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ORIGINS OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV
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OBST 29
In the last weeks selection, Reb Adam Baal Shem Tov convinced an unknown Jew to follow him in order to prevent himself from being murdered.
Reb Adam Baal Shem walked on.^ the merchant following him, until they reached an inn. The Baal Shem asked the innkeeper what he earned a day from the inn.
"Twenty silver pieces per day," came the reply.
"Then," said the Baal Shem, "take these twenty silver pieces on condition that you admit no one to your house today. Not to eat nor to drink. Do not admit even a wagon driver to your courtyard." The innkeeper agreed and barred his doors to everyone.
The Baal Shem then turned to a servant and requested a tub of water to be brought to the room. When it arrived the merchant undressed and climbed into it.
The Baal Shem handed him a mirror and told him to gaze into it and report what he saw. The man stretched out his hand to take the mirror and looked into it. He turned pale and was unable to utter a word.
"I told you to tell me whatever you saw." said the Baal Shem. "Tell me now, what do you see in that mirror?"
"I see my wife sitting together with the village priest at a table, eating and drinking. There is a bow lying on the table."
"Now you know that your wife has been unfaithful to you. Her heart has been captivated by the priest and they are both plotting to kill you. The priest is a powerful sorcerer; all the spirits do his bidding. He has just decided to shoot an arrow and have the spirits convey it to your heart. After your death the priest intends to marry your wife, but such a wicked plot shall not be executed, with G-d's help. Do not worry and have no fear. Now look again into the mirror and tell me what you see."
The merchant looked again and reported, "Indeed, he is preparing the bow, smearing the arrow with poison, and now aiming it."
"Have no fear. Look again and observe what he does. When you see him ready to shoot, immerse your head in the water immediately, remain thus for a few seconds until the arrow passes over you and then you may lift your head."
To be continued. . . . . .
Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney) from a story in Sipurei Kedoshim as translated in Tales of the Baal Shem Tov by Y.Y. Klapholtz.
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On the eight day, the (child) shall be circumcised (Leviticus 12:3)
NAMING AT A CIRCUMCISION
When the Baal Shem Tov was still young and had just married, he earned a meager livelihood by digging lime and taking it with his horse and wagon from town to town to sell. Although his holy wife, Rebbetzyn Channah, was bought up in a rich household and was not use to hard labor, she nevertheless helped Yisrael load the wagon and sometimes traveled with him for weeks on end. In the pale of Eastern Europe, they appeared as one of the numerous simple Jews.
After some time, their horse grew so weak that it was barely able to pull the wagon by itself much less when it was loaded with a heavy load. The Baal Shem Tov grew worried: He could not afford a new horse and without one could not earn a living. Once, he discussed his problem with some other poor travelers whom he met on the road. They told him there was a well-known Jewish landowner named Reb Boruch who lived in the community of Uman and was known for his hospitality. He also dealt in horses, so perhaps he could be of assistance to the young couple.
Yisrael and Channah traveled the long and hard journey to see Reb Boruch.
Reb Boruch had fled the pogroms in his native Bohemia to Ukraine. He was not a Torah scholar, just a simple Jew. Both he and his wife Rachel were kind, God-fearing people. They had two daughters and without other children decided to devote themselves and their wealth to charitable acts. They were particularly known for their involvement in the mitzvah of hospitality. They had built a special guesthouse on their estate that had many small rooms, each furnished with two beds and a table. Any needy traveler was welcome to stay for a week. The visitors were given two meals daily and on Shabbos joined all the other guests at Reb Boruch's table. When a poor man came together with his wife and children, the family was given a room together. However, if a man and a woman came without children, Reb Boruch would not give them a room together because he was unsure not sure they were married. Finally, when the poor guests left, they were sent off with a charitable contribution to help them on their way.
When Yisrael and his wife Channah finally arrived at Reb Boruch's estate, they were offered a meal and a place to stay. After eating, the Baal Shem Tov told his host about his horse. Reb Boruch immediately instructed his servants to replace it with a young healthy horse. The gift was greatly appreciated and since the Yisrael and Channah were exhausted after their journey, they decided to stay a few days until after Shabbos. Reb Boruch assigned them separate rooms according to his custom. "I don't doubt you are married, but my policy is not to give my guests a joint room unless I know for sure that they are a married couple," he explained. The Baal Shem Tov smiled at his answer.
On Motzei Shabbos, as Reb Boruch sat studying, he looked up and noticed a bright light shining through a window from the guesthouse. He first thought the guesthouse was on fire and ran out to investigate. He quickly realized the light was not a fire, but a bright light coming from the window of the Baal Shem Tov's room. He quietly approached the door of the room and peeked in through the keyhole. There he saw his unknown guest, sitting on the floor and reciting "Tikun Chatzos" - the midnight prayer lamenting the Destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of the Divine Presence. The Baal Shem Tov's face was radiant and tears were pouring from his eyes. Next to him stood a tall man in a long robe with a long white beard and a glowing countenance.
Reb Boruch fell down against the door in a faint. Hearing the commotion, the Baal Shem Tov rushed to the door and helped him into the room. After Reb Boruch composed himself, he fell down at the Baal Shem Tov's feet. "Please forgive me Rabbi for separating you from your wife."
The Baal Shem Tov helped Reb Boruch to his feet and answered, "Don't give it another thought. I can't thank you enough for your generosity. But I have one request: I ask that you promise me that you will not reveal anything you have seen tonight to anyone."
"Rebbe, I swear I will never tell anyone what I saw tonight," said Reb Boruch.
The Baal Shem Tov then said, "I bless you with a son that will grow up to be a great Tzaddik. Be sure that your wife nurses this child herself instead of using a wet nurse as she had done with your other children."
After responding, "Amen, may it be His will," to the Baal Shem Tov's blessing, Reb Boruch asked, "Rebbe, if I may be so bold as to ask, who was that old man all in white standing next to you?"
"Since you merited to see him," answered the Baal Shem Tov, "I'll reveal to you that it was the saintly Maharal (Rabbi Yehudah Leib ben Bezalel of Prague). His lofty soul needs to return again to this world to accomplish some great tikkun. It is your privilege that this soul will find its abode in the son you will have. To this son you will give the name Leib. After his birth, I will see him and bless him."
Reb Boruch wept for joy because he had all but given up hope that he would ever have a son. "My holy master, please don't be angry with me, but may I ask what is your name and where are you from? I wish to help and provide for all your needs so you will never know need again."
"Please do not ask me these questions," responded the Baal Shem Tov, "for the time for me to be known in this world has not yet come. Your son likewise will not be known early in life. He will first live a life of poverty. Later, his righteousness will shine forth like the radiance of the sun. More than this I cannot tell you. And again I ask that you not to tell anyone what you have seen and the words we have spoken here tonight. Please do not show me any special honor in anyone's presence, and treat me exactly as you do all the other guests you generously provide for. Tomorrow I will be on my way."
The Baal Shem Tov departed in his wagon, which was now harnessed to the new horse. No one knew what had transpired, but Reb Boruch recorded every detail in a diary.
Within a year, the Baal Shem Tov's blessing was fulfilled and Reb Boruch's wife gave birth to their first son. Their joy was boundless. Reb Boruch sent word to all the neighboring towns inviting all the poor to attend the bris and celebration. Because, as the Talmud says, "Your friend too has a friend," the message spread in no time, and groups of beggars started to travel to Uman to celebrate with Reb Boruch.
On the of the bris, hundreds attended the joyful event. But Reb Boruch was anxious. He paced to and fro among the crowd looking for the face of the hidden Tzaddik whose blessing was the source of his son. Finally, he saw him: with his staff and knapsack in the middle of the crowd. Reb Boruch ran to greet him, but did not manage to utter a word before the Baal Shem Tov motioned him to remain silent, adding: "Please be sure not to speak to me, nor to honor me in any way. Simply treat me like all the other poor people here."
The bris was held after morning prayers, and the infant was named Aryeh Leib. Reb Boruch very much wanted the Baal Shem Tov to bless his new son, but realized he could not reveal his identity. Finally he thought of an idea - He passed his baby son from hand to hand-asking each person to give a blessing to the infant. Reb Boruch carried the baby all the way through the crowd of poor folk because as he wished to have their blessings as well. As they approached the Baal Shem Tov, the latter placed his hands on the baby's head, and said in a loud and happy voice: "I am sorry - I am an ignorant man and don't know how to give blessings in the Holy Tongue. But I do remember one verse from the Torah that my father taught me:
It says: V'Avhram Zakein' -And Avraham was old." The word av at the beginning means father. The second word zaken means 'zeide' (Yiddish for 'grandfather'). That is to say, our father Avraham is our grandfather. May this child baby be blessed to grow up to be a grandfather for all Israel, just as Avraham Avinu."
Some in the crowd were amused by the words of this simpleton. Some even laughed. Thereafter the joke remained-and the child was refered to as "Zeidelle" - the little grandfather. Townsfolk would jokingly ask Reb Boruch "How's your Zeidelle?" Even Reb Boruch and his wife called their son Zeidelle."
Indeed, the name remained with Reb Boruch throughout his life. Reb Aryeh Leib grew to become a great Tzaddik who helped his Jewish brethren and through acts of kindness in this World and through intercession in the World Above. Not only was he loved in his time, he is remembered to this day as the Shpoler Zeide - may his memory be a blessng.
And so it was.
Adapted by Tzvi Meir Cohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney) from a story in A TREASURY OF CHASSIDIC TALES ON THE TORAH by S.Y. Zevin
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SEFER BAAL SHEM TOV
The Teachings Of The Baal Shem Tov On Prayer
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And Moses said to Aharon: Draw near to the altar . . . (Leviticus 9:7)
Rashi comments that Aharon was ashamed and afraid to draw near to the altar.1 Moses therefore said to him, "Why are you ashamed? You were chosen for this."2
This is a surprising explanation. Just because he was chosen doesn't mean that he should not be ashamed.
Rather, I heard from my grandfather [the Baal Shem Tov] this explanation: [Moses said,] "You were chosen because you feel fear and shame before G-d,"3 for "The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit" (Psalms 51:19).4
This idea has also been mentioned in the writings of the Arizal.5
Degel Machane Ephraim, Shemini
1Because of his involvement in the making of the Golden Calf.
2I.e., to serve G-d in the Sanctuary.
3That is, when Moses said, "You were chosen for this," he meant, "You where chosen because of this."
4I.e., because Aharon was humble, he merited offering sacrifices to G-d.
5The Arizal writes (Likutey Torah on this verse): "Because you have the qualities of humility and shame, you were chosen over your fellows to be the Kohen." R. Tzadok HaKohen writes that it was the very shame Aharon felt over having made the Golden Calf that made him worthy of being chosen as Kohen Gadol; for every fall can lead a person rise in the very area he stumbled, to the opposite extreme.
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DIVINE LIGHT
The Mystical Light Of The Baal Shem Tov
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27. The Tzaddik, Rabbi Yosef of Yampeleh, the son of Reb Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov,1 prayed with intense concentration, especially during the evening prayer. Such was his intensity that he was critical of anyone who did not pray this way. His holy father, Reb Michel, once said of him, "My son Yosef is able to pray."
Once, Rabbi Yosef became sick and fell into a coma. His soul ascended Above and was immersed in the Dinur River.2 Afterwards, he was standing before the Heavenly Court. They were weighing all of his merits. All the prayers he had ever recited, from his childhood to the moment of his illness, were brought forth. Not one was missing.
Suddenly, a fearsome angel stepped forward and declared, "What, are these prayers!?" The angel blew upon them, and the prayers scattered, until nothing was left but the single Hebrew letter hey. It shone with a pure light. Reb Yosef stood before the Heavenly Court so frightened that his hands were shaking.
On that same day, Reb Yosef's father, Reb Michel, unexpectedly passed away during the third meal of Shabbos. For the past two years, Reb Michel's family had carefully watched over him during that time of Shabbos. They feared that Reb Michel's soul would leave his body because of his intense attachment to G-d.
Ordinarily, Reb Michel ate the third Shabbos meal with some of his sons in his private quarters. Then he would go to the study hall to speak words of Torah and to sing with his Chassidim until the third Shabbos meal was over. Then he would return to his private study and pace back and forth in deep devekus. Reb Michel would repeatedly utter the words, "In that time of will, Moses departed"3 until his face burned like a fire.
Once at such a time, Reb Yosef of Zemigrad, a devout follower of Reb Michel, asked his brother the Tzaddik Rabbi Avraham Mordechai, "Do you see how the heels of our Reb Michel are standing in the Upper Garden of Eden?" Thus, it is understood why Reb Michel required special supervision.
On the occasion of his soul's passing, however, no one had been there for him. He had paced quickly back and forth in his room saying, "In that time of will, Moses departed." Just then his daughter looked in upon him. She rushed to tell her brother, Rabbi Yitzchak. He ran into the room and grabbed his father in an attempt to disrupt his thoughts and bring him down from his devekus. But to no avail. Reb Michel fell on his son's shoulder and cried, "Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad."4 With those words, he departed this world.
Meanwhile, Reb Yosef was still standing before the Heavenly Court where he remained until Sunday morning. It was then that he heard a proclamation that all the Tzaddikim should go to welcome his father, Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov, who had just arrived. All the Tzaddikim went. Among them was our Master, the Baal Shem Tov, who had been Reb Michel's teacher.
When Reb Michel saw his son Rabbi Yosef standing before the Heavenly Court, he cried, "Yosef, my son, what are you doing here?" Reb Yosef told him what had occurred. Without saying more, Reb Michel just left his son and continued to his place.
Then, the Baal Shem Tov arrived. He quickly understood what was being debated by the Heavenly Court. Without hesitation, he stepped before the Court and said, "How can you claim that the prayers of my dear friend, Reb Yosef, are not pure? I will ask him to pray the evening prayer, and you will see that his prayers are indeed sincere and true."
The Baal Shem Tov called to Reb Yosef and said, "Pray here my son, before the Creator of all, and He will save you."
Reb Yosef began to pray, and with this one prayer, he lifted up all his other prayers, so that they all shone brightly.
Because of the great intensity with which he prayed, his physical body that was still below began to sweat profusely. He awoke and found he had been healed of his sickness. His mother and sisters were there caring for him. He said to them, "Remove your jewelry!6 Our father has passed away."6 Nesiv Mitzvosecha: Nesiv Emunah, Shevil 3:25
1Disciple of the Baal Shem Tov (1721-1786)
2The Dinur is a river of fire, in which souls must immersed before being admitted to heaven.
3The Zohar states that Moses died at the time of mincha on Shabbos. Shabbos mincha is the highest point of the week, the time when the inner will of G-d (ra'ava d'ra'avin) is revealed.
4 Hear O Israel, the L-rd is One the L-rd is G-d
5 As a sign of mourning, one must remove jewelry and make-up upon the death of a close relative.
6 Perhaps Rabbi Yosef returned to consciousness at another location than the town where his father had died. Thus, his mother and sister might not have yet learned of their husband and father's passing. Another possibility is that his mother and sister may have been so busy crying for Rabbi Yosef, that they had forgotten to remove their jewelry, even though they were in mourning.
From DIVINE LIGHT by Tzvi Meir Cohn
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HEART OF PRAYER
Anthology of the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov on Prayer
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9-d6 The true desire of holy sparks that enter your mind as foreign thoughts during prayer is that you repair and redeem them from the depths of the impure shells.
IF you do not study Torah and pray with love and fear of G-d, your words will not ascend. All the more so if you have foreign thoughts, which are called "invalid offerings" for they are given over to negative forces. When you repent, however, you uplift those holy sparks, and they enter your mind as foreign thoughts during prayer or study. These are your very sins that fight against you. Their true desire, however, is for you to repair and redeem them from the depths of impurity. You do this by trembling at the realization that they are your sins and realizing that you must regret them.
Toldos Yaakov Yosef p. 158a
HEART OF PRAYER by Tzvi Meir
Cohn
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KESER SHEM TOV
An anthology of Teachings on the Torah by the Baal Shem Tov
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Kst 68
The Baal Shem Tov taught:
"Avoid evil and do good."1
This means avoid evil by transforming it into good.2
1Psalms 34:15.
2Ben Porath Yoseph. There are two ways of dealing with evil: overcoming it and subduing it, or transforming it, as said here. While the path of overcoming entails a constant struggle, and is based on the perception of inherent evil, the path of transformation entails a shift in perception, an awareness that all perceived evil is in reality only an illusion. This idea is embedded in the parable of the king who created walls around him by the use of optical illusions, so that his son would eventually see through the illusion (#51), and in the parable in the Zohar of the king who hired a prostitute to entice his son. In practice, this means that instead of struggling with one's baser desires, one should elevate one's intentions while involved in actions usually motivated by one's baser desires.
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