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ORIGINS OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV
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OBST 10
In the last installment, the Baal Shem Tov continued telling the story of the birth of Reb Eliyohu Baal Shem of Worms Germany.
Reb Eliyohu, the Baal Shem of Worms, possessed a most brilliant mind, capable of absorbing the mystical knowledge that flowed from the Ari Hakodosh and Rav Moshe Cordovero. At the young age of thirteen, he was already master of the study of Kabbala.
Gifted with a logical mind, he also possessed the power of clarification and of oratory. He began popu-larizing the study of Kabbala among Torah scholars, and thanks to him, it soon became an accepted subject among the other studies in Yeshivahs of those times. There was a prerequisite, that anyone who wished to study Kabbala was required to be well versed in the revealed Torah (Chumash, Gemorra, Halakah, etc.).
In order to spread Kabbala even further, Reb Eliyohu called a meeting of all his disciples and followers. It was decided at this convocation to form a group of nistorim - tzadikim who remained hidden. They were to wander from place to place, to mix with the simple, uneducated Jews and to encourage them to do good deeds in the service of Hashem. At the same time, they were to introduce the study of Kabbala to those learned in Torah.
Yeshivahs were established in Worms, Prague, Lublin, and Chelm where the study of Kabbalah was part of the studies.
But the main work of the nistorim was to wander bringing Torah to the mass of simple, unlearned Jews. Typically, they would do unskilled work, such as woodchopping and water carrying in order to come in contact with the Jewish laborers and to teach them the fear of G-d and the practice of good midos.
Many of the nistorim studied the works of the famous mekubol, Reb Meir Gabbai. His seforim were already printed and the nistorim distributed copies wherever they went.
During the twenty years that the nistorim wandered here and there, they attracted thousands of students to the study of mysticism.
When, at that time, the work "Pardes", by Reb Moshe Cordovero, was published, many more scholars were attracted to Kabbala. It served as a new fountain for the study of Kabbala. The circle of nistorim expanded under the leadership of the Rov of Worms, who later transferred the leadership of his philosophy to the Baal Shem of Zamoshtesh who in turn transmitted it to Reb Adam Baal Shem of Ropshitz. It was from Reb Adam that this philosophy came to Reb Yisroel Baal
Shem Tov, who then spread Chassidus.
To be continued . . . . .
Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney) from a story in Sefer Hazichronos by Reb Yossef Yitzchok of Lubavitch, Zal
as translated in Tales of the Baal Shem Tov by Y.Y. Klapholtz.
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MENDEL THE SHOEMAKER
And then there was the time that Mendel the shoemaker went from being a poor shoemaker to being the official boot maker to the Czar's officers. Llike most Jewish shoemakers of the time, he had been a poor man that lived humbly and did his best to do 'a good job.'
One day his mazal changed . An officer of the Czar's army, on his way back to join his unit, rode through town where Mendel lived and worked. Upon noticing Mendel's shoe repair shop on one side of the street and a tavern on the opposite side of the street, an idea jumped into his mind. So he immediately dismounted and went in to see Mendel. "I want you to fix my boots and shine them up. Come with me to the tavern. I'll give you my boots and you can bring them back to me as soon as you're finished. Make sure you do a good job, or else."
Mendel followed the officer into the tavern, took the boots back to his shop and very carefully cleaned and polished them until they shined like a mirror.
The officer, in the meantime had a few drinks and was happy to see Mendel come in with his boots, especially since his feet were getting cold. He took the boots and looked them over. He was very impressed with Mendel's work. The boots were so beautiful, they would surely be the envy of his fellow officers. He paid Mendel handsomely and thanked him over and over.
A few weeks later, when the officer happened to again pass through Mendel's town, he had Mendel make him a new pair of boots. This time, he was even more pleased and mentioned that he would tell his fellow officer's of Mendel's craftsmanship.
It wasn't too long before a stream of officers found their way to Mendel's shop. Soon, all of the officer's wanted a pair of Mendel's boots and so he became the official boot maker to the czar's army.
It seemed like a miracle to Mendel. For his entire life he had been so poor and now he was getting richer every day. He built a beautiful home surrounded by a large garden and a high fence. Now he had everything he had ever dreamed of, family, money, and a beautiful home.
Meanwhile his esteem in the community rose accordingly. He was no longer a simple shoemaker but a successful and highly respected manufacturer. All of the local townspeople, looked up to him. They started to come to him for advice and help. He was invited to be on important town committees and honored in his shule.
Actually, Mendel was still an ordinary person, but all the respect and flattery got to him. As his money and honor grew, he believed that he was getting wiser. Before the change in events, he was a quiet humble man; now he was a haughty boor.
One more thing that grew along with his wealth was his paranoia. Sadly, Mendel was always fearful that everyone was scheming to take his money. And day-by-day, his fear about this grew. More and more Mendel stayed away from the townsfolk. He discouraged visitors to his home. He even kept two guard dogs to protect himself from unwanted visitors.
At that time, the holy Baal Shem Tov's name was spreading over the region. Many people spoke of his holiness and his caring and love for his fellow Jews. To many, just hearing his holy name was an inspiration. Mendel began to meet more and more people who had gone to see the Baal Shem Tov. Often they would ask him if he had met him yet.
"Who's the Baal Shem Tov and why should I bother to go and meet him? I'm probably just as important as him if not more so," Mendel thought to himself. However, he did notice that people were really impressed to meet anyone who had met the holy Baal Shem Tov in person. So he decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to be able to say that he had actually met him.
As it happened, Mendel found himself in the vicinity of Medzibush during the last days of Pesach and he decided to stay there for the remainder of the holiday.
The night before the Seveth day of Pesach he went to the Baal Shem Tov's shule. There he found a crowd of hasidim, some praying, some studying and some sitting around singing, telling stories about the Rebbe and discussing his teachings.
They welcomed him warmly and invited him to join them at the table. But no one made a fuss over him. Actually, they seemed rather simple to him and he felt a bit out of place. They told him that the Baal Shem Tov would soon come to learn with them, and so he decided to stay.
Suddenly, all the hasidim stood up in silence as the Baal Shem Tov entered the shule. As soon as the Baal Shem Tov sat down at the head of the table, they all quickly crowded around to catch every one of his words. Mendel found himself at the edge of the group of hasidim. It had been quite a while since the last time that he was treated just as an ordinary person and this made him feel a bit uncomfortable. He had grown accustomed to being honored and he actually liked receiving attention. It was strange for him to be among these hasidim.
After singing a niggun, the Baal Shem Tov started to teach an idea about the Torah. Mendel listened in but he did not really understand most of what he heard. He did, however, catch one idea, but it made no sense to him. The Baal Shem Tov said that it is possible to say one's prayers and yet the prayers may not ascend to heaven for a long time. It is entirely possible that the prayers of one who prayed at 10:00 o'clock in the morning should reach Hashem before the prayers of one who had prayed much earlier in the day.
"That makes no sense at all," Mendel thought to himself.
The Baal Shem Tov continued, "There are some Passover 'Seder' recitations and prayers that have yet to ascend to heaven, even though they were said five days ago." Mendel did not listen much after that; he was baffled as to why so many people were giving this man so much attention, especially since he didn't seem to say anything that made much sense. "Why did I bother coming here, I should just have stayed home. There is nothing special about this man and he says these foolish things. Can it be possible that the words I said at my seder have not yet reached Hashem? How ridiculous! And just look at these hasidim, pushing around their master, just to hear silly ideas!" Mendel thought. It was too late for him to get home for Yom Tov, and so he resigned himself to being with the Baal Shem Tov and his hasidim for the last two days of Pesach.
Mendel found that praying with the hasidim was very intense and very different from anything he had ever experienced. They sang, they cried, they were loud and they were silent, they danced, they 'shuckled' fervently - they were uninhibited. He ate simple food and slept in a simple home; he missed the comforts of his home.
The Baal Shem Tov had instituted a custom that is practiced to this very day- Moshiach's Seudah. About two hours before the end of Pesach, hasidim have another meal at which we eat matzah and drink another four cups of wine with much singing and dancing in honor of Moshiach and the ultimate redemption; may it come quickly in our days. Mendel had never participated in such a meal, and frankly he was already anxious for the holiday to be over so that he could run out and find some bread to eat. But these hasidim were in no rush, in fact it seemed as if they would be much happier if Pesach wouldn't end.
At one point in the meal, the Baal Shem Tov and the hasidim sang a very hauntingly, beautiful niqqun and everyone went into a very introspective and high spiritual place. Everyone's eyes were shut and only Mendel was looking around. In the midst of the niggun, the Baal Shem Tov put his hands on the shoulders of those who were next to him, and they did likewise. It became very quiet. Mendel, as unaccustomed as he was to all of this, did sense that something extraordinary was taking place and without much thought, he too shut his eyes and placed his hands of the shoulders of those who were next to him. It was not long before he began to have his firstever spiritual experience.
Mendel felt as if he was transported to a heavenly sphere and he was seeing a replay of his own seder- what had actually happened on the first night of Pesach. Mendel had gone to shule and knowing that it was customary to invite the needy to one's Seder, he approached two wayfarers and invited them. He didn't introduce himself to them, he just said "You and you, you'll be my guests tonight," and then he went to his seat at the front of the shule. He didn't really want any guests, but it was the respectable thing to do. In fact, he finished the prayers before everyone else and went home alone. When the services were over, the two wayfarers waited for their host.
The shule was already empty and the shamash was about to close up. He saw these two forlorn fellows and asked them if they had been invited anywhere. They told him that someone had indeed invited them but they did not know who it was. They described him as best as they could.
"It sounds like you're going to Mendel's home. I'll tell you how to get there, but be careful!" the shamash told them. He didn't explain, but he was thinking about Mendel's vicious dogs.
Mendel had gone home before everyone else and had already started his seder as his two guests were still finding their way to his home. He had already made Kiddush and was about to say, "Ha Lachmah Anya- This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry, let them come and eat, all who are needy let them come and join us in..." just as his two guests were about to open the gate.
And then Mendel saw himself sitting at his seder table and the words and letters of Ha Lachmah Anya leaving his mouth and beginning to ascend to Heaven. Suddenly one of his guard dogs jumps up and with a great snarl snatches the word "Ha" right out of the air and devours it. And then the second dog ferociously jumps up and snatches the word "Lachmah" before it rose and it too devoured the word. And so it was with every word that he said. Why? Because at the very moment that he was reciting the words of the Haggadah about inviting the poor and needy, his two guard dogs were ferociously attacking his poor guests. The guests barely got away and ran for their lives. Now Mendel realized what the Baal Shem Tov meant when he said that some the words of the Hagadah recited at some seders had never ascended to Hashem. He grew faint and passed out on the floor. The hasidim revived him.
Later that evening, during a personal meeting with the Baal Shem Tov, he humbly asked for guidance in doing tshuvah. He felt very embarrassed to look at the Baal Shem Tov, but the Rebbe's love and words of encouragement restored his confidence. Needless to say, Mendel came home a much humbled and joyous servant of Hashem and from that time on, he was a faithful follower of the Baal Shem Tov.
And so it was.
Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir Cohn (Patent Attoney) from a story told by Rabbi Sholom Brod and recorded by Maggid Yitzchak Buxbaum
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SEFER BAAL SHEM TOV
The Teachings Of The Baal Shem Tov On Prayer
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Rachel was shapely and beautiful to look at. And Jacob loved Rachel. . . (Genesis 29:17-18)
This was because Jacob had the attribute of Tiferet ("Beauty")1 Whenever he saw something attractive, he would say: "If this beauty so becomes a physical thing, how much higher would it be if it was dedicated to praising and glorifying G-d.
Ohr Torah, Vayetze
1According to Kabbalah, Abraham corresponded to the Sefirah of Chesed - Love; Isaac corresponded to the Sefirah of Gevurah - Strength; and Jacob corresponded to the Sefirah of Tiferet - Beauty or Harmony.
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DIVINE LIGHT
The Mystical Light Of The Baal Shem Tov
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7.IF a person were to come and tell me, "I saw the Baal Shem Tov build a ladder and climb to heaven alive, physically, in his clothing," I would believe him, for whatever they say about the Baal Shem Tov is possible.
The Seer of Lublin, Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Lublin (1745-1815)
From DIVINE LIGHT by Tzvi Meir
Cohn
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HEART OF PRAYER
Anthology Of The Teachhings Of The Baal Shem Tov
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9-a5 When a person prays, they hurl distracting thoughts at him, and he is immediately outside the words.
The Zohar explains that a person is judged in each palace and expelled if he is found unworthy.1 The Baal Shem Tov taught that words of prayer are these very "palaces", for the intellect dwells within them. When a person prays, he goes from letter to letter and from word to word. If he is unworthy, distracting thoughts are hurled at him, and he is immediately thrown outside the palace.2
Kesser Shem Tov, part 2 p. 7b
1 Zohar 1:234a
2R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk writes that extraneous thoughts can only enter the mind of a person who is unhappy with his level of worship. He compares this to a peasant who tries to enter the palace of the king. Since he does not belong there, the guards push him out. So too, a person who tries to pray and serve G-d on a higher level than is appropriate for them will be pushed away by foreign thoughts. However, a person who is happy with his level, even if it is not very high, will be able to pray with clarity. Since they are in their place, nothing can push them out.
From
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 27
The Baal Shem Tov taught:
"There was a famine in the Land."1
This means that the people lacked faith in G-d,2
that is, that they were lax in honoring Him. Therefore, "Abram went down to Mitzrayim/Egypt,"3
which means that Abraham was distressed [mitzta'er] by this laxity in honoring G-d in the World of Action. However, as a result, "Abram went up from Mitzrayim,"4
which means that he became spiritually elevated and was able to derive even greater pleasure from serving G-d, by virtue of the fact that he was not like them, since light can only be discerned in contrast to darkness.
Therefore, "Lot - who symbolizes the evil inclination - was with him,"5
because the existence of evil allows one to derive even greater pleasure from serving G-d,6
and evil thus become a vehicle to good, and becomes encompassed in it.
"And Abram was heavily laden with cattle, silver and gold,"7
which means that he was able to extract the sparks of holiness, similarly to, "Joseph collected all the money in Egypt." 8
1Genesis 12:10. This piece is a continuation of the idea presented in #26.
2Zohar I 80a
3Genesis ibid.
4Genesis 13:1 .
5 Ibid
6Thus, uprooting one's evil tendencies is not only anyway impossible, but also not the goal. On the contrary. One should rejoice that one has an evil tendency to deal with on a daily basis, and even enjoy the challenges it presents. This is how we grow spiritually, and every success brings us closer to G-d.
7Ibid. v. 2
8 Genesis 47:14; Degel Machneh Ephraim, ad loc. This explains how evil itself becomes encompassed in the good. The Hebrew word for silver/money is kesef, which is the same root as desire. Thus, by seeing how mankind is so sunken in all sorts of desires, or when an undesirable desire rises one's own mind, one can turn this around and perceive it in this way: If the pleasure for this earthly thing is so great, how much greater is the pleasure of being with G-d, the Source and Creator of all pleasures. This can bring one to an intense experience of pleasure from being in G-d's presence. Then, those desires of others or oneself, which are actually fallen sparks of holiness, fallen and misguided desires for G-d, are elevated back to their Source.
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