Weekly Story: A Baal Shem Tov Story
by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon
I heard this story a few weeks ago from Rabbi Nissan Mangel Sheyichye at his weekly Shabbos farbrengen in Ksav Sofer. And I decided, being that it is a story of the Baal Shem Tov, I will publish it on the Shabbos before the first day of Shavuos, which is the Baal hem Tov’s yahrzeit.
It should be noted that by every Shavuos farbrengen, the Rebbe mentions the importance of learning Chitas, as the Chumash (Torah) was given to us on Shavuos, Tehillim was written by Dovid Hamelech whose yahrzeit is also on Shavuos, and the Tanya, which explains and clarifies the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov (Chassidus).
As always, your feedback and comments are grearty appreciated and most welcomed.
One of the early chassidim of the Baal Shem Tov for many years was not blessed with a child. Every year when he would come to the Baal Shem Tov, he would request the Rebbe’s brocha, however, the Baal Shem Tov never gave it. Rather, he will discuss other topics with him.
As the years passed and he and his wife were still not blessed, he decided he would do something a little bit out of the ordinary. The next time he came to the Baal Shem Tov, he once again requested a brocha for a child, and as before the Tzaddik spoke about other aspects and concluded talking. The chossid realized that this meant the audience, or as we say it, the yechidus he had came to an end. However, this time he did not leave. Rather, he stated emphatically, “Rebbe, I am not leaving until the Rebbe blesses me with a child.”
Hearing these words, the Baal Shem Tov became deep in thought and after a few moments looked at the student and told him, “This year you will be blessed with a child!”
The chossid thanked the Rebbe, and he was a ecstatic. Rushing home, before even taking off his coat, he told his wife the wonderful news, the Rebbe blessed us. Sure enough towards the end of the year they were blessed with a healthy baby boy and the chossid immediately rushed back to Mezibuzh to inform the Rebbe of the wonderful news and to request of him that he come and be the Sandek at the Bris.
The Baal Shem Tov agreed and arrived in the town which was quite close to Mezibuzh, the day before the bris. The mother of the child came to the Baal Shem Tov and personally thanked him but she said that she has a premonition that something bad might happen to her child. I am therefore asking that the Rebbe gives me a segulah which would protect my son that nothing bad happens to him.
The Baal Shem Tov, while it is customary for a boy to begin wearing Tzitzis from the age of three and afterwards, you should prepare a special pair for your son to begin wearing from his bris. Also, you shall embroider on the four corners the letters Lames, Suf, Aleph and Reish (which represent the Hebrew words, לא תאונה אליך רעה (nothing bad shall befall upon you).
On Lag Bm’oer that year, the chossid who was the Rosh Hakahal, made a large festive meal in honor of the day, and everyone in his household was busy preparing and setting up. At one point his wife went into the baby’s room and to her horror the crib was empty; the baby disappeared.
Her shrieks were heard and everyone came running to see what caused it. The festivities were forgotten and every began searching, but to no a avail. The baby had simply disappeared.
The grief-stricken parents went back to the Baal Shem Tov and poured out their broken hearts. The Baal Shem Tov joined them in their sorrow and promised them that they would have another child.
As he promised, so it happened, and the following year they had a baby girl, who gave them tremendous happiness.
Years passed and on Lag B’Omer the Baal Shem Tov went out with his talmidim to the open fields outside of Mezibuzh.
At one point he asked one of the students if he had brought with him a bow and some arrows.
Definitely, was the reply, as the Baal Shem Tov’s yearly custom was to shoot a few arrows.
The Baal Shem Tov took an arrow and shot it forward. But to his dismay and astonishment, the arrow flew backwards to a bush in the woods. Seeing this, he realized that it is a signal from Hashem. So to verify it he shot a second arrow, this time to his right and the third arrow to his left, and as he thought, they both went to the same bush as the first one did. He shot another one upwards and it too turned and went there, proving beyond a doubt that this is a strong message from Hashem, and a message that shouldn’t be put off for a later time, but to be acted upon immediately.
The Baal Shem Tov and his students went to the area where all the arrows landed, and they noticed that they were very close together. They were all in the front of a bush. The Baal Shem began sniffing and then asked his students what they smelled. After a moment they all stated that there was a sour (foul) smell.
The Baal Shem Tov explained, such a smell is not from something rotting etc., but rather it is from an act that was extremely negative, in other words, it is a spiritual thing. Therefore, you my students are to return to Mezibuzh, while I will begin to travel and search for the meaning and source of this smell. I must know what happened here and rectify it.
When the Baal Shem Tov reached a nearby town, the townspeople greeted him warmly and murmured among themselves loudly, The Baal Shem Tov must have arrived here, in order to participate in our Rosh Hakahal’s only daughters’ wedding. Someone rushed over to the Rosh Hakahal’s house and informed him that their Rebbe arrived.
Hearing this wonderful news, that the Baal Shem Tov indeed came to his daughter’s wedding, the Rosh Hakahal rushed to welcome the Baal Shem Tov and after greeting him with the proper respect, he said, Being that our daughter is a result of the Rebbe’s brocha, won’t the Rebbe honor us to be mesader kiddushin.
“Yes”, replied the Baal Shem Tov, but as you know the Rov that is m’sader kiddushin, is obligated to investigate and ask questions. I know your family, but can you please tell me, who is the chosson?
He is such a wonderful young man. His Yiras Shomayim’ his character is exceptional, and he is extremely knowledgeable in Torah.
That is excellent, noted the Baal Shem, and who are his parents?
A very respected family from Frankfurt Germany, he replied.
Can you ask your mechutan to come to me, the Baal Shem Tov said, I am required to ask him a few questions.
The father of the chosson came and after he sat down, the Baal Shem Tov asked him, is the chosson your son.
Yes, of course, we raised him from his infancy, he replied.
You said you raised him, the Baal Shem Tov noted, does that mean that he is not your actual (biological) son?
“The Rov is correct”, replied the man.
If that is the case, do you know who his actual parents are, inquired the Baal Shem Tov.
No, we never met them, the “father” replied.
So how do you know that the child is Jewish, the Baal Shem Tov asked.
That is quite a story, the man replied, and he proceeded to relate to the Baal Shem Tov.
As my mechutan most probably informed the Rov, we are from Frankfurt, Germany. Many years passed since we were married, and Hashem had not blessed us with a child. one day I heard a traveler talking about a great tzaddik who lives in Ukraine, who has performed numerous miracles. He has helped so many Jews in various ways. People who were sick, miraculously were healed and became healthy again. People who had struggled their entire life to earn a livelihood no longer had to struggle and he even blessed many of them to become wealthy. And he also blessed couples to have children. This tzaddik is called Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov.
Hearing this, I stopped what I was doing, rushed home and informed my wife of what I had heard, and my decision to go immediately to the great tzaddik and request that he blesses us with a child. My wife was thrilled that I am willing to undertake this long and arduous journey, prepared food for the long trip, and off I went with my coach driver.
After traveling for a few weeks and we almost arrived at our destination, we were traveling in an open area, and the sun was shining down, and I felt faint. So, I told my coach driver to please pull off the road, so that I can rest in the shade under some trees, and regain my strength.
I had a good nap, and awoke sometime later, refreshed and after washing my hands and taking a good drink of water, I began walking towards my coach. but suddenly, I heard the cry of a child, and I paused thinking that the mother would definitely pick up the child in a moment or two.
However, to my consternation and bewilderment, the baby continued to cry for a few very long moments, and I decided to check out if the mother is alright.
But to my horror, I finally saw the truth. There was a baby all by itself, wrapped up in a blanket, lying under a bush. I picked up the infant and after giving it some water, I checked its diaper and saw that it was circumcised.
Picking up my eyes to heaven, I said, Hashem, thank you so much! I see you have answered my prayers. I travelled all the way here to receive a blessing for a child, and you gave me a child. Hashem, Thank You!!!
Shortly afterwards, as they continued speaking the father of the kalla knocked and entered the room asking the Baal Shem Tov if he is almost ready to go to the chuppa?
Let us take a short walk, said the Baal Shem Tov. While the two of them were quite surprised at this request, but out of respect for the Baal Shem Tov and knowing that there must be a reason for his request they went along, anticipating that something interesting might be happening.
After walking a few blocks a man met them and respectfully ask them if they can please come with him to a small hut on the street. He explained that there is a woman who is about to pass away, but she says she cannot pass away until she tells something of extreme importance to a beis din, as she must unburden herself of a deep secret.
The three of them entered the room and that person told the woman that the Beis Din has arrived. Without trying to open her eyes, she began to speak and related the following: many years ago, I used to clean the shul. However, the pay for the few hours a day work barely covered the cost for feeding my children. I tried to find additional jobs, and it helped.
But there were times, that I couldn’t find additional jobs, or the additional expenses were more than normal, and it was heartbreaking to see my children’s suffering. Then there was a winter and my children needed shoes to be able to go outside, and a thought entered my mind, sell one of the unused tablecloths of the shul, and when you will have the money you will pay it back.
I knew this was wrong, and I pushed it off, but my children couldn’t go out in the winter and being that it was painful to watch their suffering, I did the unthinkable; I took a tablecloth and sold it.
My conscience bothered me, but I kept on answering myself, they didn’t use it in over two years, I plan on paying it back, and I won’t do it again. But the two months passed and once again I was dealing with an emergency expense, and while I held myself back for a few weeks, ultimately I succumbed and “borrowed” another item to sell.
I wasn’t happy about my actions, and tried even harder to find additional jobs, and for a while it helped, but it came to a point when I felt as if I have no other option, and I took something else.
But a few days later it was needed and couldn’t be located, and it became the talk of the town. Somehow, they realized that I was the one who took it, and the Rosh Hakahal summoned me. He said, this time we are not going to do anything against you, we understand that you must have been in a very desperate situation. However, I am warning you that it can never happen again. For if it does, the community will have no other choice, but to dismiss you.
I thanked him for his understanding and promised that I would never do it again. I desperately began looking for additional jobs, so this way I would have some extra money to have when I will face some unexpected expenses. This was prudent and it helped me deal with a few situations.
But then a few unexpected emergencies came up at the same time and I felt I was collapsing, so with a heavy heart, I did it just one more time. But this time I was caught almost right away, and the Rosh Hakahal told me, he feels sorry, but he has no other choice but to dismiss from cleaning up the shul. He paid me whatever the community owed me and added some additional money out of his own pocket so I will have for a few weeks expenses.
Initially, I was angry at myself, telling myself that I had no one to blame besides myself, as now I will have to struggle every week just to cover the bare basic expenses. Additionally, I was appreciative to the Rosh Hakahal. But as the weeks passed and every week was a new struggle, I began berating the Rosh Hakahal until I began loathing him.
Then he was blessed after many years of his marriage with a child, and the whole town celebrated with him. That was to much for me. He and that child of his is going to live without any worries or hardships, while, because he dismissed me, my children suffer every day, and it might be that they will die from hunger. Why should my children die, and his child live? It is not fair!!
I knew I was not reacting rationally, but I couldn’t help myself for wishing that some tragedy befalls the child. Then one day, the community were preparing a celebration, and when I walked by his house, I noticed that the baby was asleep in his crib, and a surge of vengeance took control of me, and I grabbed the child and disappeared into the woods.
Standing in the woods I was covered with remorse, but what could I do now? If everyone sees me returning the child, no one would hire me. But to harm the child, he is an innocent baby, even if his father wronged me. I stood there for a while not knowing what I should do.
Finally, I lifted up my eyes to the heavens and said; Hashem You will decide the infant’s fate. If You want him to live, You will arrange a way for Him to be rescued and saved. If not, please let him have a fast death, rather than a long and agonizing one.
Saying that, I placed the infant, wrapped in his blanket under a bush, so that it would be in the shade and the sun wouldn’t bake on him.
Saying that, she let out a deep breath, as if a heavy load was taken off of her, and a few moments later, she took her last breath.
The Rosh Hakahal who was listening intently to the entire story, let out a cry and sat down on a chair, While the mechutan realized that it is very possible that the baby he hadfound was his mechutan’s abducted son. That meant that “his son” was the older brother of his kallah, and there will not be a wedding today
The Baal Shem Tov asked the man who asked them to enter the hut, if he can go to the shul and ask the wife of the Rosh Hakahal as well as the chosson to come here. The individual went as requested, and in a few minutes they both arrived.
Seeing her husband‘s ashen and pale face, with tears flowing down she became startled herself, as she realized something of great importance had happened. The Baal Shem Tov asked her if she knows the young man,
Of course, he is a wonderful young man, whom we are fortunate that he will be our son-in-law, she replied.
Look at him closely, the Baal Shem Tov instructed.
Looking intently at his facial features, it began to dawn upon her that his features resemble her and her husband, and not his parents. But she dismissed that thought saying, that cannot be. But then she suddenly noticed a mark and without thinking she let out a shriek, My son and wrapped her hands around him crying with happiness.
The chosson was momentarily shocked, but being that he knew he was adopted, one look at “his father” who while wiping his own tears nodded in agreement, he realized that his Kalllah’s mother was indeed his own mother, and that he was about to marry his own sister, had the Baal Shem Tov not arrived a few hours ago.
Turning to the chosson and his father, the Baal Shem Tov asked, when you found him under the bush, did he have anything with him, besides for the blanket that he was wrapped in?
Yes, they both replied, he was wearing a very small pair of tztzis. To remind me of this the chosson added, I carry that pair of tzitzis in my pocket wherever I go. Saying that he put his hand in his pocket and pulled it out, giving it to the Baal Shem Tov.
Looking at its corners, the Baal Shem Tov noticed the four letters that he had instructed to be embroidered into it, and said, this tzitzis should be placed in the coffin of the nifteres, so that she should be forgiven.
A Taste of Chassidus וידבר ה אל משה
And Hashem spoke to Moshe Likkutei Torah (Bamidbar) 1A
The Parsha begins with the commandment that Hashem instructed Moshe to count the Jewish people. However, we have to understand, why specifically by this commandment does the Torah note that it was given when Hashem spoke to Moshe from the Ohel Moed (the Mishkan)? [After all, wasn’t that the way most of the mitzvos were given?]
Additionally, we have to understand, there are other Hebrew words that mean you are to count, so why does the Torah choose to use the word שאו, which normally means to lift up?
And thirdly what does it mean (count) lift up the Jewish people לגלגלותם – which is normally translated to mean to their skull?
The Alter Rebbe explains, there are two levels of desire, a desire that is the outcome of thought and the desire that is above one’s intellect higher than one’s intellect.
The lower level of desire is obvious to everyone; we hear about something fabulous that is readily available to all at a very discounted price. That knowledge that we obtained, is going to motivate many people to try to acquire that item.
When we apply this to the neshomo’s service to Hashem, when a person comprehends properly that Hashem is the One that is giving them life and all the blessings that are contained in their life, the obvious result will be that the person has a desire to thank Hashem and come closer to Him.
While this can bring a person extremely close to Hashem, there is one shortcoming, and that is that the person will come as close to Hashem as their intellect and understanding allows them. But to give up all of their desires and everything they enjoy, which basically means give up their identity as to whom they are, that would be rejected by their intellect.
But as noted, there is a level of desire that is higher than intellect, meaning it is not an outcome of intellectual understanding or anything else, but rather, it is an intrinsic connection. For example a baby’s desire and comfort to be picked up by their mother or father and by no one else. We all understand that this baby does not have intellect to understand what is a father or mother or who their father and mother is. But this is an intrinsic connection between an infant and its parents.
Similarly, when it comes to the service of the neshomo to Hashem, there is an intrinsic connection which is higher than understanding. Subsequently, being that it is not based on their own understanding, so then the person’s connection to Hashem could be on such a high level, that even if the person must nullify themselves completely, which intellect doesn’t agree to, they will do so.
The possuk says, “From my flesh/body I will see G-dliness. Chassidus explains this to mean, that being that Hashem’s desire is that we should understand Him, He created the world In His Image. Therefore, if there are two levels of desire, one based on intellect and the other one higher than intellect, so these 2 aspects must be noticeable even in the human body as well, (and not merely in their conduct).
The power of intellect is obviously in each one’s brain. So higher than intellect, must be higher than our brain, i.e. it is the skull.
Now we will describe what these two levels mean in our service to Hashem.
Our forefather, Avrohom Avinu came to the realization that there must be a Creator of the entire world, and based on that understanding his desire was to serve the Creator and nothing else. Meaning, that before Matan Torah, as great as our forefathers were and to the tremendous elevated levels that they reached, being that it was based on human understanding, there remained an aspect of their individual identity, albeit in a very small amount.
However, when Hashem gave us the Torah at Mount Sinai, that was given to us on a level that we were not able to attain on our own. As a result, we were completely nullified. As our sages inform us that when the Jewish people heard each and every commandment their souls left them.
In this mamaar the Alter Rebbe points out that this is one of the tremendous accomplishments of Matan Torah. That until now a Jew was able to be connected to Hashem, only based on the outcome of their comprehension. That translates to mean that they never could become completely nullified to Hashem. So when our sages said their soul left them, that means that this lower level of the Soul – desire left them, and Hashem elevated the Jewish people that they can attain the higher level of desire to connect to Hashem, even if it means nullifying themselves completely.
Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeiim and their chassidim. He is available to farbreng in your community and can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com.
