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Baal Shem Tov Library Baal Shem Tov Times Archive Book Store Music Room Art Gallery Spiritual Practice Meditation Baal Shem Tov Links Subscribe Via e-Mail The Foundation Donations Contact Us  Daily Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov:   Our FIRST authorized edition of Baal Shem Tov Stories by Howard Cohn,Executive Director of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation.BAAL SHEM TOVFaith Love JoyMystical Stories of the Legendary Kabbalah MasterOrder your copy and receive an autographed first edition.Click here to order   Read the current edition: Shabbos TeshuvahSign up to receive your free weekly edition by email. Visit our newBST Publishing Storefor the most inclusive selection of books on theBaal Shem Tov    ©2003–2007 The Baal Shem Tov Foundation E-Mail This Page to a Friend Enter the recipient's e-mail address: // (C) 2000 www.CodeLifter.com// http://www.codelifter.com// Free for all users, but leave in this headervar good;function checkEmailAddress(field) {// the following expression must be all on one line...var goodEmail = field.value.match(/\b(^(\S+@).+((\.com)|(\.net)|(\.edu)|(\.mil)|(\.gov)|(\.org)|(\..{2,2}))$)\b/gi);if (goodEmail){ good = true} else { alert('Please enter a valid e-mail address.') field.focus() field.select() good = false }}u = window.location;m = "Baal Shem Tov stories for you to enjoy";function mailThisUrl(){ good = false checkEmailAddress(document.eMailer.address) if (good){ // the following expression must be all on one line... window.location = "mailto:"+document.eMailer.address.value+"?subject="+m+"&body="+document.title+" "+u; }} var quotes = new Array(0)function addQuote (quote) { quotes[quotes.length] = quote}addQuote("The holy Baal Shem Tov used to celebrate the eighth night of Chanukah together with his disciples. After lighting the candles, they would sing and dance and then share a festive meal. (Sippurei Baal Shem Tov).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: “When one recounts the praises of the Tzaddikim, it is as if he engages in the mysteries of the Ma'aseh Merkavah.” (Shiv'chei Baal Shem Tov 158).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov once said, “If the Jewish people would sanctify themselves with Torah and mitzvos, they would continually hear the voice of G-d speaking as from Mount Sinai.” (Kesser Torah).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov counted the first night of the omer in the synagogue after the evening prayer service, not after the second seder meal. [However, the Maggid of Mezeritch did so after the seder.] (Kedushas Aharon-Komama; Beis Rizhin).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezeritch were both accustomed to lead the minyan in reciting the blessing and counting the sefiras ha'omer in the synagogue. (Koyetz Lubavitch 11, Sichos 20, Kislev 5706).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov said that one should not give a knife as a present. (Sichos HaRan 9).")addQuote("If a woman experiences difficulties during childbirth, G-d forbid, her husband should immerse in a mikveh. (Sifran Shel Tzaddikim, cited in Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Yisro, 14, note 25).")addQuote("He said that every day a person should tell one of his friends a story about the deeds of a Tzaddik. (Divrei Shalom).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov did not cut his hair for the entire period of sefiras ha'omer until erev Shavuos, following the view of the Ari z” l. (various Chasidic traditions).")addQuote("He and his followers did not wear tefillin during the intermediate days of Pesach [Chol HaMoed] , in conformity with the view of the Zohar and many Rishonim. (Imrei Pinchas 751; Shiv'chei Baal Shem Tov 6; Shulchan HaTahor, Hilchas Tefillin 31:1, Ze'er Zahav 1).")addQuote("It was the custom of the Baal Shem Tov to recite the Hashanah supplications immediately after Hallel. (Rabbanei Medzhibuzh).")addQuote("The holy Rabbi Yisrael, the Maggid of Kozhnitz, said in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that one should not wish another person l'chayim over beer. (Sifran Shel Tzaddikim 1:8, cited in Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Pekudei, 3).")addQuote("On Hoshana Rabbah, the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov would come to him to discuss any questions of unusual difficulty, for at that time his mind was exceptionally lucid, and he could see “from one end of the earth to the other.” (Netzer Chesed).")addQuote("Before going to sleep, one should contemplate that his consciousness is returning to the Holy One, blessed be He, in order to be strengthened anew in Divine service. (Tzava'as HaRivash 22).")addQuote("He was accustomed to begin the prayers of Kabbalas Shabbos in the early afternoon. (Mishmeres Shalom 26; Shiv'chei Baal Shem Tov 212; Adas Tzaddikim).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov was particular to put on his tefillin at the beginning of the prayer service, prior to reciting the first paragraph of Shema and Korbanos [sacrificial offerings]. (Pe'er L'Yesharim 78; Ta'amei HaMinhagim, Birchos HaShachar).")addQuote("Ahavas Yisrael [love of the Jewish people] is the first gate which leads to the courtyard of the Creator. (Likkutei Dibburim II, p. 412).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov instructed his followers to immerse in a mikveh every erev Shabbos [and erev Yom Tov] as well as before praying on Shabbos morning. (Sefer HaSichos 5702, cited in Sefer HaMinhagim Chabad; Siddur HaAri of Rabbi Shabbbsai of Rashkov).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: Wherever a person puts his thoughts, there is the whole man. (Kesser Shem Tov 56).")addQuote("The Maggid [of Mezeritch] taught: The Baal Shem Tov often used to say that love of the Jewish people is the same thing as love of G-d. The verse states, “You are children unto the Lord, your G-d.” When one loves the father, one loves the children. (HaYom Yom, p. 81).")addQuote("Beginning with the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, the Baal Shem Tov would recite three chapters of Tehillim every day and conclude the remaining chapters after the final prayers of Yom Kippur. (Sefer HaMinhagim Chabad).")addQuote("He would recite the entire evening Kiddush for Shabbos (and Yom Tov) while standing. Also, he recited the version of the Ari z” l, which contains seventy words. (Various Chasidic traditions).")addQuote("Our master, the Baal Shem Tov, had a well-built, warm succah. (Kovetz Lubavitch 5, Sichas Chol HaMoed Succos 5706).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: Prior to the Ne'ilah service on Yom Kippur, one should pray from the machzor (holiday prayer book) in a state of constricted consciousness in order to pray the Ne'ilah service in a state of deveykus. (Tzava'as HaRivash 39).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov, of blessed memory, was very particular about this. At times, when he did not have a minyan with which to pray [before dawn], he would pray alone. (Tzava'as HaRivash 16).")addQuote("He and his disciples were accustomed to extend the third Shabbos meal well into the night. (Zohar Chai, Hakdamah).")addQuote("There is a tradition among Breslover Chasidim that the Baal Shem Tov told his followers to pray together at dawn (k'vasikin” on five occasions in particular: Hoshana Rabbah, Purim, the seventh day of Pesach, the first day of Shavuos and Tisha B'Av. (Chasidei Breslov).")addQuote("It was the custom of the Baal Shem Tov and his family to conclude the first blessing of Birkas HaMazon with the words, hazan b'rachamav es hakol [“Who sustains everyone with mercy” ]. (Chasidei Breslov; Chasidei Skolye).")addQuote("One should turn the nights into days and sleep a few hours [during the afternoon] in order to forego sleep at [the latter part of the] night. (Tzava'as HaRivash 27).")addQuote("He prayed at the earliest time possible, reciting the Shemoneh Esrei prayer with the first light of dawn [k'vasikin]. (Tzava'as HaRivash 16; lmrei Pinchas 389).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov instructed his disciples to study a section of the holy Zohar every morning before praying. (Rabbi Mordechai of Tchernoble, Likkutei Torah, Hadrachah 7).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov strongly urged his followers to awaken at midnight in order to mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of the Jewish people, as is stressed in the Zohar and the works of the Ari z” l. (Tzava'as HaRivash 16; Kesser Shem Tov 205).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov also instructed his disciples to follow the Sephardic custom of adding the words, V'yatvnach purkanei vi'karev Meshichei ...(“He brings forth His redemption and brings nigh his Anointed One” ) to the Kaddish prayer. (Shulchan HaTahor, Birchos HaShachar 56:1, Ze'er Zahav 4).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov personally sounded the shofar on Rosh Hashanah utilizing his own Kabbalistic kavanos. (various Chasidic traditions).")addQuote("On erev Pesach, the Baal Shem Tov and his disciples would bake matzos mitzvah (matzos to be used at the seder meals) while singing the words of Hallel. (Shiv'chei Baal Shem Tov 199; also see Siddur HaAri of Rabbi Shabbsai of Rashkov, Seder Erev Pesach).")addQuote("He used to begin the order of blessings with the prayer Adon Olam. (Shulchan HaTahor, Birchos HaShachar 46:3, Ze'er Zahav 2).")addQuote("This is a basic principle: According to the first thought one conceives upon arising from bed, so goes the rest of the day-and with no other thought. (Tzava'as HaRivash 25).")addQuote("Rabbi Mordechai of Lechovitch once said, “Ever since the Baal Shem Tov came to the world, no one is able to fulfill his potential in Divine service, however great his efforts, without a Rebbe.” (Toras Avos, Hishashrus L'Tzaddikim).")addQuote("“ He once said, “When a person immerses in a mikveh in the morning, the Holy One, blessed be He, accounts it to him as if he had fasted one day.” (Sippurei Tzaddikim HaChadash 16).")addQuote("In the winter, at times he would even break the ice in order to immerse in a nearby stream. (Sippurei Baal Shem Tov).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: Prophecy cannot exist outside of the Land of Israel--except in a place of water. Thus, Yechezkel HaNavi spoke words of prophecy while standing in the River Khebar, even though he was not in the Land of Israel. (Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Bo).")addQuote("I heard [from Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polonoye] that the Baal Shem Tov once asked him, “Why do you remain in the mikveh for so long? When I go to the mikveh, I just close my eyes once and behold all the worlds.” (Shivchei Baal Shem Tov 170).")addQuote("My grandfather [the Baal Shem Tov) said: It is known [from the writings of the Ari z” l) that Adam could rectify his sin only through the holy Patriarchs. Thus, the perfection of teshuvah is impossible to attain without the Tzaddik only through him is one able to ascend. (Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Sh'mini).")addQuote("When one studies Torah, he must bear in mind before Whom he studies. Sometimes on can actually distance himself from the Creator through [improper] Torah study. Therefore, one must be aware of this at all times. (Tzava'as HaRivash 54).")addQuote("“He who studies a subject one hundred times cannot be compared to he who does so a hundred and one” (Chagiga 9b). [“A hundred and one” ] means that a person's studies must be imbued with the One -the Master of the Universe. (Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Tzav).")addQuote("He also said that immersing in a cold mikveh can nullify a Heavenly decree of death [may the Merciful One spare us]. (Sur Mei'ra 7).")addQuote("Rabbi Nosson of Nemirov once told his disciple, Rabbi Nachman of Tulchin, “The Baal Shem Tov said that he came to the world just to do away with the ill-tempered Torah scholar.” (Avanehah Barzel 41).")addQuote("“This is the Gate to the Lord; Tzaddikim . . .” (Tehillim 118:20). That is the Tzaddikim are the gate to the Lord. (Butzina D'Nehora).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov was careful to pour the water used to wash his hands at the end of a meal (mayim acharonim) into a vessel and not under the table or onto the ground, in keeping with the ruling of Rambam. (Shulchan HaTahor, Hilchos B'Tzias HaPas 181:2, Zer Zahav 1).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov was particular to recite the verses beginning Baruch Hashem l'olam amen v'amen prior to the Shemoneh Esrei prayer during the weekday evening service, in keeping with the Ashkenazic custom. (Mishmeres Shalom 23:2, Imrei Pinchos 432; Shulchan HaTohor, Tefillas Arvis 236:1).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov once told his disciples: “My children, you only need to be very careful not to lie, and you will surely become good people.” (Imrei Pinchos 878).")addQuote("“ A voice cries out in the wilderness, 'Clear a path for G-d. ..'“ (Yeshayahu 40:3). The Baal Shem Tov taught that this refers to the thoughts of Teshuva that every Jew experiences when he contemplates the ultimate purpose of his existence. (Pri Tzaddik, Va'eschanan).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught that every day one should tell a friend a story about the deeds of a Tzaddik. (Divrei Shalom).")addQuote("“Righteous (Tzaddik) is G-d in all His ways. ..” (Tehillim 145:17). If one is a Tzaddik and binds himself to the Creator, then G-d will be with him in all his ways. (Ohr HaEmes 37b; attributed in a manuscript version to the Baal Shem Tov).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov cautioned that, in any event, one should never let three days pass without immersing in a mikveh. (Even Ha5hoham 7).")addQuote("“Day to day, speech flows. ..” (Tehillim 19:3). The Baal Shem Tov rendered this interpretively: Each day boasts to the next about a good deed a Tzaddik performed on it. (Divrei Shalom, Ki Sisa, cited in Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Emor 2).")addQuote("There is a popular saying: “With the truth, a person can go all over the world.” The Baal Shem Tov explained, “That's because he will get thrown out of one place after another.” (Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Bo, 46b, cited in Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Vayeira 10).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov was accustomed to tie the strap of the tefillin shel yad on his upper arm in the form of the Hebrew letter shin, winding the strap away from himself in the manner of the Sephardim. (Trisker Maggid, as cited in Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Va'eschanan, 84).")addQuote("[The Baal Shem Tov taught]: A person's thoughts should be on the Supernatural World, engaged in Divine service [and not sunken in mundane matters]. One should attach himself to G-d and trust that he will obtain whatever he needs. (Tzava'as HaRivash 24).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov once told his disciple, the Rav of Kolomaye (father of the Tzaddik, Rabbi Nachman of Kolomaye): “I love the Jew whom you might consider to be the lowest of the low more than you love your only son.” (Leket Imrei P'ninim 208b).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov said that a heartfelt chapter of Tehillim, the effort expended in doing another Jew a favor, whether material or spiritual, and love of one's fellow Jew are keys which can unlock the gates to the Heavenly Palaces of mercy, healing, salvation, and livelihood. (Sefer HaSichos 5700, p. 73, cited in Kesser Shem Tov, Hosafos, 127).")addQuote("Before the Baal Shem Tov would deliver a Torah discourse to his disciples, they would sing a melody together. (Mt'vo Sht” arim, 43:1).")addQuote("“Know what is above you. ..” (Avos 2:1). Know that whatever is Above [depends upon] you. (Tzava'as HaRivash 142).")addQuote("Whenever one studies Torah or performs a mitzvah, he should realize that the agent of his actions is not really himself but the Shechinah. (Tzafnas Paneach 21b).")addQuote("Each word [of prayer] is a complete structure. It must contain all of one's strength; for if not, it is [like a body] lacking a limb. (Tzava'as HaRivash 34).")addQuote("Sometimes one can recite one's prayers with great speed. Since one's heart is aflame with the love of G-d, the words come out of his mouth automatically. (Tzava'as HaRivash 36).")addQuote("When Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi came to Mezeritch, the Maggid told him in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that melody is one of the paths of Divine service according to the teachings of Chasidism. (Sefer HaSichos 5702).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov could hear words in the sounds of a musical instrument, for he [had truly attained the level of man and therefore] could transform inarticulate sounds [the animal level] to words of holiness. (Likkutei Moharan. I:225). ")addQuote("“Save me from bloodshed (damim), G-d . . .” (Tehillim 51:16). The Baal Shem Tov interpreted this to mean: “Save me from money [damim], that I should not make it my G-d.” (Imrei Tzaddikim 16:2).")addQuote("Rabbi Yitzchak of Neshchiz once said that from the melody a musician played, the Baal Shem Tov knew everything he had done since the day of his birth. (Zichron Tov, 11:2).")addQuote("“Grace is false and beauty is vain . . .” (Mishlei 31:30). The holy Baal Shem Tov once remarked: Before Moshiach comes, falsehood will possess grace and vanity will seem beautiful. (Ohr HaNer 16b, cited in Siddur T'zlosa D'Yisrael; attributed to Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin in Shema Shlomo, p. 108).")addQuote("“The fence for wisdom is silence” (Avos 3:13). When one is silent, he is able to bind himself to the World of Thought, which is called “wisdom.” (Kesser Shem Tov 225).")addQuote("It is said in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that if a person merits to pray properly [even] one time, he can raise up all the unworthy prayers will also achieve perfection and be favorable received Above. (Tiferes Shlomo, Shabbos Teshuva)")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: The Holy One, blessed be He, sends a soul to the world to live seventy or eighty years, just to do another Jew a favor, materially in general or spiritually in particular. (Likkutei Dibburim III, p. 1126, cited in Kesser Shem Tov, Hosafos, 130) ")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: Weeping is a great evil, for one must serve G-d with joy. But if one cries because of joy and attachment to G-d, then it is very good. (Tzava'as HaRivash 48)")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: One's Torah study should be conducted with enthusiasm and joy; this [itself] will cause one to experience fewer alien thoughts. (Tzava'as HaRivash 51)")addQuote("I heard in the name of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov that when the Seven Universal Commandments were given to the descendants of Noach, the [souls of the] Jewish people agreed to become guarantors for the rest of the world. (Ray Veivi, Vayeishev)")addQuote("I heard from my master (the Baal Shem Tov) that sometimes a person prays for one thing, and he is given something else. Sometimes his prayer only has an effect in the Supernal Worlds. [But prayer is always beneficial]. (Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Ekev).")addQuote("If one desires to transgress, G-d forbid, he should recite the scriptural verse that refers to that sin with its proper cantillation and vowelization, in awe and in love, and then the [forbidden desire] will leave him. (Tzava'as HaRivash 13).")addQuote("My master (the Baal Shem Tov) was told in a Heavenly vision that the coming of the Moshiach is delayed because we do not prolong the recitation of Ahavah Rabbah [the prayer which describes the mutual love between G-d and the Jewish people]. (Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Va'eira)")addQuote("Rabbi Noach of Lechovitch once said, “The Baal Shem Tov came to the world in order to implant true humility and true joy into the hearts of the Jewish people. And the opposite of these qualities are sadness, despair and levity.” (Toras Avos, Simchah V'Hischazkus)")addQuote("I heard in the name of my grandfather (the Baal Shem Tov): Our Sages state that whoever renounces idolatry is called a Jew (Megillah 13a). Self-importance is a form of idolatry. Thus, whoever renounces self-importance is called a Jew. (Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Purim)")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov once said: “Just as everyone joyously exclaims when a guest arrives, so do [the angels] joyously exclaim Above.” (Imrei Pinchas, p. 215)")addQuote("I heard from my master, the Baal Shem Tov: When the leaders of the generation are joyous, this awakens joy throughout the world. (Divras Shlomo)")addQuote("One who engages in [Kabbalistic] meditation should have a companion with him, for to do so alone is dangerous. Both people should stay in one room, and each one should meditate upon the Creator by himself.")addQuote("Sometimes, when one cleaves to G-d, he is able to meditate even in a house full of people. (Tzava'as HaRivash 63) ")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov often told his disciples that even non-Jews know that one should never scorn any person. As the folk adage goes, “Take a good look at what you have done, and at another's expense you won't have fun.” (Luchos Erez, 59)")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: G-d loves every Jew as if he were an only child, born to his parents in their old age-and even more. (Likkutei Sichos III, p. 982).")addQuote("It is impossible to pray with intense concentration except by exerting oneself. [Before beginning to pray,] one must beg G-d for His help and assistance. (Tzava'as HaRivash 60).")addQuote("I heard from my master (the Baal Shem Tov): When a guest arrives, he brings his host Torah insights; for the Torah insights the host receives from Above correspond to the nature of his guests. (Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Vayeira).")addQuote("“Turn from evil and do good” (Tehillim 34:15). That is, transform evil into goodness. (Kesser Shem Tov 69).")addQuote("“Toras Hashem temimah (G-d's Torah is complete) ...” (Tehillim 19:8). The Baal Shem Tov rendered this literally: The Torah in its entirety spells the name of G-d. (Toldos Aharon, Beshalach).")addQuote("The Zohar states that one should perform the will of G-d like a poor man (Zohar 111, 195a). Like a poor man, one should always address G-d with humble words of supplication. (Tzava'as HaRivash 7).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: When the body is sick, the soul is sick and cannot pray properly, even if it is pure and without sin. Therefore, one must be very careful to safeguard his health. (Tzava'as HaRivash 106).")addQuote("“'Can a man hide in secret places and I not see him ?' declares G-d” (Yirmiyahu 23:24). The Baal Shem Tov rendered this interpretively: A person can hide in secret places--but as long as he is an “I” in his own perception, G-d will not look at him [so to speak]. (Likkutei Sichos IV, p. 1033). ")addQuote("The great principle in Divine service and its main point is faith. My grandfather (the Baal Shem Tov) stressed this, for faith is the root of the entire Torah. (Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Ekev).")addQuote("In everything one does, his only purpose should be to gratify the Creator, and not to serve himself in the least. Even the desire to experience delight in the act of Divine service is a form of serving oneself. (Tzava'as HaRivash 11).")addQuote("The words of Torah spoken at one's table constitute the soul of the physical things served. [Therefore, the Baal Shem Tov] would always say words of Torah during his meals, both on weekdays and certainly on Shabbos. (Ner Mitzvah 8:2). ")addQuote("“And if you will seek the Lord, your G-d, from there, you will find Him. ..” (Devarim 4:29). The Baal Shem Tov pointed out that the verse states “from there.” No matter what a person's circumstances may be, there he may find G-d and cleave to Him. (Me'or Einaim, Likkutim).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: Whatever a person sees or hears contains a lesson in Divine service. This is the gist of Divine service: to realize how to serve G-d in all things. (HaYom Yom, p. 52, cited in Kesser Shem Tov, Hosafos, 128).")addQuote("The Creator is present in every movement, for it is impossible to make any gesture or to utter any word without His power. This is the meaning of the verse, “His glory fills the entire world.” (Kesser Shem Tov 273).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov told his disciples always to say: “Ko'ach haPoel b'nifal- The power of the Creator is in the creation.” (Shomer Emunim, Ma'amar Emunah, cited in Meir Einei Yisrael, Emunah).")addQuote("A Jew is never alone: Wherever he goes and wherever he speaks, G-d is with him. (Likkutei Dibburim IV, p. 980).")addQuote("Deveykus means that when one utters a word [of prayer] he draws it out greatly-for due to his cleaving, he does not want to part from the word. Therefore, he draws out its pronunciation. (Tzava'as HaRivash 70).")addQuote("Sometimes one must gaze about here and there in order to cleave in thought to the Creator, may He be blessed. This is due to the gross physicality of one's body, which is a barrier to the [light of the] soul. (Tzava'as HaRivash 80).")addQuote("Rabbi Rephael of Bershad taught: A man whose son had gone astray once came to the Baal Shem Tov. “Love him even more,” the Baal Shem Tov advised, “and this will help him to return to G-d.” (Midrash Pinchas 38b).")addQuote("The viewpoint of our master, the Baal Shem Tov, is one teaching that may be expressed in two ways: G-dliness is everything, and everything is G-dliness. (Likkutei Dibburim IV. 36).")addQuote("When a person realizes that the Master of the Universe is actually present in his every word and gesture, however great or small, all the spiritual confusions disperse that obscure the light of Essential Mind. (Nesiv Mitzvosecha, cited in Sefer Baal Shem. Tov, VaYeilech, note 6).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: It is not necessary to “place” oneself in G-dliness, but only to realize that everything is subsumed in the Divine light. (Ohr HaGanuz L'Tzaddikim, Vayeira). ")addQuote("The Maggid of Mezeritch once remarked, “If only I could kiss the Sefer Torah with the same love that the Baal Shem Tov used to show a little child who had started reciting his alef-beis!” (Sippurei Chasidim Shir HaShirim).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: If a person is completely unconcerned with himself, such that everything is the same to him, he will surely reach the highest spiritual levels--for humility is loftier than all other spiritual attainments. (Hanhagos Yesharos, 14b, cited in Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Metzora 12).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov taught: If a person grasps a “part” of Oneness, he grasps the whole and the opposite is also true. (Kesser Shem Tov 65)")addQuote("One could not see a deficiency in someone else if he did not bear a trace of it within himself. (Kesser Shem Tov 116).")addQuote("During his years of concealment, the Baal Shem Tov [used to escort children back and forth from cheder]. Sometimes he would rest his holy hand on the heart of a child and say “May you be a warm-hearted Jew.” (Likkutei Dibburim III, p. 1054).")addQuote("The Baal Shem Tov once remarked: Dancing brings joy to the Supernal Family [the Creator and the Ministering Angels] and blessings to the Jewish people, together with happiness, mercy, and great kindness. (Zera Baruch, Hosafos).")addQuote("I heard from [Rabbi Gedaliah of Linitz] that the Baal Shem Tov never kept money overnight. When he returned from his travels, he would pay his debts and contribute the rest of his money to charity the very same day. (Shivchei Baal Shem Tov 123).")addQuote("Faith itself is deveykus. (Kesser Shem Tov 310).")addQuote("“He gave charity to the destitute . . .” (Tehillim 112:9). The Baal Shem Tov said: G-d gave the trait of being charitable to the destitute. (Ner Yisrael I, Tehillim p. 207).")addQuote("I heard from my master (the Baal Shell Tov) a simple adage that encompasses everything: If you wish to belittle any creature, belittle yourself. And if you wish to praise anyone, praise G-d all the more. (Toldos Yaakov Yosef, Vayeishev).")addQuote("When a person always serves G-d in every moment, there is no possibility for him to become self-important or to be attracted to pride or other evil traits. (Tzava'as HaRivash 52).")addQuote("For oneself, one must always maintain a critical eye; for others, never. (Sippurei Tzaddikim 24, 1).")document.getElementById('quoteSpan').innerHTML = quotes[Math.round(Math.random() * 120)] |
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