would be filled. So some people requested positions of power, others requested honor, while others requested wealth, and each person was given what he requested. There was one sage there, though, who said that his request was to have a personal audience with the king three times a day.[2] The king was very pleased with this, since it showed that speaking with the king was more cherished by him than wealth and honor.[3] Thus, the king ordered to have his request fulfilled, to give him permission to enter the royal palace to speak to the king, and then to open the royal treasuries for him to also take wealth and honor.
This is alluded to in the above verse: the prayer of a poor man is that he be able to pour out his words before G-d.
[1] Job 36:33.
[2]Tractate Taanith 8a.
[3] Tractate Taanith 25a. The only reason why oil burns is because G-d so decreed in the laws of nature, but there is no inherent reason why He cannot ordain vinegar to burn. Therefore, pious people who live with the reality that all of Nature is G-d's constant miracles are able to evoke changes in the laws of Nature, because to them, it is all the same.
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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)
Suite 300, Pepper Pike Place
30195 Chagrin Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44124
800-613-0955
bst_times@baalshemtov.com
www.baalshemtov.com
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| | Yisrael Ben Moreinu Rabbeinu HaRav Rav Eliezer KoesB (presently in) Mezibush | | Signature of the Baal Shem Tov |
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