The Baal Shem Tov on Ahavas Yisroel – Love
December 11, 2024
The Baal Shem Tov said that when one person blesses another this blessing is accepted by G-d far deeper than even the advocating of The Angel Michoel – the advocate of the Jews in Heaven.
{In other words, G-d loves it when we love, and it moves Him deeply. As the Alter Rebbe teaches, when one Jew blesses another with their full heart, this “enters G-d’s heart” who then blesses them.
Never stop blessing your fellow!}
“Vehavta Lireacha Kamoicha” – “Love your friend like yourself.”
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that this means that G-d is like your shadow who corresponds to your every move, so as you treat, love, and help others, similarly G-d treats, loves, and helps you!
The Baal Shem Tov said, “The love for one’s fellow is the first Gateway to G-d.”
{In other words, if you wish to love G-d, you must first love your fellow.}
The commandment to love G-d or a fellow, can be fulfilled when one contemplates thoughts that inspire love.
{In other words, thoughts and ideas will generate emotions.
Therefore by thinking about what is lovable in another we generate love for them.
We need to contemplate the great qualities of our fellow Jews, including that we are effectively a Single-Divine-Soul radiating in many bodies, thereby generating the emotion of love.}
“Listen amongst your brothers.”
To achieve the sensitivity, appreciation, and understanding of the greatness of every Jew, you must be “amongst your brothers.”
This occurs when one is so connected with their fellow Jews to the extent that even the simplest is considered by you as your brother!
{When we feel connected to every Jew, G-d shows us their great qualities!}
When the Baal Shem Tov was a hidden (secret) Tzaddik, He would travel to different cities and towns, gathering the men, women, and children, telling them stories with lessons from Ein Yaakov (fascinating ethical stories from the Talmud).
In one town He spoke about Reb Yaakov, a great genius who would study the Talmud from memory.
When one studies from memory, one must be incredibly focused. One day his son came by and said something clever. Reb Yaakov stopped his studies to listen and enjoy his son’s wit.
The Baal Shem Tov says that likewise, “When G-d asked the Angels if he should make man, the Angels were none-too-impressed…”
However, when a Jew goes to Synagogue to pray and listens to the Torah class and takes a lesson in life from it, then G-d gathers all the Angels and says, “You Angels have no financial worries, however, this person correctly has a wife and children which I demanded of him. Furthermore, he must support them, pay his taxes, etc. yet he still finds the time to go learn and find lessons for his life!”
The Baal Shem Tov explained, “When you contemplate that it is the Jews that G-d brags about…!” this will inspire great love and reverence.
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that a Neshama (soul) will come down to live seventy or eighty years on earth for the sole purpose of helping another!
In general, this pertains to another’s physical needs, but it applies infinitely more so to their spiritual!
{The Previous Rebbe said that this teaching inspired hundreds of thousands of Jews to genuinely care, uplift, and dedicate themselves to each other!
The Rebbe explains, although the Baal Shem Tov mentions only one good deed, it is obvious that after one must come another and another, etc.}
The Baal Shem Tov said, “I love the pious simple Jew.
He or she contains the deepest moral treasures!”
{Every Jew contains great moral convictions.}
Even the most unlearned Jew has the greatest innate qualities!
{In other words, we must equally respect all our fellow Jews, as they have innate greatness and goodness.}
The Baal Shem Tov revealed the essence of Ahavas Yisroel:
Just as one’s love for G-d is beyond intellectual understanding rather it is Because He is G-d!
And similarly, one’s love for Torah is beyond intellectual appreciation, rather due to the fact that It is G-d’s Torah!
Likewise, our love for a fellow Jew is not due to any quality, but rather Just because He is a Jew!
{Love for a fellow Jew should be natural.}
The Baal Shem Tov once said, “Behold, I testify by Heaven and earth that in a very serious judgment in the Heavenly Court regarding a person who just passed on…
Now this person was quite unlearned (he could only say his prayers and the Tehillim) but he was extraordinarily loving!
In his thoughts, he would always think about others.
In his speech, he would speak with love.
In his deeds, he did whatever he could to help everyone!
He would feel the pain of every Jew, whether man or woman, and he rejoiced in their happiness.
The Heavenly Court decided that he would have a place in Heaven by the Great Tzaddikim and Scholars, of whom our Sages say, ‘They are lovers of G-d!’”
The Baal Shem Tov continued, “When a Jew sighs over the pain occurring to a fellow Jew, this annuls all negative decrees. When we rejoice in the blessings of a fellow Jew and wish them well, this is as dear to G-d as the prayer of Rabbi Yishmoel the Cohen Gadoil, in the Holy of Holies!”
{In other words, what a parent – in this case G-d – loves most, is His children loving and caring for one another!
Feel your fellow Jews joy or G-d forbid suffering.}
The Baal Shem Tov told his Holy-Disciples that through Mesiras Nefesh, unconditional giving for a fellow Jew, we reveal the Divine.
{To reveal our Divinity, we must be ready to sacrifice for another!}
- Ahavas Yisroel – See Qualities
The Baal Shem Tov taught us to see others’ qualities, and if one doesn’t see them, it is not because they aren’t there, rather because one’s “glasses” are dirty.
We must love a Jew simply because he is a Jew!
The difference between a scholar and an unlearned Jew is only in the expression of one’s soul’s light, however regarding the soul’s essence, all are similar!
{In other words, “labels” / titles are something external.
Intrinsically we are all Divine.}
Our negative speech causes others to speak negatively against us.
Therefore if people deride us, it is an effect of our own bad speech. The situation will get worse if we ostracize them; rather pray that our enemies repent and they will.
- Charity + 20%
The Baal Shem Tov explains that the idea of not giving more than 20% to charity only applies to someone who fears losing their money.
But one who trusts that G-d will repay them, can by all means give more!
- Charity + 20 %
The Baal Shem Tov was asked why he gives more than 20% to charity, for it is known, that “one should not give more than 20%.”
He explained that this refers to one who finds it difficult to give – but he enjoys it!
- Charity – Always
Regarding all Mitzvos, if you don’t do it for the sake of G-d, perhaps it is better if it wasn’t done…
But with charity, although it is better to give altruistically, the bottom line is someone has food!
{Always give even if your motives aren’t 100% pure.}
- Charity – From Whom To Take
A person who needs charity should bear in mind that they are giving another the opportunity to save their lives! (As it states “Charity saves from death!”) By having this intention and taking the money, you are doing a great Mitzvah.
Someone who takes charity with the proper intention should only take from worthy Jews, and not run to anyone…
- Charity – Helping
If you cannot financially help someone, you should at least give them a letter of recommendation.
{In other words, do whatever you can to help !}
- Charity – How To
“You should surely open your hand to the poor” – when one gives to the poor, this causes a Divine union (Yichud).
The coin which is small is “Yud.”
Your five fingers are “Hei.”
The stretching of your hand outward “Vov.”
And the poor person receiving in his hand is “Hei.”
When this is the order of events, this is the Divine name.
But if the poor person first sticks out his hand – it is not the correct order.
We must first find who needs and give to them, and then G-d likewise will “find” and give to us.
{As the Rebbe teaches, the correct mechanism of giving charity is not waiting to be asked, but looking for who needs it!}
Even if we are filled with Torah knowledge and deep love as well as awe of G-d and this motivates us to give charity, we may be “murderers!”
For if we give charity but do not feel the other person’s plight… (this can cause the other to feel ashamed, which is a form of “murder.”)
{Whenever you give charity, remember, feel compassion.}
- Charity – Tzedakah
The Baal Shem Tov says that when it comes to giving charity, your intention doesn’t matter, because the important thing is that the person in need receives it!
{This is explained in #19 above.}
- Compassion
“Just as G-d is compassionate so should you be.”
What causes G-d to think about us? For we are bodies of gross (albeit minute) material, but because we are compassionate, G-d “reflects” us, and likewise is compassionate.
- Compassion – “Run”
There are two types of kind people – one type will see someone in need, for example who may be hungry, and they will invite them in and feed them.
The other type, like Abraham, has such a strong desire to help that he runs to find someone to help, and if he can’t find anyone to assist feels pain.
- Giving – Unconditional
G-d is a giver – without any expectation of receiving. This is the “male form,” and we should strive to give like this.
{Give Unconditionally.}
- Goodness – Do It Daily – Eagerly
See to it that every day you do some act of goodness and kindness whether great or small – in fact, you should eagerly anticipate that perhaps today G-d will give you such a marvelous opportunity / Mitzvah!
Our soul shines from the good we do.
- Grudges – Not
The Baal Shem Tov said: Every positive command / Mitzvah has a prohibition, for example “eating kosher” has the prohibition of “not eating non-kosher.” The Mitzvah of “loving your fellow Jew” has a corresponding prohibition to “never hold any grudges (resentment.)”
{The way to overcome resentment is as Jewish law teaches us to either confront a person who wronged us and ask them “How come they did this?” or to forgive them.
Tanya (Chapter 32) explains that if you can feel sorry for this person, as their Divine soul is currently hijacked by an evil spirit (as it states, “a person sins not unless a foolish spirit overcomes them” as intrinsically everyone wishes to be good) then your compassion will eliminate your anger / resentment.
Finally, the Alter Rebbe teaches in Iggeres Hakodesh that believing in reincarnation – hence what may be unfair in this lifetime may be a karmic debt from a previous… will eliminate anger (as anger comes from the sense of injustice.)
In summary, we may not carry resentment, anger nor grudges and we are obligated to either query the offence or forgive.}
- Jews – Positive
Once after Tikkun Chatzios the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov were speaking about the greatness of the Jewish people.
However, they were not speaking from their heart, rather for the sake of causing pleasure to G-d, and the Baal Shem Tov saw that in Heaven this caused Din / upsetness.
He went out and shouted at them, “It is like you are a woman telling her husband the greatness of the children of his other wife (doing this only to find favor…)
‘I Yisroel say, that the Jewish people are a Holy People, they are good, Good! GOOD! filled with goodness and kindness, and Torah, and all sorts of positive traits!’”
And He continued saying wonderful things until He caused a delight in Heaven.
G-d says, “See no evil in my children.”
Once the Baal Shem Tov visited a city, and His host went to listen to a roving preacher, but the Baal Shem Tov heard that this person was preaching “fire and brimstone.”
He sent his attendant to tell the host to come home. At the same time, the attendant told people that the Baal Shem Tov disapproved of this lecture.
Slowly but surely, the people dissipated.
And eventually, the preacher stopped his lecture.
The next day the lecturer came to the Baal Shem Tov and the Baal Shem Tov asked him “Who are you?”
So he told him… and then the preacher asked, “Why didn’t you like my speech?”
The Baal Shem Tov got up and with tears in His eyes, said, “You speak badly about Jews?! Do you know that when a simple Jew who is a laborer and is busy all day and then realizes that it is Minchah and goes into a home to Daven, the Angels in Heaven shake!”
The Baal Shem Tov said that even a Jew who totally forgets about G-d and is consumed by his internal worries, business, etc. but then Minchah comes and he gives a sigh thinking, “How could I have been so preoccupied?!” and then goes to Daven Minchah – this moan shatters the Heavens.
{In other words, G-d not only doesn’t judge us, He is impressed by any good deed we do!}
- Jews – Stars
The Baal Shem Tov said, just as stars appear so small below, but are so big above – similarly the Jews!
- Judge – Not
A complete Tzaddik that has no evil in themselves sees no evil in others. In his eyes all are righteous.
And therefore, His love for the Jewish people is very great.
But if He hasn’t completely rectified himself, He will see some of His own imperfections.
He should know that the guilt He sees in others is also within Himself.
When you see no evil in others, it is a sign (that there is no evil in you…)
{The truth is, this a very important concept – for we know that no one is judged unless they judge themselves!
How is this so?
In Heaven, on judgment day, they show someone a scene and ask them to judge it. Though one thinks they are passing judgment on another, the scene is in fact something from their own life; as such one becomes their own judge!
This teaches us to always judge favorably, for eventually we end up judging ourselves.}
- Judge – Not
Our Sages teach, “Who is wise? One who learns from everyone.”
A wise person can recognize themselves and their limitations…
But a foolish person sees only what’s wrong in others, and not in themselves.
One can easily discover where (whom) they truly are by understanding the two chambers in Heaven:
The first chamber of “Zechus” contains positivity, and the chamber of “Din” contains negativity and judgment.
In the chamber of “Zechus,” even for the greatest sin they can find an extenuating circumstance which will excuse it.
However in the chamber of negativity, even for the very righteous they can find faults.
{Ask yourself, “Am I judgmental or compassionate?”}
- Judging – Don’t
Just as when you see a dirty face in a mirror, it is your own; Similarly, the dirt we see in another is our own.
{So judge not.}
- Judging – Don’t
When one judges another, saying that they deserve a punishment for a wrong they have done… then in the Heavenly Court they check the deeds of the one who judges.
Now it may be that the person did not do the same sin, however, we know that there are sins that are comparable. For example, one who is arrogant is like one who committed adultery – one who is angry is like one who worshiped an idol. And perhaps the person who is judging, their sin is deemed worse, and the punishment is then meted out (on them.)
If one excuses the sinner by saying that “he has such a strong Yetzer Hara…” (in other words, “the sinner is good, yet the evil in him got the better of him…”) then the person excusing the sinner is likewise forgiven (for their sins.)
- Judging – Don’t
The Mishnah says, “Man is punished with and without his knowledge.”
The Baal Shem Tov says that “with his knowledge” refers to a person who is very bitter, and says that he prefers death G-d forbid.
And “without his knowledge,” is when a man judges another person, believing that he deserves punishment for his sin, this then is visited upon him.
{In other words, be careful about what you wish for… and don’t judge others.}
- Judging – Not
The Baal Shem Tov says that when we judge another, we are judged.
Hence when something bad happens to another and instead of feeling their suffering and pain, we believe that “due to their sins they deserve it,” this can be G-d forbid visited upon us.
But when we feel their pain, and we ask G-d to help them! we receive a blessing!
- Judging – Not
# 1. We should never judge; we must always see the good in others.
# 2. If in any way we have been demeaned, we must view it as the verse states, “It is not good for man to be alone – a help opposing him I will make” (which means occasionally one gets rebuked) for if we are never judged we can come to believe we are completely righteous (hence the rebuke is really a gift as it helps us to be humble)!
When we see some sort of negativity in another, we must realize that on some level we have this too! (In this way, our anger is removed and we remain humble.)
And the main thing is to believe that in everything you say and do, G-d is in it.
- Judging – Not
If you see (or hear about) a sin in someone else, realize that you have this problem, at least on some level.
And you should fix it within yourself.
{When encountering another’s sin it is a time to reflect if and how we have this within ourselves, and how we can rectify it.}
- Judging – Not
“Stretch out your hand not with a wicked person to be a witness to violence.”
This means that you should never speak poorly about another Jew G-d-forbid.
If you do this, you’ll have to be a “witness of violence.”
For when the evil Yetzer Hara speaks badly and brings this person to the Heavenly Court and prosecutes him desiring a punishment, they will bring you as a testimony to his words (for the Yetzer Hara on his own is not believed.)
Therefore, if you must speak about a negative / sin that you have to get rid of, never speak about the person, only the behavior.
- Judging – Not
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that when you see something wrong in a bad person, you should imagine some kind of excuse – such as “It is because he had such a strong Yetzer Hara that he sinned” or because “His constitution is so coarse that he doesn’t know how bad the sin is etc.”
When you do this, you save yourself from being judged.
The truth is that anything negative you see in another is in fact something you yourself do (or something similar).
There are decrees and Accusers above who wish to condemn / judge you.
When you find an extenuating circumstance for your friend, this then is applied to you as well.
When you do not get angry with the sinner and instead attribute the sin to his Yetzer Hara, then when judgments come up against you, it will cause that the Heavenly court will find you in favor.
- Judging – Not
The Baal Shem Tov teaches us that if we condemn another, and say that due to their sin, something bad should happen to them… we are in fact judging ourselves.
Though we may have not done that sin, nevertheless it could be that we do something similar.
For example, it says, “Whoever is arrogant is as if he committed adultery… whoever is angry is as if he worshipped an idol.”
And it could be that one’s own sin is even worse than the other person’s.
However, if a person decides to be forgiving and says for example, “This person must have a very difficult time and can’t control himself…” or similar excuses, then one in fact creates a merit for oneself.
And this is what it says, “From all my sins save me, through the fact that I’ve never condemned anyone.”
- Judging – Not
I heard from my father-in-law, The Great Holy Rabbi Avrohom Mordechai of Pintshov, that once the Holy Disciples of The Baal Shem Tov were praying on Rosh Hashanah.
The tobacco pouch of one of the disciples fell to the ground and he picked it up and had a sniff. His friend praying close by saw this and was upset that he had interrupted his prayers to smell tobacco.
The Baal Shem Tov saw by Divine prophecy that this Holy Tzaddik being upset and judgmental would cause the disciple to pass away later that year.
The Baal Shem Tov went into Heaven and prayed very hard for him, but nothing worked.
Eventually on Hoshana Rabba, when the Tzaddik who was upset said Tikkun, the Baal Shem Tov miraculously removed the Tzaddik’s intelligence and he could no longer study.
He began thinking about the greatness of G-d, and he thought, “Why did G-d make Tobacco?” He concluded that there must be great souls (due to reincarnation) that can’t come down into physical bodies, and the way they will be rectified is through a smell, similar to “a pleasing fragrance to G-d.”
He then regretted that he was upset with his friend, for who knows, maybe there were Holy Souls that this Tzaddik elevated through his sniff.
Throughout the day of Hoshana Rabba, the Baal Shem Tov as per His custom would answer everyone who asked Him anything, and would tell them what would occur as He saw with His Divine prophecy from one end of the world to the other. Each person would prepare a question, whether in Talmud or other matters, and He would answer them all.
This disciple asked the question “Why did G-d make Tobacco be discovered in our generations?” And the Baal Shem Tov said, “Tell me what you think…?” And he responded with his thought (as mentioned above). Then the Baal Shem Tov said, “There is greater reason,” and mentioned the story that happened with his friend, and He told him, “In the future, you should always judge favorably, and not cause negative judgment.”
{A holy person who judges another negatively actually can cause tremendous damage so we must never judge.}
- Judging – Not
Instead of criticizing, see yourself as an equal to everyone.
(Consider that if you who know Torah, G-d etc. and nonetheless when you encounter pleasures of this world you have a desire for it, then those who are not privileged to know G-d or Torah how much more so must they desire it ! As such forgive their indiscretions.)
{In other words, everyone has their challenges so don’t condemn.}
- Kindness
Avrohom Avinu recognized G-d when He was three, however, His greatness lies in the fact that He had genuine self-sacrifice to teach others.
{In other words greater than recognizing G-d, is helping man.}
- Kindness
Whatever we do below, such as an act of kindness, causes a similar reaction from above.
Hence when we are generous this causes G-d to give to us generously.
- Love
Light in Hebrew has the same numerical value as “secret” (Roz) and “stranger (Zar).”
When you reveal a person’s inner light (through seeing him or her in a positive light) this creates, from a “stranger,” love.
{By seeing the qualities in another, they will love you.}
- Love
The Baal Shem Tov gave extraordinary love to the simple pious unlearned Jews, and His Holy successor the Maagid said, “If He could see while He was alive the tremendous joy this love gave G-d, He would have done so in an extraordinarily more loving manner.”
{G-d loves love.}
- Love
The Nara”n (nefesh, ruach, neshoma, soul levels) of a person incarnate in the seven sefiros.
The light of the nefesh spreads into the secret of one’s help and animals. If a person defiles his nefesh through evil actions, he will have pain from his help, and animals – the horses and donkeys will die… And sometimes through his bad actions, he causes souls to descend into the Kelipah and they incarnate into the plants and the physical matter.
And when his animals graze on that grass, the souls that are there cause illness and death to his animals (as vengeance…)
When a Tzaddik passes by there, he elevates those souls – then they leave the animals alone, and they become healed.
If one sins in his ruach (speech) like lashoin-hara or speaking negatively about a Jew etc… We know that Holy Speech is called unity, and the opposite of this is Lashoin Hara (causing disunity.) So, G-d-forbid one who talks Lashoin Hara affects the Vov… and his is a sin worse than idolatry, murder, and adultery, for the person literally spills the “blood” (visage/image) of his fellow. And the Shechinah cannot shine.
This is a general sin, and he removes all the energy and radiance that is in the Shechinah.
From this, bad people come and speak poorly against him, and this breaks him – he will also have problems with his wife.
And one’s suffering is in direct proportion to one’s negative effect.
And through his suffering, the person whom he criticized becomes appeased, and he forgives him.
This is regarding a Tzaddik who just happened to speak negatively about another (accidentally) but a wicked person who indulges in malicious speech – lives in this world peacefully, but his soul is cut off, and loses any connection to existence.
The Neshomoh dwells in the mind, so if one sins in thoughts (thoughts are where sperm originates) they will get pain from their children.
In all the Sefiros and emotions, one can elevate the Nara”n (nefesh, ruach, neshomoh) besides for Malchus, for that is where the Kelipah derive from…
It is therefore difficult to elevate the holiness from there.
One needs great faith to withstand many tests – and to be firm in their convictions that in every single negative experience G-d is with them. In other words, “doing things for him.”
One should believe with complete faith and trust in the name of G-d, and rely on G-d in all matters – and in this way one handles the evil of his friends and accepts it with joy.
And the principle is derived that the people who hate you come from sins of speech, therefore one must elevate them through speech – the speech of prayer.
To pray for them that they should return to G-d as Reb Yehuda Hachassid did.
Then every Jew who caused you suffering and speaks evil against you becomes a Baal-Teshuvah, even a gentile converts!
However if one doesn’t do this, but rather casts them aside and causes upon them Din / judgment – they become coarse and hate him even more.
This is a punishment for a Tzaddik who is not completely good – for all who hate him and cause him mental pain actually comes from the source of his soul, and are literally the ruach / spirit of his soul.
And they were created to cause him suffering and humility – that he shouldn’t become arrogant G-d-forbid – which would cause him to fall into Kelipah.
This truth being the case, why should the Tzaddik cast them aside? For they cause his life in this world and the next.
Therefore with all his effort, he must fix them and shine his light upon them. He must elevate them in prayer – and through the prayer, the judgment is sweetened, and one extracts the ruach (spirit) from them, and the pure evil part automatically disintegrates.
One shouldn’t be angry and cause judgment on them (even between oneself and G-d…)
On the contrary, one should pray for them and see miracles – and the good ones will return to be his friends.
And this is the idea of Moses, the true Shepherd… He gave the Jewish people the Torah, and they became His disciples.
- Love Unconditionally
One of the ways to encourage someone spiritually is by helping them physically. One shouldn’t make spirituality a precondition to assisting.
Besides the simple Ahavas Yisroel (the commandment to unconditionally love) which this fulfills, this will also make the person far more receptive to listening.
This was the path the Baal Shem Tov forged.
- A Mirror
If a person sees evil in another, they should realize that G-d showed it to them so that they should rectify this evil within themselves.
{And as the Rebbe says, because we have self-love, we can only see our own bad through the reflection of the bad we see in others… so this is actually a mechanism to know what we need to improve on.}
- A Mitzvah – Daily
Let not a day pass without an extra Mitzvah (good deed) whether big or small, as our Sages have said, “Be careful (Zahir) to do a small Mitzvah (as you are careful with the big).”
The word “careful” / “zahir” also has the terminology of “shine.”
In other words, the soul will shine both from a small or big Mitzvah, as “G-d seeks the heart.”
This in fact is a great thing – for then you know that you accomplished something today, as you created an Angel (for every good deed makes an Angel).
It states, “If you have but one Angel that advocates for you, etc.” (then this can then save you.)
- A Mitzvah – Daily
One who does a daily (extra) Mitzvah is protected from all harm – therefore one must always be on the lookout as to what good deed they can do today!
- Outreach
A person’s mission is to elevate those below – higher.
In order to do this one must descend to the level that the other person is in.
As in the example of a prince who fell into bad company and no one could get him to come home; it took one minister dressing up as a commoner to slowly get him to return.
Similarly, the Rabbis and teachers must go to the level of the people… “wear their clothing,” in order to elevate them.
As it is written, Shmuel the Prophet said, “We sinned.”
In other words, he went to the level of the people.
Note 5 To save somebody who is in the dirt, one must be ready to get dirty.
- Peace
The combination of two things (and certainly people, such as in marriage – friendship, etc.) is peace.
A person who creates peace between people is called “a pursuer of peace.”
- A Power – Love
There are two kinds of philanthropists: one who being very wealthy and magnanimous forgoes any small loss, and one who is careful in all details not because they are cheap, but rather because a truly good person cares.
The Baal Shem Tov was like the latter, and every single Jewish soul, no matter how seemingly “insignificant” was of the greatest import to Him.
{We see this behavior by the Rebbe, in fact by all the Rebbes, and certainly we too should so emulate. In other words, true charity is not just distributing one’s wealth but being very caring – not being able to sleep unless the others needs are met.}
- Relationships
The Baal Shem Tov says it is natural to the Jewish people that when something negative occurs we rejoice – for we realize that there was a Din (negative decree against us) and through the negative occurrence it got eliminated (“washed away”) and now it will be good.
The way to deal with an obnoxious person is to ignore them and to increase your study of Torah and then their negativity will disappear.
If however a person gets angry or seeks vengeance (or G-d-forbid does something cruel) then on the contrary, one is helping the enemy.
The purpose of rejoicing in the negative is that certainly there was a Din (a negative decree in Heaven) and through what occurred the decree has been averted!
- A Relationships – Cosmic Healing
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that when you see someone evil, instead of hating them, you must realize that as we are a single soul there must be subconsciously some of that evil in me. (Though I repress the fact I have it, so as not to make myself appear bad – even to myself.) Hence by rectifying that evil within myself, we eliminate it.
{A good technique is ask yourself: “What’s wrong with people?” Whatever answer comes up, is in you (for we can only see our own evil) and by fixing it in yourself, you will fix it in the world.}
- Relationships – Enduring
The Gemarah teaches, Mar Ukbah sent a note to Reb Elazar, “There are people that are harassing me, and I have the power to hand them over to the Government for judgement…”
So he wrote back to him the verse: “Be silent to G-d, and await for Him.”
“Get up early and rise and study in The House of Torah study, and they will dissipate.”
The Baal Shem Tov explained – Reb Elazer gave him great advice, that through studying more Torah, the Dinim (harshness) will be rectified. The reason people are harassing below is because there is a Din above. This Din enclothes itself in bad people.
The solution is to not fight with them… but rather to learn more Torah, namely the inner dimension of Torah (Chassidus), which is the secret to knowledge.
And one should pray with love and awe of G-d which is Daas / knowledge (feeling).
And through the Daas and words (of prayer) one elevates Heavenward to unify in the world of thought – where there are no harsh judgments nor evil, rather only good. Then, one includes those fallen Dinim in the positive. And all of this is through recognizing that these Dinim, are fallen letters.
The harsh speech is the fallen letters – therefore when one studies Torah with love and awe which is the level of Daas, one elevates those letters to The Source of Torah in Heaven.
And they become rectified in their source. As is known, all that descends below is via letters of Divine speech, and through elevating them to their source, the evil falls away and all becomes good. Then, the people who were previously enemies become friends.
- Relationships – Humility
Just as a person who is standing over a body of water, their shadow over it is quite large… and as one bends, the shadow becomes smaller until when one places their face right to the water then the face reflecting in the water is exactly their own (size).
Similarly, when a person is in a relationship with another person, if you act “big” / haughty the other does too.
But the humbler you are, so is the other.
The same thing applies in our relationship with G-d.
This is why it states – as Moses was the most humble person – G-d spoke to him “face to face.”
- A Shaming – Never
“Do not hate your brother in your heart – you should surely rebuke him, and do not consider him to have sinned.”
The Baal Shem Tov teaches, “Do not hate your brother in your heart.”
Anyone who hates a fellow Jew, even just in their heart – not that he actually G-d-forbid does anything wrong or says something bad about him, but just resents him… such a person transgresses a Biblical prohibition.
So how can one ensure not to transgress this? As such, “you should surely rebuke him…”
You should go to the person that you know hates you – now his hate must have a cause… and the cause is surely something related to your conduct.
He probably saw behaviors that he considers violates the Torah. Therefore the solution is to go to him and prove that your behavior and method is correct.
“And do not consider him to have sinned.”
So you may query, why should I have to do this?!
This is out of brotherly love, and this is the meaning of “And do not consider him to have sinned.”
Your love for him should cause that you do not allow him to have the sin of hatred. For you will show him how your manner and method is according to the Torah, and this will remove the sin of hatred from him.
However as you are doing such a great Mitzvah, perhaps you may say a harsh word in the process… hence Rashi says, “And do not consider him to have sinned” thatyou may never shame a person (in the process of education.)
- Simple Goodness
The Baal Shem Tov often favored the simple unlearned Jews even more than the great Torah scholars, as He said, “Within us all is an innate striving for G-d (a desire for truth and compassion…) however when the mind is full of knowledge, it often covers over this innate side; Whereas in the simple Jew who doesn’t know that much, but sincerely keeps the Torah and Mitzvos, says Tehillim etc. not only is this side not concealed but it is expressed and revealed! And this is very dear to G-d.”