The Baal Shem Tov on Mitzvah

Mitzvah

• Mitzvah

When we do a Mitzvah we must (by studying the Chassidus about the Mitzvah) bear in mind the intention of the purpose of the Mitzvah, and in this way we connect the physical Mitzvah below to the spirit of the Mitzvah Above.

{A simple succinct Guide is my “Meditations For Your Soul” – encompassing a meditation for many Mitzvahs, relating the Mitzvah to its intent.}

3 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Mitzvah – Intention

If we concentrate on the meaning of the Mitzvah, then we connect the action done below to the intention Above.

3 Bishalach – Baal Shem Tov On The Torah

•  Mitzvah – Joy

Our Sages teach, “The reward for a Mitzvah is the Mitzvah,” for there is no greater reward than the fact that you receive pleasure from doing a Mitzvah with joy!

This is truly very great! 

Even if there were no other reward but this – it would be enough.
 
But in fact, for doing a Mitzvah with joy, there is infinite reward!  

11 Acharei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Mitzvah – Passion
  
  

The Holy Baal Shem Tov teaches, that from our selfish animalistic passion, we can deduce how much passion we must have in doing good!  

2 Terumah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Mitzvah – Passion
  
  

The Baal Shem Tov has a beautiful example regarding when G-d showed Moses a half-shekel made of fire and said, “This is what you should give (as a donation).”  

The obvious question is, “Why did He show Him a coin made of fire?” 

Once there was a silversmith who wrote instructions for an apprentice on how to shape the silver, but he didn’t write to first heat up the coals (so the metal can melt!) 

In other words, the most important part of the Mitzvah is the fire / passion in doing it!

Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Mitzvah – RUN!
  
  

When a person goes to do a Mitzvah they must run!

You see, when we get to Heaven every Mitzvah we did creates both an Angel’s soul and body.  

The intention is the soul, and the body is the deed / action. 

So a person who tarried, perhaps shmoozing along the way to do a Mitzvah, when they get to Heaven they are forced to crawl on a narrow bridge over a raging river which is very scary.  

The Angels one created, who were looking forward to their creation block the way – for from one’s intention the Angel’s soul was born, and from the action part of the Mitzvah, the body. The extra time spent on the bridge is painful. (In other words the Angels who were looking forward to their creation which was delayed due to the person tarrying, are getting “even”)

Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah

• M Mitzvah – Soul Energy
  
  

When Moshiach comes, we will perceive how every Mitzvah is in fact the source of our soul’s life-force, and the life-force of the world! And without this energy, our soul life-force is incomplete.  

4 Chayei Sara – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Mitzvah – Yours…
  
  

Everyone has a specific Mitzvah in which they have a special Divine feeling.  

{What is yours?}

96 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)

• Mitzvah = Mitzvah
  
  

“A Mitzvah attracts a Mitzvah.” 

The 620 Mitzvos (613 Mitzvos of the Torah, plus the 7 of the Rabbis) are 620 sparks of Divine light. Whenever we do a Mitzvah, we connect to this Divine light.

Note 6 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Mitzvah = Mitzvah
  
  

“A Mitzvah attracts a Mitzvah.” 

The meaning of Mitzvah, is being “bound in” – connected, “intimate.”

So when we connect deeply to G-d (through doing a Mitzvah) and become one – this then causes it to occur again.

Note 6 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Mitzvahs – Passion
  
  

A person may do a Mitzvah in a dry way… such as out of habit.

We must infuse it with heart!

8 Acharei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Mitzvos
  
  

There is a great example from the Baal Shem Tov explaining Mitzvos.

A father warned his young child to not walk barefoot as he did not want him to feel pain. The child wanting to go barefoot but fearing his father put on shoes. As such the intention of the father and the child are different (one is acting from love, the other fear.) But if the child is wise he realizes his father’s intention, and now they both have the same intention.

Similarly the Mitzvos G-d gave us refine our soul – for the physical world we are in is coarse – as such they are the mechanism in which to G-d we connect.

27 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah

•  Mitzvos – Eternal
  
  

The Mitzvos that come from The Eternal G-d, are eternally applicable in all times and to all people (Jewish… and lehavdil seven Noahide for Gentiles).

{As G-d is eternal, so are His Instructions.}  

24 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•   Kosher – Shabbos – Mikvah

Once the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov were debating what is most important for the Leader of the Generation to focus on: one group said “kosher food,” for it affects the sensitivity of the heart and its receptivity to Divine concepts.

The second said “Shabbos,” for there are many detailed laws and to transgress any of them is very serious.

And the third said “Mikvah,” for a child born to parents who are careful with Mikvah has a far better ability to overcome their Yetzer Hara.  

The Baal Shem Tov walked into the room and said, “At this moment, they were debating the same question in Heaven, and they said, the answer is ‘all three.’”  

19 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Sin – Overcoming Desire

In The Holy Sefer Chareidim it is written 17 prerequisites for Mitzvos.

The following are the ways to prevent oneself from sinning. (Whoever sins causes a negative being (demon) who will advocate against him to arise / be created.)

#1 Before one sins one should contemplate, how deep does the stain of this sin penetrate? (It is very deep, it affects one’s soul terribly.)

Furthermore one should contemplate against whom one is rebelling (namely G-d!)  

One should contemplate who is watching, even in the most concealed of places!  

One should contemplate if one has permission to waste their time…! certainly if to rebel against G-d!    

#2 One should feel broken-hearted that one demeans G-d by sinning – which is the ultimate evil, for one is using G-d’s gift of life against the benefactor!

Furthermore this causes Divine energy to be put into the realm of evil.

The fact one has a sinful desire is only a test.  

#4 Do not do even the most minute part of the sin!  

#5 Stay far away, even from the slightest Aveira / sin.

#6 One must run from doing an Aviera, and likewise run to do a Mitzvah, as our Sages teach, “run even to do a simple Mitzvah.” And it states, “I run to do your Mitzvos” which refers to charity and going to mikvah.  

#7 Neither you nor your messenger should engage in any Aveira.    

#8 When an Aveira comes your way, distance yourself! For by doing one Aveira, one then falls down a slippery slope of Aveiros.    

#9 One should never simultaneously do two Avieros.

Now when one sins they actually are doubly sinning, for firstly they are sinning against G-d, and secondly they are destroying their own spirit (nefesh, ruach etc.)
    

#10 An Aveira must be utterly reprehensible in your estimation.    

#11 Do not be confident… this means one must continually be vigilant (fearful) of the possibility of doing an Aviera – this is the definition of a person who fears sin (Yorei Chet.)     

#12 Despise yourself for having done any Aviera (though as the Alter Rebbe writes, after this self-disgust one should request G-d’s pardon, and feel joy as G-d immediately forgives you –  G-d holds no grudges.) Cry over your bad fortune that you came to contemplate sin. 

#13 Realize that by sinning, one does not just take oneself down – as the Rambam says, the world is perfectly balanced, so one sin destroys the universe! And it states, “One sin causes much bad.” This is why the first person was created alone, to teach us that whoever destroys a single Jewish soul is as if he has destroyed the entire world – how much more so does this apply to a person who destroys themselves and their children! As it states “G-d counts the sins of the fathers on the children.”      

#16 When the Yetzer Hara has you convinced to sin, run to a place filled with people, which will cause you to be feel shame. Now feel ashamed that before G-d “the King of the whole world!” you did not (feel ashamed.)  

#17 Contemplate how for every sin there is a terrible purgatory (punishment) for G-d doesn’t forget; and contemplate how painful is the suffering, and your heart should feel broken over what you have already racked up. And may all your days be spent in Teshuvah, and return to G-d and He will forgive!

248 Kesser Shem Tov

•  Teshuva – Passion
  
  

When a person does a Mitzvah, they so to say fix “The 248 Limbs of the King.”

248 is the numerical value of “rechem” womb;  namely they birth (or give life) to the world (meaning that the Shechinah which is now complete, does.)

If on the other hand we sin, we add power to the dark side and from “rechem” comes “cherem” (negativity) until we do Teshuvah.

“And your cattle, you will remember…” this hints to Teshuvah – for the main sin comes to a person from the increased animalistic tendency – this is called “your cattle.”

Therefore one must elevate their animal soul to the place of memory – to refine the physical and subjugate it to the spiritual. 

And then a person is in the secret of the male, which is compassion.

And one subdues the animalistic drive and breaks their animalistic impulses.

We must elevate all essential drives to / for G-d. 

And this is the explanation, “And all your cattle, you will remember.”  

29 Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• M Torah and Mitzvos – Intent

As G-d and His Torah are one therefore when one does a Mitzvah with altruistic intentions, then G-d and the Mitzvah unite and become one – for it is all His Holy energy, while if we G-d forbid have a selfish intention, then this intention acts a Kelipah (shell – covering) creating a barrier between G-d and the Mitzvah. 

{Surrender all your desires, but the desire to fulfill G-d’s.}

Note 1 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah