The Baal Shem Tov on Faith

Faith

• Faith
  
  

When one understands how poor human intellect is, one understands how rich faith is!  

{Faith connects you to the Infinite Wisdom of G-d while logic (even what you understand in Judaism – which means it has descended to your intelligence) is always limited.}

204 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)

• Faith
  
  

Faith is the deep attachment of the soul to G-d.

8 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Faith
  
  

Once the Tzaddik Reb Pinchas of Koritz needed some help in His service of G-d, and He knew He needed to travel to the Baal Shem Tov for this, but didn’t have the funds which caused Him to feel down.

Suddenly the Baal Shem Tov arrived in His city, and started speaking and said, “The verse says, ‘Moses’s hands were held high in prayer.’ 

Sometimes a person may be lacking in their faith in G-d – the way to fix this is to ask G-d to grant you greater faith!” 

When Reb Pinchos heard this He became a renewed person with complete faith!

{Ask G-d to give you faith!}  

20 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Faith
  
  

The Baal Shem Tov said, “with the power of sincere faith, a Jew could place a piece of cloth down and glide across the ocean.”

Note 328 – Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)

• Faith
  
  

Always realize and be prepared (to see) that everything that comes to you, comes from G-d!  

4 Tzaavas Harivash

• Faith – Miracles
  
  

The Baal Shem Tov didn’t use Sheimois (Holy Names of G-d that create miracles). He simply had such a deep attachment to and faith in G-d, that miracles would occur!

When He was young, His Master Achiyah Hashiloini (the Prophet) taught Him all the Divine Names so He could know about them. As He was young and wanted to test its power He used a Divine name to create a miracle and glided over the Nester River on a garment.
But He deeply regretted this and did Teshuvah for it His whole life.

His Teshuva was complete when He needed to cross the river due to a life-threatening situation with an Arab antisemite, and instead of using a Divine Name, He “glided” across on His Gartel (belt, based on pure faith).  

{If your faith in G-d is absolute, so will be the miracles.}

34 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro)

• F Faith – Parnasash (Income)
  
  

There are two important types of trust: 

There is the trust that “my livelihood is not the means which I employ, but the means only to catch G-d’s blessings through them.”  

And the trust that “G-d will grant me the means” as well.

{In other words, at all times we must know that G-d is or will be granting my livelihood!}

51 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)

• Faith – Pray
  
  

The Baal Shem Tov once told His disciple Reb Dovid to travel to Bessarabia and bring the highest standard of Kosher wine from there.

Reb Dovid went and had tremendous dedication to ensure that the wine was one hundred percent kosher.
On the way home – the roads were muddy, the wind was stinging, the snow was deep, and He had endless sacrifices to ensure that the Kosher wine reached His Master.

He also tried very hard on his way back to ensure that nothing  should cause it to become nonkosher (such as a Gentile taking from the wine).
 
As the culmination of months of work was about to be fulfilled, He literally was at the doorstep of the Baal Shem Tov and to His great horror a Cossack inspector, zealous regarding people smuggling in vodka, dipped his cup to taste the wine thereby causing it to become unkosher. Upon realizing that it wasn’t vodka he went off on his merry way.

Broken-hearted, Reb Dovid entered the Baal Shem Tov and asked, “Why after all my effort did G-d cause this to happen?!”
 
The Baal Shem Tov replied, “True you tried very hard… but most importantly you should have asked G-d to help you succeed!”  

{In every endeavor, firstly ask G-d to help.}

40 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro.)

• Faith – Trust
  
  

You should contemplate the following:

“G-d fills the entire universe and His Shechinah (presence) is with me constantly. 

It is very ‘nebulous’ and He is the Master of everything. 

He can do anything I desire.
 

Therefore, it only makes sense to trust in Him.”

39 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah

• Faith – Trust
  
  

Once the Baal Shem Tov and His disciple were traveling in a desert and the disciple became very thirsty and said, “Rebbe, I am thirsty.” 

The Baal Shem Tov did not answer him. 
However, as it got to the point of life and death, the disciple once again said, “Rebbe, I need water and I am in danger of dying.”
So the Baal Shem Tov said, “Do you believe that from the moment G-d created the world He has already prepared water for you?” It took him a moment to calm down, and he said “Yes.”
 
They walked a little bit and saw a gentile carrying two large jugs of water. They paid him for some water to drink.

“Tell me,” asked the Baal Shem Tov, “Why exactly are you in this area carrying water?” 
“Well, my Master went crazy, and told me I must get him water from this particular well.” 

“You see,” the Baal Shem Tov told His disciple, “From the beginning of creation, foreseeing this entire event, G-d orchestrated it so that there should be a Master and he should go crazy, so that you should have water!”

{We can rely on G-d!}  

37 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro.)

• Faith – Trust – Love
  
  

Faith is Diveikus – meaning to G-d you are fully attached (in all that you do.)

(It is well-known that in the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov being attached to G-d is the main thing.)
 
Through faith, we come to Bitachoin, which is trust.

This is the ultimate goal.

We trust that in each and every circumstance G-d has our best interest in mind. This leads us to love G-d and fulfill His desires.

29 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Pray – For Trust
  
  

If one needs to be punished G-d-forbid, their trust in G-d is removed (as the ability to generate positive blessings purely from trust in G-d’s goodness is absolute.)
As such one should pray that G-d grants them trust! 
This is why it states, “Abraham trusted, and this was considered a Tzedakah” – in other words, one’s wish is granted.  

382 Kesser Shem Tov

• Pray – For Trust

When G-d needs to punish someone, trust (in G-d) is removed (for one who trusts in G-d, as the verse states, is “surrounded by kindness!”)

Hence one must always pray for trust.  

1 Vayeitze– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• (R) Rebbe – Yiras Hashem
  
  

When one has awe of a Talmid Chochom (Rebbe), having awe of G-d is easy.  

12 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Study – Remember G-d
  
  

Today when our minds are weak, even during Torah study, we must restrengthen our faith every once in a while.

{The Alter Rebbe teaches that every hour one should take a break during Torah study and remind oneself about G-d.}  

167 Kesser Shem Tov

• Trust
  
  

If you wonder, “sometimes what I pray for doesn’t come to pass…” 

All prayers work, though some on a cosmic level.

In fact it could also be that the current circumstance is actually in the best interest of the individual.

80 Kesser Shem Tov

• Trust
  
  

A great principle in life is know that whatever comes to you came from G-d.

Ask that G-d always sends you that which He knows is best for you.

Do not seek what others or your mind thinks is best – for what others (or you) assume is for your best may actually be to your detriment.

Cast all of your needs and matters to G-d (as the verse states, “Cast your issues onto G-d and He will take care of you.”)

4 Tzaavas Harivash

• Trust
  
  

Your thoughts should be in the service of G-d; connect to G-d and rely on Him to fulfill your needs.  

24 Tzaavas Harivash

•  Trust In G-d
  
  

A great principle of life is “Give G-d your deeds and He will plan your thoughts” – everything you will encounter will come from Him.

Additionally, always ask G-d to send you what He knows is best for you (not what humans, including you, assume.) What we think is beneficial may actually be harmful, rather as the verse states, “Throw onto G-d your issues” – in others words, seek but G-d’s direction in everything!

220B Kesser Shem Tov