Introduction
The Practical Wisdom of the Baal Shem Tov – collected from the three greatest collections of his teachings, “Kesser Shem Tov,” “Baal Shem Tov on the Torah” and “Tzaavas Harivash” combines over 770 Practical Applicable Life Transforming Techniques.
Rabbi Wineberg the author writes, “Having had the incredible zechus, privilege and pleasure to translate – 3 Paraphrased Translations it actually became very clear how at least 50% of The Tanya (The Bible Of Jewish Mysticism) novel ideas, truly are from the Baal Shem Tov (for example, to take a break every hour during learning to think about Hashem.)
It is our hope that now that we have an actual “Shulchan Aruch,” Practical Directives – that we will truly fulfil not only Limud Hachassidus, but Darchei Hachassidus – The Path of Chassidus and Bring Moshiach.
Meaningful Books
It should be noted that where the “Footnote” says “Kesser Shem Tov – The Rebbes” – this refers to the Kehos edition which (thanks to Rabbi Emanual Shochet) collected the priceless sayings of the Baal Shem Tov transmitted by the Chabad Rebbes.
Contents
| Inspirational Prayers / Teshuva | 3 Levels | Ahavas Yisroel – Love | Altruism | Always For God | Amalek – Destroy |
| Amen (Yihei Shemei Rabba) | Anger – Beating | Anxiety – Duty | Arrogance | Aseres Yimei Teshuva | Avodah |
| Baal Shem Tov | Bad To Good | Balance | Beauty | Bedtime | Blessings |
| Body / Soul | Character | Charity | Chassidus | Chossid | Compassion |
| Consciousness (small to expansive) | Convictions | Criticism | Crying | Desires | Diveikus |
| Divine Blessing | Divine GPS | Education | Elevate/ing | Elul | Equanimity – It’s All Good |
| Essence | Ever Closer | Exile | Expanded Consciousness | Faith | Far – Close |
| Fasting | Fear | Fight for God – | Focus | Food | Free Choice |
| G-d | Giving | Good | Good / Evil | Goodness | Growth |
| Guilt | Halacha | Happiness | Hashgachah Pratis –Divine Orchestra | Healing | Hearing God |
| Heaven | Heed | Honor | Hosting | Humility | Imitate |
| Inspiration | Integrity | Jew/s | Joy | Judge – Not | Kabbalah |
| Knowledge | Kosher | Lfe’s Purpose | Lishma- Altruistic | Love | Lust |
| Man | Meeting/Meaning | Mikvah | Mind | Mirror | Misnagdim |
| Mission | Mitzvos | Modeh Ani | Moshiach | Negative to Positive | Nitzoisois |
| Overcoming Desires | Pain | Passion | Peace | Pornography | Positivity |
| Power | Pray | Prayer | Pride | Purim | Reality |
| Rebbe | Relationships | Rosh Hashanah | See God | Senses | Shabbos |
| Shaming | Shechina | Shema | Shemoina – Esrei | Shidduch | Shofar |
| Sin | Sincerity | Speech – | Think | Words | Sukkah |
| Taalis | Tehhilim | Teshuvah | Thinking | Tikkun “`Chatzois | Torah |
| Transforming | Trust | Truth | Tzaddik | Unity | Uplift |
| Water | Wealth | Yezter Hara | Yiras Hashem | Yom Kippur | Zera livatala |
| Topic | Content | Source | |||||||||
| Inspirational Prayers / Teshuva | G-d we know you judge a person based on his standing, so based on (our humble ) standing, we are doing Teshuva… turn to you. Dear G-d, You said to Yonah, “Should I not have mercy on Ninveih the great metropolis, that has more than 100,000 people, who know not right from wrong, and many cattle?” So why do you not, G-d forbid not have mercy on us, who do have intelligence. It states, that Abraham trusted in G-d and this was to him considered praiseworthy. And how many times has the time for redemption come and gone, yet we still believe. *** It states, “If a person acquires a Jewish servant he should work for him for six years, and in the seventh go free…” how many Shemitahs – (seven years) have come and gone… – so bring redemption please! If a person states, “I love my master, my wife (wishing to be a servant…) then he goes free in the fiftieth…” but we do not love “our Master…” the evil Lilith (the demon that causes people to sin with Shichvas zera wasting semen) We Love But You! *** To overcome the sin of wasting semen one should give abundant charity and cry. *** 11. We know when it comes to judgment of life (in a Jewish court) we are always willing to listen to any voice – including the defendants’ that can possibly exonerate… – for whoever saves a single soul, it is, as if he has saved the world – and the converse is also true – so we testify before you G-d. It says, at the end of Selichois, “He who answered to all the Tzaddikim and Chassidm and Temimim and Yesharim should answer us.” G-d who answers the impoverished, please answer us. In other words, we are not Tzaddikim, Chassidim, Yesharim – but answer us, as you would answer a poor broken-heart. 12. Dear G-d, Pray for us, as it states (that G-d prays for the Jewish people) Moses said, “Did I give birth to this nation, but we are your children!” 13. Moses, when he needed something – though he was filled with good deeds (par-excellence) came as a humble person (lacking any merit…) and prayed (to be allowed to enter Israel…) and so we come to you. 14. Our tough masters to us are angry – if you will also be, then who will comfort (draw us ) close? *** Where is the joy of Simchas Beis Hashoi-aiva as it says in Gemarah, Rabbi Shimoin Ben Gamliel said, “We saw no sleep for eight days…” and yet how are we sleeping hundred of years – WAKE UP. *** It says, in the sacrifice of a poor person, “it causes a pleasant aroma” – we have no Torah and charity and kindness, but we come empty handed, like a poor person knocking on the door – however in our pain, the Shechina feels pain – as it says, Rabbi Meir said – “When a person feels pain, the Shechina does” – if G-d feels the suffering of the wicked, how much more so the righteous. 15. G-d / the Shechina cries for her children. 16. In the final days when there will be great challenge in the heavenly court – G-d will see the many holinesses and the uniqueness of the Jewish people. 17. When the defending and prosecuting attorneys are quiet, the custom is the defendant can speak about their merit – what are the merits that we can say… – the merits of the clear prayers – clear Torah study – clear Teshuva – clear Tzedakah and good deeds… – We only have the merit of the voice Jacob – the voice of Torah from the children who study Torah… – a breath that has no sin. Children cry up a great cry! – And pray for your parents! Your fathers and mothers who raise you to Torah and good deeds – ask mercy on behalf of the good ones among you – the elders, the Masters of the Yeshiva – and Torah scholars – that they should not be trapped in the Sin of the generation – the philanthropists who serve the public… – that no harm should befall nor should anyone be lost G-d-forbid. A father who takes his sons these days to the synagogue – does he take the same way that Avrohom took Yitzchok to the Akeida… – therefore do a great Teshuva and pray for your sons. Request of the Chazzan to pray for you – for your voice has no sin – how much more so your tears – and though I do not have the merit to pray for myself – how much more so for others… For I say not that I am the good one G-d forbid – – A good person is like a needle in a haystack – – And though there may be one strong one – nevertheless the nation has to support him from all sides to win. – So… so help the Chazzan from all sides – East, West, North, and The South. | Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| 3 Levels | There are great Tzaddikim that need no preparation, as soon as they start Davening (praying etc.) the great unbelievable sweetness and delight of G-d, upon them comes. There are others who try their best – though they achieve not this delight – as they try, G-d considers as if they have. There are others who sunder themselves from serving G-d, G-d-forbid. (They are called the living dead – and even worse, is when they dabble in the atheistic philosophy…) | 6 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| 620 Points of Light | The 613 Mitzvos of the Torah and 7 of the Rabbis are 620 sparks of light. | 54 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel | The Baal Shem Tov said that when a friend blesses another, this is received by God far more impressively, then even the great advocate of the Jews in heaven, the angel Michoel. | 145 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Divine Reflection | “Vehavta Lireacha Kamoicha – Love your friend like yourself” – teaches the Baal Shem Tov – as you love your friend, so I love you. As we treat others… (just like our movement makes our shadow…) so does G-d. | 21 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – How To | The commandment to love (whether God or a fellow…) is that one should deeply concentrate on those thoughts that inspire love (for one can be commanded to generate an emotion based on contemplating the positive in another.) | 38 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The Baal Shem Tov said, the love of one’s fellow is the first doorway to God. | 132 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | We must love a Jew simply because he is, the difference between a scholar and unlearned is only in information, but regarding the soul, all are equal. | 140 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The Baal Shem Tov in his year of being a hidden-Tzaddik would travel to different cities and towns, and there gather the men women and children and tell them stories with lessons from Ein Yaakov. In one town he told them about Reb Yaakov, who was a great genius and would study the Talmud by heart – however when one studies by heart, one must be more focused – once his son came by and said something witty – so he stopped and really appreciated his son’s wisdom. Similarly, says the Baal Shem Tov, when God asked the angels if he should make man, the angels were none-to-impressed… However when a Jew goes to synagogue to pray and listens to the class, and takes something from it, then God gathers all the angels and says to them – “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 finds the time to go learn and derives lessons in his life!” So the Baal Shem Tov said, “When you meditate, cogitate, analyze, the fact, that it is the Jews that God brags about!…” (this will arouse great love.) | 144 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | In one of the Baal Shem Tov’s Holy Talks he said – “Behold I testify by heaven and earth, that in a serious judgment in the heavenly court on a person who passed on… – now this person was quite unlearned (he could only say his prayers and the Tehhilim) but he was extraordinarily loving – in his thoughts he would always think about others. In his speech, he would speak with love, and 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 joys – the heavenly court decided that he would have a portion in heaven by the great Tzaddikim, and scholars upon whom our sages correctly say, ‘Are lovers of God.’” The Baal Shem Tov continued, when a Jew sighs over the pain of a fellow, this annuls all the negative decrees; and when we rejoice in the blessings of a fellow, and wish him well, this is as precious to God, as the prayer of Rabbi Yishmoel, The High Priest, In The Holy Of Holies! | 147 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The most unlearned regular Jew has innate qualities – as the greatest. | 159 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The Baal Shem Tov teaches that a Neshomah/soul will come down to live seventy, eighty years, for the sole purpose to help out another! – in general this obviously pertains to their physical needs, but infinitely more so their spiritual. (The Previous Rebbe said that this teaching inspired hundreds of thousands of Jews to genuinely care, uplift and dedicate themselves to one another – and the Rebbe says, though the Baal Shem Tov mentions one (good deed) it is obvious that after that one, must come another and another etc.!) | 209 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | When The Baal Shem Tov Was Five His Father Who Was A Hundred And Five Said To Him, “Yisrolik, Fear No-one Or Anything But G-d, and Love Every Jew With All The Fire Of Your Heart And Soul! No Matter Who He Is Or What He Has Done.” | 280 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The Baal Shem Tov saw in every Jew something extraordinary– he could see their positive qualities. | 344 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The Baal Shem Tov revealed the essential component of love for God, the Torah and the Jew – for just as one’s love for God is because He is God, and one love’s for Torah is because it is God’s, our love for a fellow Jew is not due to any qualities, rather because. | 359 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The Baal Shem Tov taught that in all Jews there are great qualities, and if one doesn’t see, it is only because one’s glasses are dirty. | 363 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The Baal Shem Tov said, “I love the pious simple Jew – he contains the deepest moral treasures.” | 142 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love | The Baal Shem Tov said to his Holy disciples, that through sacrificing oneself for a fellow Jew, we reveal the Divine. | 143 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Ahavas Yisroel – Love For Fellow | “Listen amongst your brothers.” In order to achieve the above mentioned sensitivity – to appreciate and understand the greatness of every Jew – this is precisely when you are amongst your brothers – when one is interconnected with Jews; and every Jew, even the simplest to you, is considered your brother. | 32 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| All For God | Whatever you see, should remind you of God – if you feel love, remember your love for God, if you feel fear, remember your fear of God (as mentioned in many places.) Even when you go to the bathroom, consider I am separating bad from good. This is called Yechudum (mystical mediations.) When you go to sleep consider that my mind is now elevating to God and will be strengthened to serve God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Altruism | 85. Say not, “On Shabbos I will pray intensely, but not during the weekday” – Be not like a servant who only when the king is watching do they serve (properly.) A true servant feels that without the king he is worthless, so he does all in His power to come close – and then, though he may not be worthy of coming close to the king (but as his heart desires this, so much) the king filled with compassion allows. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Altruism | 95. Everything you do should be for God, and without ulterior motives – even the smallest thing should not be done selfishly – only for God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Altruistic | King David wished to remove from himself any ulterior motive in his performance of Mitzvos – realizing that he would be left naked (for everything has/had some ulterior self gratification) he rejoiced when he recalled the Bris – when he was too young to have any ulterior motives. | 43 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Altruistic | 15. Number 1 ensure that all of your service for God is altruistic, not selfishly biased. One must be exceptionally smart to achieve this very difficult objective – as such, the only option is to continually bear this in mind – not but for a moment forget (to always serve God altruistically and not selfishly.) In addition (number 2) be careful to go to the Mikvah every day – and meditate in the Mikvah, the Mikvah meditations. And to ensure you succeed – number 3, never be sad – be a joyous servant. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Always For God | Even the physical pleasure should only be for G-d. | 13 Shemini– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Always God | Teaches the Baal Shem Tov, the secret of “Know God In All Your Doings” when you are shmoozing with your friend, have in mind that this (external) closeness is in order to be able to then bring him closer to Hashem – this is a great Yichud. | 106 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Always God | “I walk expansively,” I can go in the roads and alleyways… – I can speak to every person – because “your Mitzvos I seek” – meaning I only seek in this world Yechudim (Divine unity) and the beauty of the Shechina (or to beautify the Shechina) to uplift the limbs of the Shechina (Godliness in people / matter) and I believe with a complete faith that there is nothing, be it small or big without the life-force and desire of the Infinite Blessed One – and Divine Life Force – but it is greatly concealed due to our many sins – but when man does Teshuva – he should believe that this great sweet precious high light will be revealed to him within the concealment (limitations/mistakes) of Kelipas Nogah – and as in every act and breath the energy comes from God – One should see to it that in everything they do, it should be for God altruistically – and everyone should accept upon themselves with joy and a complete heart – and creating Yechudim (Divine unity) in everything – whether small or big – and this is for you. | Note 92 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Always God | “Everything that comes your way, do” – in everything that we do, whether it is eating, drinking, intimacy we can/must connect it to G-d – in everything there is to do, the connection to G-d can/must be made. | Note 154 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Always Serve | 3. God wishes to be served in many ways – and hence we must always be serving God. Sometimes a person is walking and schmoozing, and obviously cannot learn (at that moment…) nonetheless in one’s thought one must be connected to God – similar, when one is on the road and cannot pray and learn as usual – one must serve God in different ways. Do not be upset about this, as God desires to be served in many ways. This is why He caused that you need to talk to another or travel, as he wishes to be served in a different way (now.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Amalek – Destroy | The main Mitzvah to destroy Amalek, is to destroy the Minister above which is called “arrogant spirit” – as is brought in the Zohar many places – and then Amalek below is destroyed. | 25 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Amen (Yihei Shemei Rabba) | Though there may be different spiritual levels (by different Jews) yet when it comes to Amen Yehei Shimei Rabbah, we are all equal. | 65 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Anger – Beating | When joy and love enter, anger exits – though this is a natural (phenomena) it still pays to explain – for as joy and love enter the heart, the anger elevates to its source, where it is rectified (as is known, anger is only rectified (sweetened) in its source.) | 14 Va-Yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Anxiety – Duty | In truth, the goal is that even when an anxious disposition exists within the world, and one doesn’t feel the Divine love, one coerces oneself to do what is right. | 366 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Arrogance | One of the tricks of the Yetzer Hara is to induce arrogance after doing good. | 156 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Arrogance | When a pure person becomes impure – so all that he does, causes him arrogance. | Note 1 Shemois– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Arrogance | “Do not offer any leaven, nor honey in the Incense/Ketores offering…” Leaven refers to arrogance – and this is judgmentalism – which is based on constricted thinking – for a child seeks to be big, and an idiot jumps to be first – and our sages say, “Don’t offer this as a fragrance to G-d…” Don’t serve G-d from arrogance – in the outset, one may approach G-d with arrogance (for to begin a person must be self-centered) but in the inner Mizbeach (where the ketoires – fragrance was offered) do not. For G-d does not appreciate arrogance – even a minute… | 5 Vayikra– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Arrogance | I heard from my Master (The Baal Shem Tov) a general life-lesson: if a person has an urge to shame someone, let him shame himself – and if he has an urge to praise – best to praise G-d! | 10 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Arrogance | 74. There are two types of people – one who is completely wicked – he knows his Creator and intentionally seeks to rebel – and the second who the Yetzer Hara fools, and he thinks he is completely righteous – and also he appears in the eyes of the world as completely righteous. Now despite the fact he is continually learning and prays and self-restricts (or self-inflicts) it is all a waste of time – for to God he is not attached, nor does he have complete faith to always be connected – and he knows not the first foundation of faith, to study and pray, and do the Mitzvos, only for God’s sake. The difference between them is that the completely wicked person, it is possible for him to repent and he can turn to God with all his heart and soul, and ask God to show him the light – but the second cannot be helped, for he does not see God, His greatness, nor His service – he considers himself completely righteous, so how will he repent. This is why when the Yetzer-Hara convinces someone to sin, he makes him think he did a good deed, so he shouldn’t repent. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Arrogance – Exile | Exile comes from when we serve G-d – truly with Fear of G-d, yet this contributes to our arrogance. (It seems when we do this, the Kelipah take the energy.) | 1 Shemois– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Arrogance – Just Do It | A Great principle is never not to do good because you are worried that it might cause arrogance or that your intentions aren’t pure… –When you do good, above you make a pure vessel (and if I understand correctly ED…) your pure intent is the inner light (so you end up with a beautiful light in a beautiful container – so worry not about perfection.) | 163 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Arrogance – The Torah | The Baal Shem Tov said, getting rid of arrogance is compared to fulfilling the whole Torah. | Note 158- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Arrogant | When we allow our hearts to be arrogant, we forget G-d | Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Aseres Yimei Teshuva | And the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the specific preparation for Yom Kippur. | 17 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Assisting | A person who has passed personal challenges, is now able to help others. | 50 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Avodah – First Steps | In the beginning of the service of God, one may use the otherwise deleterious trait of arrogance – for example, one may induce oneself about the reward God will give them – for though in essence, who truly is deserving…? ..and eventually, one wishes to do what’s right for the right reasons.. however to begin with, a person must incentivize. | 393 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| AVODAH – Kabalas Oil | The Baal Shem Tov asks; Why did God have to hang Mount Sinai over the Jewish people (threatening them if they don’t accept the Torah He would crush them…) as in any event they said, “We accept the Torah.” However the lesson is that, “Even when you’re not in the mood…” | 47 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Avodah – Love/Fear | In order to serve G-d, we need both fear (which creates healthy boundaries…) and love (which creates longing). | 18 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Avodas Hashem – Serving God | The Baal Shem said in the name of the Ramban – if you seek to understand what is service of G-d (Avodas Hashem) if when you learn Torah, you are filled with pleasure and dread (awe/reverence.) Note 2. The Baal Shem Tov told his son, the way to know if you are truly serving G-d, if when you learn Torah you are filled with love and fear of G-d. SERVING G-D The Baal Shem Tov said: See to it, from every Avodah (service of G-d… say, Torah / Prayer…) you receive fear and humility. Serve G-d simultaneously with awe and joy – these are two twins that should never be separated – fear without joy, is misery – rather one should always joyfully serve G-d. | 3 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Avoidah – Serving G-d | One who truly wishes to become a servant of God must clear his mind from its tumbling thoughts. | 307 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Avoidah – Serving G-d | By guarding our thoughts from nonsensical distracting ones, we guard ourselves from the enemy within (making space for the Divine.) | 312 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Avoidah (Self-Refinement) | Everything in this world contains all potentials (it can be used for good or evil.) | 7. Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Baal Shem Tov | One should never mistake that the Baal Shem Tov was a miracle worker – there were others who were called Baal Shem… – the reason is they used Sheimois (names of God…) which anyone with a cursory knowledge of the writings of the Holy Ari and Shaar Hayichudim could do – the Baal Shem Tov is called Baal Shem TOV – in other words, his abilities were like the Torah – the Torah contains within it God. | 318 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Baal Shem Tov | The Baal Shem Tov attached God to our souls. | 405 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Baal Shem Tov | The Baal Shem Tov said when he was passing “Now I know why I was created and its purpose.” | Note 12 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Baal Shem Tov | The Baal Shem Tov prior to his passing had another two years to live, but he said to G-d, “I give you these years as a present” – true Mesirus Nefesh. | Note 12 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Baal Shem Tov / Alter Rebbe | The Baal Shem Tov showed how one should serve God, and the Alter Rebbe, how one can. | 368 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Baal Shem Tov / Alter Rebbe | The Baal Shem Tov erected a ladder to heaven, the Alter Rebbe taught how to climb. | 374 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Baal Shem Tov Prayers (For Moshiach) | G-d says (from Tikkuinie Zohar) “Every bird has compassion on her chicks – but there is no one who seeks compassion for my son (children”) So G-d says – “For my sake, For my sake, I will save the Jewish people” – Says the Baal Shem Tov – “Heavenly Father when will you open the Birds Nest (or the chamber of the bird – a reference to this attribute above) And from there Moshiach will emerge, garbed in garments of vengeance – When will you Moshiach have mercy (or will you have mercy on Moshiach) As it states in the medrash, that He is in great suffering, chained in iron chains – – and the Kings of the House of David and the Jewish prophets comfort him that he should be able go to redemption – and the iron chains from him will be cut – When will you uplift from the ground the impoverished and create a candle for the descendent of Yishai, your Moshiach – when will the angel Michoel stand on the mountain and call “The redeemer for Israel has come.” “Father our King – Do it for your sake – not for our sake, if we do not have the merit… – if we do not have the Tzaddikim or the righteousness – we do not have the merit of our forefathers – but you are our Father! And you are righteous and generous with all your creations, as we say, “To you is charity, gracious, kindness to every living being.” Do this for the sake of your name; Do this for your holy throne; Do this for your Shechina, and if the Shechina and its soldiers who stand before your throne – and also the sitra achra and her soldiers which are the thorns surrounding the heavenly rose – certainly it is your honor to merit that we and the Shechina are victorious in your judgment – and our enemies should not rejoice – as it says, that “those who serve idols” should be embarrassed.” “Dearest G-d – we are not the servants of the sitra achra, who is evil – but we are the servants of your Shechina… – we go before you as your children. – We the servants of the House of David – the descendants of Isaac, and remember how he was bound, gave his life for you! – As it states, “each person according to the flag of his camp…” we are imprinted with the wings of your Mitzvos – observe to who we belong.” “It says that, “If your brother becomes impoverished you should strengthen him, his life is your responsibility – even if he is a stranger or a dweller.” – What is the consideration of a dweller? When a person decides not to worship idols, and eat non-kosher meat – certainly we who worship not idols…. and G-d can attest to this! And whoever denies idolatry it is as if he admits the entire Torah! Therefore we all accept the whole Torah, so even if we are strangers… and just dwellers to you, you must save us – and we know that anybody who has the ability to present positive evidence, their case must be listened to… how much more so, when we speak about all the Jews!” It states that “I will bring them into the land of their enemies and then their heart will be humbled…” we are already very humbled! And “then will be forgiven, and you will remember the covenant of Jacob.” It says, “It was in the days that the Jewish people cried and their cry reached G-d” – We cry and our cry includes on the destruction the Holy Temple – and if that wasn’t enough, new pains and suffering have come to us : ( Holy Angels, don’t you cry on our losses?!!! Our power is only in our mouth – if G-d forbid there are new decrees, how can you stand the tremendous compassion in the cries of the impoverished – you are not like a human King that doesn’t know the future, but you can see the in the beginning the end. You can see the tremendous problem, you great King; So get up before the problem to save us! How much more so save us from the problem that has come…! When will Moshaich be comforted from all the things that he suffers?! When will he come and be able to comfort the mourners of Jerusalem and the holy city. 8. It states that, if a slave escapes, you give him refuge – and as we must escape the tyranny of the Satan, it is only to you that we ask for purchase. When will we hear the sound of the shofar?! – When will we hear the trumpets in the Beis Hamikdash?! When will Moshiach come?! – When will the Beis Hamikdash be rebuilt?! – When will we hear the new Torah from Hashem?! – When will we hear the Shofar of Moshiach?! – When will all Jews return to Israel?! When will the flag of those that desecrate your holy name be destroyed..!? And the Jewish people from all lands be returned?! I’ve seen the earth and it is confusing and desolate, in the heaven without light – I’ve seen the mountains and they are tumultuous, the Hills have been turned over… – in other words, all gripped by pangs of fear, including the angels in Heaven, when the great Shofar is sounded. 9. It states “When you come to the land, and you will say ‘Let us appoint on ourselves a King’ you should put a King from your own brothers.” We wish that you should be our King, and King David your servant. We wish not for a foreign King. We do not wish for the Satan and her evil soldiers – while there are 70 Thrones to G-d – similar to the 70 kingdoms on earth. When the Jews are in their land and with their throne, therefore your throne will be upright – established in kindness, and you will dwell on it with peace. It states, “When a person will have two wives and the first born…” The firstborn alludes to the Jewish people – you must give him a double portion which leads to Kehuna / priesthood and Kingship – where have you divorced us? We are the firstborn, your beloved. | 7. Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Baal Teshuva | The Baal Shem Tov taught, that just as one brings a candle to a dark room, and it’s as if there is no darkness… similarly a person who becomes a Baal Teshuva / returns to G-d; the light of Torah fills him. | 4 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To God | If we truly had faith that all would be good, it would be (as is known with the story of the Baal Shem Tov, that there was once a terrible decree and he was most disturbed, but he decided just to trust, and it was averted.) | 404 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Bad – To God | When one takes the fears that comes one way, and realizes its but to arouse a fear of G-d – this eliminates the cause. | Note 17 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | We should always announce (when something negative occurs…) “All that G-d does He does for the good!” | 33 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | All fears that come to man are actually God hugging – In other words, drawing the person close; for one must meditate, that “the purpose of this fear is that God desires Me” (which will eliminate the negative.) | 38 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – to Good | Convert evil to good. | ||||||||||
| Bad – To Good | Everything that occurs comes from above – however in its source, it is combinations of letters, hence the word “Tzarah” which is a “problem,” can be rearranged to spell “Tzahor” – a “shining light,” – therefore when a person accepts suffering with joy, or finds the silver lining, they rearrange the source code. | 87 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | Faith eradicates pain, as pain is the perception that it is bad, while faith is the reverse. | 88 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | All is God, so how does evil occur? – This is the Kabbalistic doctrine of the world of Tohu that preceded our world (in other words, a spiritual.) Being egotistical it shattered, and became the source for arrogance, evil, maliciousness – but when a person considers that this too contains the Divine, we extract the good and the bad dissipates. | 98 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | A person must know that God is completely humble, and hence awaiting our input – then becomes our mirror; hence when we have in our heart compassion, His mercies is also aroused – this not only affects us, but the entire cosmic destiny. | 145 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When a person is going through a difficult time – early in the morning they should focus intensely on their prayer or Torah study, binding their soul with the Divine (found within these holy letters.) | 164 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | Whenever something bad or good happens to a person… the Baal Shem Tov gives the following parable: Once there was a king who got angry at someone, so he sent his messenger – when the messenger arrived to call the person to the king, the messenger who felt identified with the king, was angry – the fool fears… while the wise person says… “Let me go make the king happy!” Furthermore, the same example applies in the reverse – once there was a king who was very happy with a person, so he sent his messenger, the messenger who identifies with the king, came with great joy – the fool is so happy to find the king’s messenger happy… while the wise person says, “I shall go to the source.” | 207 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | Sometimes we can transform a situation by seeing the corresponding Divine – for-example, if someone is God-forbid locked-up, they could learn the concept of the four (one of whom, is a person released from incarceration) that give praise for their miracles. A Tzaddik who is suffering in a limb, can think about which part of the Sefiros this limb corresponds to. By concentrating on the Divine positive part, we eliminate our suffering. | 299 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | The great Tzaddikim take foreign thoughts (as they are always connected to G-d – hence all thoughts not, come from negative sources) and connect them to their source (for all is sourced in some kind of positive); However if one doesn’t know how (and as the Alter Rebbe says, this is primarily a task for the Tzaddikim) it is enough to know that in everything there is the external element (which may be negative) and the internal (which is positive.) | 368 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | The entire Torah is names of God. In Sefer Yetzirah it says, “three letters build six words.” The word Tzohar (made of three Hebrew letters) has six combinations – five revealed and one concealed. To run, Difficulty, Desire, Light, Oppressor – The lesson is, through running to do a Mitzvah, we transform a difficulty from an oppressor into a new desire that God gets, to bestow light, and it is joyous. | 3 Kesser Shem Tov (From Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When we pray with absolute vitality which shows our heartfelt desire, this transforms negatives to positives. | 9 Kesser Shem Tov (From Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When negatives are upon us and this arouses us to Teshuvah, to transform our lives; this transforms negatives. | 10 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | Everyone is familiar with the Torah teaching that the Baal Shem Tov says on the Passuk (verse) “Come to the Ark” – that the Baal Shem Tov says, that a soul comes into this world and the person becomes preoccupied with making a living through labor; (as we know, the Baal Shem Tov believed, better to be a skilled laborer than a businessperson)_ – so a person can get consumed… – so the solution is, to “Come to the ark;” – to attach oneself to the words of prayer that one says, and the words of Torah that one learns, and in merit of the connection to these Holy Letters of prayer and Torah, the Baal Shem Tov predicts you will be helped in all you need. | 11 Kesser Shem Tov (From Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | The sum total of truth is that in the beginning from the infinite fountainhead, God revealed Himself, but in order for God to reveal Himself, He had to conceal himself – so the Creations in each worlds should according to their capacity understand – so the concealment is associated to the body which feels pain, the revelation is associated to the soul which feels pleasure – so when we perceive that all the negative is but for the positive – we transform the negative to positive. | 25 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | A Parable from the Baal Shem Tov – once there was a king who sent one of his servants dressed up, to test a country under his rule to see if they would agree to foment a rebellion – some people fell for the ruse, while others who were wiser thought into the circumstance – realizing this was a trick, they told the person – the same holds true as is well-known of the example of the king who hired a harlot to test his son’s morality – when a person realizes, within all of their pain is G-d – then they remove it (the shell is peeled and the sweet fruit revealed.) Once there was a king who wished to test countries under his dominion so he had a servant dress up and try to convince the people to rebel – some fought against him while others investigated and understood that this person in fact was a sky – similarly some try to beat the Yetzer Hara through strength – while others understand that behind everything is actually God. | 141 -142Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | The Baal Shem Tov explains a great secret on how to turn bitterness to sweetness (suffering to delight…) one must find within the pain and suffering a source of goodness. For in the source, Gevurah (Din – harsh decrees) is complete loving-kindness. For they are the limit (of the infinite expansion of G-d’s love… or the limitation – like screens which allow an infinite light to be seen and felt.) The purpose of these limitations is so each person can receive the limited amount of energy necessary for their survival and life (for too much would “blow the circuit…” – Infinity in finite, would cause the infinity to be the only existence….) Similarly, sometimes difficult things occur, so we may remain humble.. and in this way, not lose our share in the world to come – – so in essence, it is all loving-kindness – and through finding the source of kindness, and accepting it with love – then it all truly so becomes. And the negative turns into the positive (source, where it emanates from) And we need to create a kal vichomer (analogy…) The dinim (sufferings below) need to realize (be told…) that if my source is complete kindness… I which am but a fraction of a fraction… of my source, which how much more so must be only kindness – and when the person feels this – so it manifests. | Note 155 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah. | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | The Baal Shem Tov teaches, that through faith, which is an emotion – we transform the negative perception to a positive – and when we do that, all our troubles will fall. | 28 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When a person thinks about say a home, it may be a moment – but to actually build it may take (depending on the size) years… The same thing is a tree – so we see, in the realm of thought a moment can erase a lot of time – whenever we do a Mitzvah, this connects this realm (of “slow time…”) to the realm above (“fast time”) – this is the meaning that “G-d thought about the end (of the 400 years of exile”) for if/when we connect to G-d – time (at least the negative…) can go in a flash. | 32 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | G-d is not like a physical king, for whom the instrument of destruction such as an anvil, is not the instrument of construction. – While G-d uses the same instrument! As the Baal Shem Tov says – the very source of misery, becomes a source of pleasure. | 8 Vayeishev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When a person sees there is negative (decree on him…) Before dawn one should study Torah with great concentration, and desire to connect oneself to the infinite light (G-d…) contained within the letters. | 6 Boi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | Sometimes G-d-forbid we experience suffering / pain – instead of being in an expansive state, we are in a constricted state – we should meditate on the words “Asher Nishbati Bi-api…” that even the negative comes from Hashem, and this will sweeten the negative to joy. | Note 8 Mishpatim – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | All Din (negativity) is caused by the fact that malchus (feminine energy) is lacking her partner (feeling neglected, abandoned etc.) hence as we find in the story of Nachum Ish Gam Zu, that when he said that, “This too is good…” – he evoked the love, transforming negative to positive. 15 All the wars and squabbles in this world is because malchus and her beloved are disconnected – when a person thinks about this, they will ensure to unite the two (in psychological terms, a person feeling unloved, needs to know they are loved.) | 13 Balak– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | 16 The Baal Shem Tov said to a person – “Accept upon yourself that whatever G-d will send you, you will accept it with love – then you will have good in both this and the next world” – answered the person, “We need to pray to G-d that we should so be capable” answered the Baal Shem Tov, “True, True.” | 16 Balak– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | Saying “Harav Yisroel Ben Eliezer…” helps protect. | Note 14 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | The Baal Shem Tov says – that the world was created as we know, with the name Eloikim, which represents Din, which is the secret of contraction – as is known. Therefore the difficulties that a person goes through are really only there to extract the soul and the spirituality… When one accepts them with love and with joy – which is the spiritual energy – then He connects his body and his soul… which is the spiritual life force – and there’s no more negativity. But G-d-forbid if one does not do this thing – he separates the body from the positive energy. | 16 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When a person realizes that behind the suffering – concealments, is G-d – as in the Az Yashir, “Amarti …” (there are five Alefs… representing G-d) this eradicates the forces of suffering – evil. | 7 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When a person is aware that nothing occurs without G-d; every one of your thoughts, every movement, and hence even in your sins (besides idolatry G-d-forbid) G-d is guiding – in this realization, all evil dissipates, a person can turn into a holy person – where the Shechina on him – can dwell. | Note 3 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When a person knows that all negative is concealed-G-d (obviously for a purpose) this causes all negative to cease. | 7 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | As one knows that G-d is in every movement, in every thought, then all evil dissipates. | Note 6 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | Even in the greatest darkness – the greatest concealment – G-d says, “I am within.” | 10 Vayielech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When a person perceives that even the darkness contains light – that the suffering, pleasure (afterwards…) then even if one doesn’t understand why – this removes the evil. The Baal Shem Tov often would say – I fear greatly of the Biblical (potential) curse, “I will doubly hide myself…” the first hidden refers to a negative, but the second is that one forgets (behind all is G-d.) | 11 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | “Behold your enemies G-d, behold your enemies shall be lost” when a person is cognizant that even during the evil there is blessing – then the blessing comes. | 12 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good | When a person can comprehend that within every physical thing (and certainly being) there is a spark of G-d (which is its life force) this spark desires to ascend – so when we see not the evil but use it for good, this causes the good to ascend (and the bad descend – disappear.) | 13 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bad – To Good Thinking Torah Enemies | Our negative thinking and certainly speaking, causes there to be others that think and speak negatively against us – however if we use our thoughts and words for prayer and Torah study and we pray for our enemies, then their evil dissipates. | 75 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Balance | “But if you are good you will be uplifted and if you are not, to the door of sin (the Yetzer Hara) tries to entice.” A person must always be in the middle path – not arrogant and not depressed (low self-esteem.) And this is the (play on the) words “If it is good ‘seis’” – that when things are good, this causes arrogance – but when things are not good, it causes depression – all of this is the Yetzer Hara. – Rather, a person must take the middle path – that one should never be arrogant nor depressed, – but sometimes arrogant and sometimes depressed. – In other words, if the spirit of arrogance comes to him, he should bring to himself humility (by lowering one’s esteem) and if the spirit of depression comes, one should bring oneself joy) by lifting themselves.) Moshe is the level of Daas – Knowledge – and Har Sinai – alludes to two opposites – a mountain represents arrogance – and Sinai represents humility – this is the meaning “And God spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai” for a person needs to take the way of Moses – the way of discernment between these two extremes – Mountain-arrogance and Sinai-lowliness – one must be able to see how the Yetzer Hara is trying to manipulate them – for sometimes he tries to turn a person into an arrogant Mountain and other times into a lowly “no-man (land”) – he does this by pretending to be righteous (heaping on guilt) and in this way, the person is too depressed to serve God – now the way to beat the lowness is to say, “I am a Jew!” – and the way to beat arrogance – is to see that one is just a hunk of meat! – One must use discernment (discerning which attribute to use when.) | 140 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Balance – Tifferes | There is no such thing as kindness without strength (for it quickly dissolves.) Nor strength without kindness (for that is simply evil.) | 161 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Balanced | In order for a person to do good they must be balanced – one must not be manic nor depressed – hence when a person sees that they are getting over-exuberant, they must mix in some sadness and vice-versa. One who cannot see their emotional tides, should go to a Soul-Doctor (Mashpia – Chassidic mentor) who will know (though sometimes the soul-doctor can tell that the person has become arrogant, and the arrogant person is incapable of listening (for “he knows everything,,,”) hence he must humble him.) | 249 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Balancing | The great principle is that the giver is in the state of giving, the receiver in the state of din (constriction) for example a male (giver) can impregnate repeaditly, but the female, once one child is growing… – If you are pouring from a bucket to the cup, the cup is limited – one must see to it, that when one gives, it is balanced (to not give to evil…) and likewise, when one must be strict (it is also balanced for the benefit; and not G-d-forbid cruelty.) | Note 1 Pinchus– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Be The One | I heard from the Baal Shem Tov, when there are many or some wicked people in a city or country who behave through lying, and there is one, who tells the truth, this conquers. | 5 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Beauty – Sight | 90. One should try to not look at physically beautiful things and certainly at beautiful women – when one looks for their lust (pleasure) – through this gaze, a person loses themselves (their soul…) and it is like worshiping an idol. And God-forbid from this thought can come a seminal emission at night, and this adds power to the dark side, and they become impregnated from him. If one does so prior to giving birth (conceiving) to a son, then his son will have his source in their power – this is similar to what the Ari’zal wrote, “Why it is necessary to honor the older brother, for he is like the branch from the Father’s trunk, and then this branch itself grows other branches – similarly the younger brother grows from his older brother’s energy (which comes from the father”) – As such, if one gives their energy first to the Kelipah, then the son is like their branch. The proper way to approach something beautiful one sees – if one sees a beautiful woman, he should think “where does this beauty stem from?” – if God-forbid she dies, then she would have no face… – so where does her face come from? – It comes from the Godly force within her! – So why should I follow after a part from the Godly force, when I can go to the root source and the source of all universes where all beauty exists? Similarly when one is looking say at a beautiful bowl – one should say, “how did this bowl get beautiful?” – the physical part of the bowl is not beautiful, rather it is, its spirit. – And this is also part of God above. Similarly when a person eats, consider that he tastes and the sweetness of this food comes from a spiritual source of sweetness above – and even in physical matter, there is also a life force for we see that it continuously exists (hence its life force continually creates it) as such, in all locations there is a Divine force. If you see the world like this – you are looking with your mind – and hence you see Divinity – and this helps to eradicate the physical appearance (and its effect.) Now if this is how you think through the day – as is well known, that as one thinks thoughts during the day are the types of dreams they have – then you will see the spirit of the physical thing that you saw during the day – for during the day you see the physical, and but realize it has a spirit – however in your dream, you can see the spirit without its physical – the reason for this is, during the day, the spirit part in man is weak, for he is connected to a physical body, and therefore doesn’t see the spirit in things however at night when the spirit of man elevates beyond the body, then the spirit part is strong, as such one can see the actual spirit. And this is how a person can come to the level of prophecy. This is why it states by all the prophets, “In a dream to them I spoke” – except for Moses who could see God even while awake. And this is what King David said, – “Through seeing in the day the spirit and life-force in matter, during the night, I see you” / prophecy. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Becoming God’s Home | It is known that G-d created man to serve Him – and the appropriate service is that a person should imitate G-d in all his ways… in order for the holiness of G-d to dwell within him. G-d is called good, and we wish for His goodness to be us. How does a person make themselves into the home for G-d? A person must refine their body and soul, by elevating their spiritual qualities and generally speaking, this refers to the 24 main organs of an individual, such as their eyes, their ears… So what we see, what we hear is good etc… and then all of one’s organs and veins become holy. And this is what it says, that “Your camp will be holy.” and your soul becomes light; and the 248 limbs in your body are like flaming fires, and this is through the study of Torah, and the practice of Mitzvos altruistically, with love and awe of G-d. The light which is the soul – which dwells in the mind – and its qualities that you have – and the candle, which is the 248 limbs of the man, all of them, through love and awe of G-d, become a bright light. And when these sources become pure – your body becomes a home and a vehicle for your soul – and your soul becomes a vehicle for G-d, who dwells within it. When you have such a “good resident…” namely G-d Himself, then no evil can befall you, and the evil runs from you. And this is what it King David said, “Go away from evil and do good;” In other words, create from the very evil, good… that means, from all the physical emotional traits… disassociate from the narcissistic and selfish pleasures – and then the good within them will dominate, and they will tend towards the right side of kindness and wisdom; And this is what it says, that, “Only goodness and kindness will pursue me all the days of my life!” This is the right side, that the left bows to it through the pure good actions. This is the meaning that G-d said, “Your name should no longer be Jacob, but Israel;” and the Gemarah says, “That it’s not that He took away the name of Jacob, but rather Jacob became secondary to Israel;” In other words, it’s not that we need to get rid of these say passionate emotions within us – rather we need to transform them to be used for the good. That they should be vehicles and instruments of the good in our soul, and when you do this, you become both the vehicle for G-d and his Home on earth. | 41 | |||||||||
| Bedtime | By strengthening one’s Divine service at night, this protects from Keri. | Note 57 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bedtime | Before you go to sleep think that your mind is going to go to G-d – so you should strengthen yourself in the service of G-d. | 75 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Belief – Jew | The Baal Shem said: “I” Jew – “Believe, with complete faith” – I believe with total belief – what does total belief mean? – even were one to cut off my head, hand and foot… “That the circumstance of a body, are not attributable (to G-d)..” the body, like a nut that one first must crack its shell… similarly a Jew who eats like a Jew, sleeps like a Jew, and most importantly looks like a Jew – looks not where one mustn’t… – this allows one to know G-d. “To him alone is it right to pray and to no other…” that “my aim in life should be but to your will, not to anything physical/materialistic.” | Note 117 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Belief – Mechanism/s | Why do we say in prayers, “Our God and God of our fathers?” There are two ways people come to believe in God, the first is as an inherited belief – though this is strong, it lacks the benefit of the second – namely, when someone coming from an agnostic mindset, searched for the truth and discovers God; which is how Abraham came to belief. However the second, though being a far more real and loving belief (for we accept what we discover, as well as love it) lacks the “dogmatic” strength of the former (for if something is philosophically based, technically, someone could bring contrary proofs…) Ideally we combine both. | 206 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Best Fear | What could be better than the level of that just like a minister who in his own home or office, people give him much honor… but as he stands before the king, not only is he humble, he doesn’t seek any honor; Similarly, you before G-d. | 21 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Bikkurim | “It will be when you come into the land, and you should take from the first fruit…” the secret of the first fruits – Bikkurim, was returning the feminine light to the Cohen which is Chessed, in order that the Kelipah should not derive benefit (the explanation of this is, that everything G-d made, when we use it for Holy Purposes, it elevates, hence the Mitzvah of Bikkurim (giving the first fruits to G-d… – for those who are not so good at dedicating every action to G-d… – elevates the physical.) | 1 Ki Savoi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Birth – Easy | The Name אלד is good for a woman giving birth by concentrating that the-א represents Chochmah and Binah – the ל the three pillars (I think this means right, left, center) and ד which is the Shechina, and one should have in mind to draw down from above to below. | 7 Vayei-ra– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Birur – Physical Transformation | When the bad becomes a catalyst for the good (such as regret and change) then it transforms the bad, basically to good. | 45 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Blessings | The Baal Shem Tov says, that Tehhilim with love, going out of your way for another, whether for their physical or spiritual needs, and love of one’s fellow, are the keys to unlock the heavenly storehouses of health, salvation and wealth. | 223 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Blessings | The four letters of the Divine name also represent speech, sound, breath and thought – when we attach our speech, sound, breath, and thought to the Divine (say, through speaking, thinking etc. words of Torah…) this creates a unification of the individual soul with the Divine – this in turns causes the flow of blessing not only to the individual, but to the entire universe. | 211 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Blessings | Our prayers should be that G-d’s name Havayeh should be complete – as it can be completed with the four names Ab, Sag, Mah, Ban – and when G-d’s name is completed, all the good flows. | 22 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Blessings | When we humble ourselves to the point of nothing – from there salvation comes (for something that has no form cannot be further broken.) The Baal Shem Tov says, how do we get to the point of nothingness – that all we do is for the Soul. Attach your thoughts above – and don’t eat or drink too much… and don’t increase your physical pleasure, and don’t look at any media (“things of this world”…) Rather try to separate yourself from the physicality – for when you look at it, you cause your soul to become coarse. Our sages teach – seeing causes remembering, and remembering causes desire – and this was the sin of the forbidden tree – that it looked good, and therefore it caused a desire. | Note 18 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Body | The Baal Shem Tov taught on the Verse: “When you will see the donkey…” – when you will truly look at the desires of your body, you will see – “your enemy…” – for it hates the soul that has spiritual yearnings and strivings – furthermore you will see – “That it is burdened under its luggage…” – instead of doing happily that which God requests, it is lazy and stubborn – so you may think – “I will not help it….” – that I need to whip the donkey; in other words, be harsh (to my body.) This is not the way for the light of the Torah to penetrate, rather – “You should surely assist it…” – You should refine it, encourage it, but not break, pain it (this is an amazing teaching, for the Baal Shem Tov set aside the notion that people should perhaps not care about the body, rather he said you should use your body in good health and happiness.) | 21 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Body – Soul | 2 + Note 2. The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a King who tested three servants – he gave them a large amount of money and told them to feed one of his dogs – now the first one took the money and made a Crown for the King which pleased the King. The second one fed the dog just enough so it could live. The third one used all the money on feeding the dog and the King was so angry, he turned the dog on him – and the meaning of this example is explained by Heichal Brocho that every soul receives an animal soul, which is the dog – and if a person is holy, they use this world only for holy things – if a person is a little less so – they indulge the body but not overly… – if a person is a fool, they just do everything for the body, and eventually they will do Teshuvah. | Nitzavim 2– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Body – To Light | The Baal Shem Tov interpreted the famous Biblical verse that “We should do the commandments to live!” – that ultimate life is to transform the gross body, as Chanoich and Eliyahu managed, into light. | 356 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Breaks | The idea of Rotzu Vshuv (literally, the energy goes up and down) for through taking a break from Divine devotion during work, eating, sleeping etc. the soul rests – and the mind (which has limits) refreshes to subsequently be able to serve G-d. A person who measures how much time he needs off, in order to be able to sustain the Divine service, is continually (even during the break… for this is the intent) serving God. | 367 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Busy – Be | 52. When a person is serving God continually they have not time for silly arrogance or other bad traits. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Calling – By Name | Just as you hold a physical object with your hand, you hold someone by calling their name. | 104 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Character | Our sages teach there are four primary negatives – (this refers to damages caused through a damaging) Bull – Pit – Bite (of an animal) and Fire. Spiritually this means – Ox- looking where you shouldn’t… – Pit- refers to a person who lies fallow – a person isn’t learning, but wastes time… – Bite- refers to someone who eats anything and everything… – Fire, refers to anger – which is the cackling of fire. | 4 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Character – Improving | “Someone who habitually lies, shouldn’t lie even for the sake of peace” (in other words, to get rid of this bad character trait they must uproot it – even when it might be appropriate) like one who takes interest (on loans) shouldn’t, even from a gentile… | 10 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Charity | One of the ways to encourage someone spiritually is to help them physically – one shouldn’t make spirituality a precondition. Besides the simple Ahavas Yisroel (commandment to unconditionally love, that this fulfills…) it will also make a person far more receptive – this was the path the Baal Shem Tov forged. | 294 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Charity – + 20 % | It states – whoever “splurges” on charity should not give more than 20%… explains the Baal Shem Tov – this word “Mivazvez” is referring to someone who is cheap… – So for him it is difficult… but one who desires to give more… NP! | 9 Re-eh – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Charity – + 20 % | The Baal Shem Tov explains the idea of not giving more then 20% only refers to someone who fears, but someone who is trustworthy that G-d will repay him… – by all means! | 11 Re-eh– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Charity – + 20 % | The Baal Shem Tov was asked, why he gives more than 20% to charity, for it is known, one should not give more than 20%… – so he explained this refers to one who finds it difficult – but he enjoys. | 10 Re-eh – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Charity – Always | All Mitzvos, if you don’t do it for the sake of G-d, better (perhaps) if it wasn’t… – however with charity, though it is better altruistically, the bottom line is someone has food. | 12 Re-eh– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| CHARITY – BAD (TO GOOD) | Sometimes we incur a financial loss – this occurs as some kind of punishment – the benefit is to give that amount of money to charity. | 123 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Charity – How | “You should surely open you hand to the poor” – when one gives to the poor, this causes a Divine union – for the coin is “Yud…” your five fingers is “hei…” the stretching of your hand outward “vov…” – and his receiving in his hand is “hei” – When this is the order, this is the Divine name. But if the poor person first sticks out his hand – it is not the correct way… We must first find and give (and then G-d, likewise.) | 8 Re-eh – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Charity – How To | Even if we are filled with Torah knowledge and with deep love and awe of God and this motivates us to give charity, we may be “murderers,” for if we give charity but we do not feel the other person’s plight… | 46 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Charity – Receiving | The Gemarah says, “He who wishes to receive should do so as Elisha, but he who wishes not to, should do so as Shmuel” – the Gemarah teaches us that “the person who gets another to give, is greater than the person that gives…” – A poor person who receives, it with this intention (that he is bestowing on others a great Mitzvah…) in fact one can cause that many give (to them) in one day (whereas in terms of the giver, the amount may be limited;) As such, a person who wishes to receive should do so as Elishah, who only received from righteous people – whereas Shmuel wished not to receive from anybody. | 14 Re-eh– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Charity – 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”) hence by having this intention, therefore by taking money, they are doing a great Mitzvah. Someone who does so with the proper intention.. hence should only take from worthy Jews and not run to anyone. | 430 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Charity – Tzeddakah | The Baal Shem Tov says, that when it comes to giving charity, it doesn’t matter your intention, because the main thing is that the poor person receives it. | 1 Terumah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Charity… | If you cannot financially help someone – you should at least give them recommendation(s). | 14 Re-eh– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Chassidic Customs | The customs of the Baal Shem Tov actually are traditions from Moses – when Moses was in Heaven to receive the Torah, all the angels and the holy Sefiros gave him gifts, customs… both general and specific – these general customs pertaining to the body of the Jewish people, the Baal Shem Tov had Mesirus Nefesh (sacrifice) that they should become part of the Chassidic tradition, and with these we will greet Moshiach. | 252 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidic Nigunim | The Baal Shem Tov says, the Chassidic melodies (the hauntingly beautiful mesmerizing soul inspiring notes) is one of the paths of Chassidus. | 219 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidus | God revealed Himself through Chassidus, as it reveals the inner true intent (of Judaism – namely the character-refinement.) | 371 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidus | The energy and effect of the Baal Shem Tov, eternal! – though one must “stand” under his fire. | 279 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidus | The essential role of the Baal Shem Tov was to awaken one’s essence. | 347 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidus | The purpose of the revelation of the Baal Shem and the Maagid was to pave the way for the revelation of the inner Torah through the Alter Rebbe (similar how the forefathers paved the way for the Divine revelation through Moses.) | 355 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidus | Even prior to the Baal Shem Tov there were ill-people (spiritually…) but they didn’t know – however the Baal Shem Tov and the subsequent Rebbes wrote “medicine books,” describing the maladies and cures. | 385 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidus – Meditation | The Baal Shem Tov didn’t want to reveal himself, for he was in the sublime reality of Hisbodudus / meditativeness – this is a supreme reality in which there is light; on the other, to teach, is what is most necessary – we find his master Reb Adam Baal Shem worked very hard to get him to reveal himself – yet it was the teaching of his master Achiyah Hashiloini who told him, that his revelation would actually accentuate Hisbodedus… in other words, the revelation of Chassidus is able to integrate two opposing realities: for the benefit of meditativeness, is that the mind is able to think – whereas when one focuses on implementation, though one does great things, the mind is preoccupied; However in the Torah of Chassidus, both occur. | 296 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidus – Mentor | The main purpose of Chassidus is self-refinement and an unconditional-love – but in order to do so, one needs the advice of someone who has already. | 235 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chassidus – Study Daily | Every day have a daily study – whether much or a bit – in Chassidus. | Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Chassidus = Sensitivity | The teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, continued through the Holy Rebbes, create sensitivity. | 336 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chazzanim | There are two types of Chazzanim (Shatz – leaders of the prayer on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.) Those who seek to please man and those who seek to please G-d. | Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Chibut Hakever (the punishment of the body being eaten by worms) | If one passes on Erev Shabbos this is a good sign – queries the Baal Shem Tov – the point of this Gemarah is to teach us that that is a way to save oneself from Chibut Hakver (the body being eaten) but this is not under one’s control – answers the Baal Shem Tov, the Gemarah comes to teach us that a person should be as if he died on Erev Shabbos, namely he removes all concerns of this world – and in this way he is saved from Chibut Hakever. | 79 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Chitas (Chumash – Tehhilim – Tanya) | The Baal Shem Tov said, whoever knows all the letters of Chumash, Tehhilim and Tanya (Chitas’s acronym) has nothing to fear. | 16 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chochmah – To Binah | The Chochmah / inspiration, doesn’t translate to Binah / the studious subdivision of the particulars (for within the inspiration is a universe) unless one makes a binding decision to do. | 257 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Chodush | The Baal Shem Tov asked in a dream, if one still needs to be careful to not eat chodush – so they said – “when the Ba”ch passed – they cooled the fires of hell for forty days” – meaning that’s how great he was (and he says, it is not a problem….) | 4 Emor– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Choice | Moshe Rabeinu was born to be evil, yet through his choice he became most righteous. | 1. Korach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Chossid | The Baal Shem Tov revealed how not only the holy can be Chassidim. | 386 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chossid | The Baal Shem Tov revealed how every Jew can have true love and reverence for God – even the simple Jews who say Tehhilim, as they do so sincerely – this is the apex. | 387 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Chumash – Tehhilim | The Baal Shem Tov said, if we knew the power in the combination of the letters of the Torah (for together they form Divine names which are positive energy systems) there wouldn’t be a single Jew who would not know all of Chumash and Tehillim by-heart. | 3 Kesser Shem Tov (From Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Clear Path | “In all your ways know G-d…” the explanation is, “In all your ways, a person must know well, the correct path, and how to handle oneself.” We should pray to G-d, that G-d help them always to do the right journey – and this is the explanation that G-d will pave all your ways… That even those ways where there are only little pathways… little parts of your bigger picture… He will pave it for you… He will help you, that you should never trip and fail. | 4 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Close and Far | 11. By nature, as the soul comes from G-d, it seeks to return to G-d (expire… Clois Hanefesh…) that is why G-d puts it into a body (that seeks physical needs/pleasures.) RATZU – VSHUV – YEARNING – RETURNING Note 10 Everything seeks to go back to its source – therefore the soul seeks to return to G-d. So through eating, drinking, sleeping, some business, this quiets the soul’s longing (as the person is involved elsewhere) however simultaneously it strengthens. Because life is up and down – as a constant pleasure loses its pleasure (so we fluctuate between spirituality and physicality) for in order for us to constantly feel pleasure in G-d – which is the essence of Avodas Hashem (Divine service) the physical must at times withdraw us. INVITATION 14. The Baal Shem Tov gives a beautiful example of a person who comes to a store and is given a taste of all the delicacies… and then is told “Purchase, for here we give nothing for free!” – Initially G-d gives us a taste of spirituality… LOVE FOR G-D Note 12 The greatest passion for G-d – in fact which Tzaddikim long for – is the passion of the person who first encounters. INITIATION First G-d gives one a great delight in Divine service, for one needs to know what one needs to look for. But then this is taken away, for one can hardly be rewarded for being led (by the bridle…) Only then it is, as the example, as a father who continuously draws his son close by holding out his hands, and withdraws, so the son can learn to run – eventually we can achieve a delight in G-d, which is the purpose of service of G-d – even greater than to what to us is shown. | 11-14 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Coarseness | A person who heart is “fattened” from sins, has an outer layer that allows him not, to receive advice. Note 27 Once a man came to the Baal Shem Tov to study and grow – the Baal Shem Tov delayed him (caused him to be there) a year and a half – and only then did he give him some harsh words… – He explained that he had to remove the Orlas Halev – fattened heart. | 29 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Comfort Zone – GO! | The Baal Shem Tov teaches, that the commandment of Lech (to Avrohom) is the idea of Shemah – as the numerical equivalent of Lech is 50 – and there are 25 letters in Shema and 24 in Boruch Sheim – together with Mesires Nefesh… – which is the idea of leaving your comfort zone, it’s 50. | 1. Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Compassion | There are two types of kind people, one is, when someone sees someone in need, say hungry…, they invite them and feed them – the other, like Abraham, has such a strong desire to help that when he doesn’t find someone to help… feels pain. | 22 Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Compassion | “Just as G-d is compassionate so should you…” – how does G-d come to think about us? For we are bodies of gross (albeit minute) material… – this is because we are compassionate (so G-d “reflects.”) | 64 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| COMPASSION NOT CONDEMNATION | Intro. In the olden days, there were roving preachers wo would preach, “fire and brimstone.” The Baal Shem Tov taught, that this approach was incorrect – when a person speaks not from loving-concern, but condemnation… this causes, as the example of a king who sent his only son to a faraway land… and two servants reported back – one that the son had fallen (low…) The other spoke with deep pain, that due to the circumstance, this caused the son to fall… – And then the mercy of the king was aroused. | 14 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Connecting Heaven and Earth | Always connect the physical to the spiritual, in this way you cause heaven and earth to kiss. 182. Through positive intentions we connect everything physical to the spiritual. Note 157 Our goal is to connect the physical with the realm of thought, bringing it back to its infinite source. | 181 – 182 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Consciousness | Even when someone is small (stressed…) they should think about Heaven – G-d – and immediately to there they are elevated… – for as is known, wherever a person’s thoughts are, there he is. In the book Kesoinois Pasm it writes – wherever a person’s thoughts are, there he is, whether above or… In Toildois Yaakov Yosef he writes, I heard from my master “Where a person’s thoughts are, there the person is.” In the Degel Machaneh Efraim (in the name of the Baal Shem Tov) “Wherever a person’s thoughts are, there they are entirely.” In Likutie Imri Pninim, I heard from my Rebbe, “Wherever a person’s thoughts are, there they are entirely – when someone thinks about G-d then they stand in G-d’s presence, if G-d-forbid they have negative thoughts (anger etc.) they are literally in hell (with its fires consuming them.) This is so even when they are alive, how much more so after death. – But Tzaddikim whose thoughts are about G-d – (machshavah) “thought” is the same letters as “joy” (bisimcha.”) | 56 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Consciousness – Expansive (Contracted) | 68. When we are in a small state – namely that our service of God is not from joy but kabalois oil – obligation. 69. Understanding what is small and expanded mindedness – when a person sits to study Torah yet his mind is not with him, this is small, yet when one studies and he understands, and enjoys… this is called expanded (Gadlus) and the same applies in prayer and every Mitzvah. 70. Life comes in small and expanded mindedness – when a person realizes they are in small mindedness, this itself leads them to expanded. 71. Unfortunately there are people who don’t know they are in small mindedness. Note 60 Sometimes God will take a person (cause him to fall) from his high (level) or people will – for this is in his interest (ED. Presumably so he can later ascend higher.) | 68-71 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Consciousness (small to expansive) | Take pleasure from the impure to the pure – sometimes a person serves God in small mindedness – then when he serves in expanded consciousness – hence the pain of small mindedness becomes the pleasure of expanded. | 73 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Consciousness (small to expansive) | After we go from small mindedness to expanded consciousness we elevate all the deeds, prayer, Torah done in small mindedness. | 74 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Convictions | The Baal Shem Tov explains the concept that the world of falsehood mirrors the world of truth, for there are three main pillars – Chessed, love, pleasure; Gevurah, Strength; and Tiferes “Beauty.” In the world of holiness, the pleasure of Chessed is spiritual (like the pleasure we get from helping another,) however as this descends to the lower world, this becomes the sexual appetite. In the higher world, Gevurah is positive self-discipline, but as it descends, it becomes anger and idolatry. And “beauty,” instead of seeing God’s grandeur, it becomes arrogance. AVODAH (SELF-REFINEMENT) Now a person in the lower realm is weak-minded, hence allows these instincts to overtake them – but if one strengthens their convictions…. | 152 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Convictions – Transformation | There are (similar to 152…) different energies which can be used, both in the positive and negative realms – so when for-example the attribute of Tifferes “beauty” is expressed, foolish people will begin boasting – but a wise person will see the foolishness, and use it for spiritual goals. | 153 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Criticism – Benefit | This is also the reason for a wife (for as the Baal Shem Tov states elsewhere) though not everything negative she points out in you is accurate, yet some is – allowing you to thus change. | 302 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Criticism – Don’t | The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a very competent doctor that if somebody is very ill and comes to him – because he’s so competent, he could even give him dangerous medicines – but somebody who is not as competent – that could kill them. | 11 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Criticize – Never | It says in Tana Divei Eliyahu, that the duty to admonish another – only refers to one who is your spiritual peer. | Shemini– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Crowning God | It is well known, that every Jew is a small world – so it is written in Tikunim… The 613 limbs of a man are all ordered according to the order of creation, and therefore man is called a small world… and therefore whoever crowns G-d as King on each of his limbs – it is as if He is crowned Him over the entire world. *** A person should think that he wishes to pray and to bind the spiritual and physical universe – elevate the Sparks and the souls from below to above – And he should resolve to do all the Mitzvos that he can, through his life. *** Additionally he should attach his thought in G-d with great faith, love and awe of G-d. For G-d gives life to everything, even to the wicked, and bad deeds, as it says “G-d is good to all…” – and even in a great sin, his life force is found… – for without his life-force there can be nothing – even in illness and G-d forbid death, for without his force nothing would be. *** Now when a person humbles themselves – as if they are one dot . as if they are banished to the place of death G-d-forbid because they have rebelled against the great King, the mighty and awesome G-d… – and from that deep and dark place – they place their faith in G-d – in the one G-d – the one and Infinite one; But even in the place of death, there is his life, for there is no life force or existence without Him, and his Holy Name. Then from his place of humility, in contemplating the oneness of G-d – even in the place of sin; This creates a great unity – great desire of G-d to permeate all higher and lower worlds – for He brings the greatness, the light, and the life-force of G-d through this thought, from the infinite, to all spaces. | 14 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Crying | Crying is very bad, one must serve G-d out of joy – unless the crying is from joy – then it is very good. | 7 Ki Tetzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Crying | 45. Crying is very bad, for a person must serve God happily! | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Demeaning (Chas V’shaloim) | We are always wrong, if we are demeaning. | 78 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Desires (Addictions) Overcoming | 9. If you get any lustful (desirous of this world) thoughts, stop thinking about it. See that which you desire as completely reprehensible and disgusting – shout at this foolish desire (and the Yetzer Hara (that implants its lust)) and in this way you will eradicate it. Have no sadness (when you lack physical desires.) Actually be exceptionally joyous that you managed to squash (physical / lustful) desires for God. When you don’t follow a negative desire, in this way you greatly reduce the Kelipa (bad force.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Desires (Emotional) Overcoming | 14. If you have a desire for a bad disposition (say anger etc.) then say the six nations (“The Knany, The Chity, The Emori, The Pirizi, The Yevusi, The Girgashi”) with all your heart and soul, with love and reverence for God, and it will dissipate. Now use this emotion for God, for example if you have a lust – only love God, and may all your efforts be towards this love – if you have anger, use the toughness of this emotion to overpower your Yetzer Hara. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Desires (Sins) Overcoming | 13. If you have a desire for any sin (say non kosher-food) then say the verses of that sin (from the Torah) with their chant and vowels, with love and reverence for God, and the desire will disappear. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Desires = You | A fundamental principle that the Baal Shem Tov taught, is, that wherever your desires are.. is who you become. | 375 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Desiring | “And The Land Will Rest” Explains the Baal Shem Tov – this means that we rest our desires. | 27 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Desiring | Similarly do not care about the stupid desires of your serpent skin body. | 6 Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Desiring (lusting) | Do not gaze at all on physical things. Do not contemplate them, for in connecting to them, one coarsens one’s soul. Our sages say “Gazing brings to recalling and lusting.” This was the sin of the Eitz Hadas – for as Adam looked at it, he desired. | 5 Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Deveikus – Attached | All problems arise when we are disconnected. | 135 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Din – Judging / Chessed – Loving | Every single thing G-d created – including in the Torah (every word) has both the aspect of how it can be used for love or Din (harsh-judging. For example I can see money as charity or “mine” etc.) The trick is to see the good. | Chayei Sara– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Dirah Bitachtoinim – God In You | The main purpose of the Ari-Zal teaching us all the great secrets of Divine thoughts (Yechudim) and levels / emotions, is that we should become a Merkava, a transport. For example, when it speaks about “the eye of G-d..” it means G-d peering into us – so when we do a Mitzvah, looking deeply into it… – this manifests “the eye of G-d…” And when we speak about the “fear of G-d…” When we pay attention to what the Torah is telling us – this manifests the “listening of G-d.” When we speak about “the hand of G-d…” this refers to G-d giving, which we manifest by us giving. Also the whole point of the construction of the Mishkan which paralleled the Mishkan above, and constructed it through the doing below – is to give us an example, that if G-d can be manifested through physical bricks, etc. how much more so, through our spiritual endeavors. | Pikuidei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Direction | There are two people – one who walks in total darkness – the other who knows what is right, but occasionally falls… Such a person, when he strengthens his Yetzer Tov on his Yetzer Hara, in fact the light that comes from him is redoubled! | 13 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Direction | 31. When one studies Torah and then during the day something occurs and one is unsure what to choose / do – one can discern based on the subject matter of Torah they studied what to do – this works but if one is continually attached to God, for then they can have this perception. But if one is not fully attached, this perception is not granted. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Discernment | The Kabbalah teaches us, that “everything is rectified through wisdom.” The meaning behind this is, that first and foremost it is only through wisdom and analyzation that a person can see the difference between good and evil. Second of all, if a person has a thought, for example a desire for money, they can elevate the source of this desire which is love, into the love of G-d – and therefore when you elevate something to its source – the negative aspect falls away… the same thing can be about lust. It is well-known that anything that a man despises, that causes that element to fall off. Now it sometimes happens that a righteous person is feeling low, and when we are feeling low, we don’t appreciate our own value – and because we don’t appreciate our own value, we don’t appreciate the value of our prayers and our Divine service – and that’s why Tzaddikim would often boast… because it would cause them to have a greater self-esteem. This is why we find, that the sages praised Rabbi Shimoin Bar Yochai very greatly… Because he was the greatest Tzaddik, he had to descend very low, to elevate all the low thoughts and speech of men – and therefore the sages praising him, gave him a greater self-confidence, which allowed him to elevate himself. | 7 Pinchus– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus | A person should continuously be joyous, and believe that the Shechina is continually with him, and protecting him – he should see G-d and realize G-d sees him… – And G-d can do what he desires – in one second He can G-d-forbid destroy all the universes or create all universes – and from Him come all blessings and the opposite – for in everything there is His life-force, hence, “I fear nothing but Him.” | 38 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus | Often the Baal Shem Tov taught that one must be continually aware (and leaving this awareness, is the beginning state… like idolatry…) that every single thought, speech and action one has, comes from G-d – and without G-d, all of it is impossible. | 59 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus | 30. When one is speaking one should only consider one’s attachment to God – however during study, one must contemplate the subject matter – and from this comes the energy to properly be connected to God. And we must always engage in Torah study, for “it is a tree of life to those who hold onto her.” But when one is chatting, and in their mind they are connected to God (Diviekus) one must be very careful to not lose focus. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus | 76. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts” – as soon as a person separates their thoughts from (attachment or following) God, it is like serving idols. “And my deeds are not like your deeds” – for nonetheless teach our sages, a person who didn’t sin (so in other words – his thoughts are not connected, but his actions are) it is considered as if he did a Mitzvah. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus | 80. Sometimes a person must look in different directions in order to connect their thinking to God – as the coarseness of the body can prevent Divine awareness. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus | 81. Connect to God and simultaneously do something necessary in the home (say wash dishes) or do anything or speak while you are connected – the reason for this is to accustom oneself to stay connected in thought to God, even while one is speaking or doing physical things. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus | 82. The ability to merit Divine attachment (Diveikus) comes from being separate from human interaction – and from writing secrets of the Torah – and from Yechudim – as is known from the Ari-Zal. And when one is practicing Yechudim think about the greatness of God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus | 94. “Be with God in everything.” – This is a great principle. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus – | You should contemplate that “G-d fills the entire universe and His Shechina is with me constantly – it is very 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 | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Always | Always remain connected to G-d through remaining connected to the letters of the Torah – even when speaking with others… – realize that the sound of the letters are all offshoots of the 22 Hebrew Holy letters. | 63 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Attaching to G-d | All of our problems arise, for we know not our power – a person doesn’t understand how like a father who has no other business but to hear from his child, God awaits, delights in, cherishes, our every prayer, Torah study and good deed! | 145 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Attachment | Whatever one sees, one should connect it to G-d, when one sees love, remind yourself of your love for G-d – if one sees fear remind yourself of your fear of G-d – even when going to the bathroom, you can say, “I separate the evil from the good” – this is Yechudim. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Attachment | The moment (“Visartem Va-avadtem Elohim Acheirim…”) we deviate from serving G-d, it is like serving idols, nonetheless our sages say – if we don’t sin, this too is considered a Mitzvah. | 57 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Connecting to G-d | We connect to God when we realize He is found in the Holy Letters of the Torah and Jewish prayer. | 44 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Connecting to G-d | When one holds part of an indivisible reality, such as G-d, one holds the whole! – and as G-d placed himself within Torah and Mitzvos – therefore when one passionately does a Mitzvah, or studies Torah (for the sake of connecting to G-d) one completely bonds. | 111 Kesser She Tov | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Connecting To G-d | This connection to the spirituality of the letters, according to the Baal Shem Tov, is one of the highest spiritual connections. Connection is the master-key and everyone can do it. | 11 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Connecting To God | It is known, the purpose of life is to attach to God, we do this when we pray and learn with passion – especially when we say the words; for these passionate words connect to the Divine speech. | 208 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Diveikus – CONNECTING TORAH, G-D, JEW | The letters of the Torah are the containers and rooms of G-d – when a person concentrates in prayer – through this one draws within oneself the brilliant Divine light – as the Torah and G-d are one, and in them one must place all of one’s focus… which is the connection of the Jew, Torah, and G-d – that is a single entity. | Note 32 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Divine Attachment | When we concentrate in prayers, it is like an intimate union with God. | 362 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Divine Attachment | The Baal Shem Tov explains, proper repentance / Teshuvah (attachment to the Divine source) is when we understand that the Divine is our source; (in other words, we are born into a perception of self-sufficiency – when we realize that our very soul is God, this is the ultimate return!) | 56 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Divine Connection | The Baal Shem Tov’s soul taught him, and told him that the reason he merited this, was not due to his Torah study nor prayer, rather because he connected to the Godliness within the very letters. | 282 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Divine Connection | When one speaks, one should always be connected to G-d in his mind – and during Torah study, one must think about the concept, and through this one is attached to G-d. | 25 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Joy | A person who is properly attached to G-d can cause that everything he sees, he sees mainly G-d – the main thing is a person should continuously be joyous – especially when attaching oneself to G-d – for without joy one cannot be attached to G-d. | 41 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Oneness | The idea of Divekius attachment to G-d – is that there should be no separation – for example, if you wish to connect two ingots of silver – if you use glue there is a separation but if you melt them…. | 34 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Physical | 100. There is great reward when spiritual is caused by the physical (body.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Prayer | It is known that the main attachment to G-d is through passion in prayer, and that one’s Torah study should be filled with love-reverence- for through this one can attach directly to G-d. For the breath of your speech, attaches to the Divine breath – and your voice to His – so too your thought… As our sages teach, “The Shechina spoke through the voice of Moshe” – for due to his great Divine attachment, he was literally connected to his source. | 2 Bechukoisay– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Prayer | 70. Diveikus (Divine attachment) is when you say a word (of Davening) you say it at great length – for as you are so attached (to God – or the Godliness in the word) you don’t want to let go – and therefore you say it at length. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Singularity | 84. The Sifra teaches, “That Yetzer Hara, From Your Heart Remove.” (Not sure what this refers to… ED.) Just as God is singular in the universe, so too, your service should be singularly to Him. This is a great principle! A person should be singularly focused on serving God – as the verses states, “God made it that (naturally) we fear Him (and go on the straight road) and people find crooked paths.” From the many “ideas…” we become confused (as to the direction of life.) Consider that everything that exists in this world comes from God – and everything that people do/create from the power of their intelligence / plans also – even the smallest thing that occurs in this world emanated from God. May it make no difference to you if something happened exactly as you did or didn’t want – for it all comes from God, and as such it is equally good if it didn’t go according to your wishes. Consider that everything – whether it is the universe of the Spheres, whether it is the world of Angels, or the world of the Throne (Presumably this refers to the worlds of Asiyah, Yetzirah and Beriah ED.) all of it is nothing – like a non-existence – relative to God. They all exist within the vacuum of His contracted light that He contracted within Himself (to make space for their existence ED.) They all were created by a single word (or sentence ED.) So why should you chase any stupid pleasure within those worlds, for they are but a single sentence/word from God?! Far better to attach yourself higher, within God-Himself who is the source (and not to attach oneself to an offshoot.) This is the intent of the Zohar, “Blessed are the Tzaddikim who know how to attract their hearts to the King Above, and not to this world – attractions that will dissipate” (for all the universes are destined to be destroyed (or infinitely elevated ED.)) Always think to connect to God from sheer love – for God is greater than everything in this world, for everything good in this world comes only from Him. And think, “I always seek to give God, Nachas (pleasure) and to constantly serve Him.” Always have your thoughts connected to God above and this explains the verse, “And from the Mikdash (Holy space) don’t exit.” And when you need to delve into matters of this world, imagine that you are now going from the heavenly realm down (like a person going from his home to the outside – whose intent is to right way return – and while he is out, he is constantly thinking about when he will return – similarly you should feel about the higher realm… that there is your true home – In God – hence even when you speak in matters pertaining to this world, you will return your thoughts to God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Study Torah | Whoever wishes to connect to the Divine should study Torah, for within the wisdom of the Torah is its thinker. | 289 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Diveikus – The Merit | What causes a person the great gift of Divine attachment? When a person is separate from people – also when one reveals secrets of Torah – and due to doing Yechudim as is known from the Arizal; additionally getting up at Chatzois – connecting night to day. | 36 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – Torah | Just as the bride first is bedecked, which is an initial attraction – but the ultimate union is without clothing – so too, firstly one starts the study of Torah for a personal interest, however then one must come – and in fact, this should be a daily process – to studying just for the sake of the union. | 42 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus – You’re in God | It is a very great thing when a person realizes that he is within G-d – the whole universe exists only within the space of G-d – when one does this one blinds the Kelipa who try to blind him and confuse him to see the world as real and G-d as not – For everything that exists can only exist through constant Divine energy. | 42 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Diveikus. | 5. Attach your thoughts to God – do not eat or drink (or indulge) more than is necessary for health. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Divikus | 99. “The Tzaddik is aware of his animal soul” – in other words even his (animal) soul, connects he to service of God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Divine Assistance – Mikvah (Men) | Action (for men) – See to it that you go to Mikvah (daily) especially when you are in need (of Divine assistance.) | Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Divine Benefit | As wherever our thoughts are, so we are; hence when a person continuously has faith in God, this evokes this realm (namely of God’s faithfulness) however a person who constantly is worried (about God’s wrath…) | 230 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Divine Blessing | What does it mean God fills the entire world? – It is impossible for us to do or say anything without God – hence God is literally within all our actions and speech – now if our intent is love, then the resultant speech or deed manifests love. | 273 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Divine Blessing | “I will rest where I choose.” We will understand this based on what is written in the Zohar – “A word spoken without love and reverence for G-d, flies (soars) not above.” In other words, sound and speech are corresponding to male and female, which is the vov and hei of G-d’s name, Yud-Hei-Vov-Hei – but if one utters words (of holiness) without reverence and love (which is the father and mother) – Yud Hei of the name – one causes G-d-forbid a separation. Especially as the entire purpose of prayer and study is in order to elevate the words to their source – from below reaching above. For just as in the beginning, the world was made with 22 letters of Torah – and from there emanated the effulgence and existence of the lower world (from above to below) similarly a person must elevate his speech from below to above – to their source. This means, when a person connects his speech with the speech, and voice with the voice, and breath with the breath, and thought with the Supernal thought – which is the four letters of G-d’s name, Yud-Hai-Vov-Hei as is known. And if a person does this – all his speech soars above to the source, and through this he causes that these words come before G-d, and G-d looks at them. And therefore his prayers are answered. For when G-d peers, this is like giving above (to below.) And when G-d peers, this causes the existence of all the worlds. Above, there is no time or hours, for in one second, the sustenance comes from the higher “well,” which continuously flows, and its pathways are goodness/kindness, to give positivity to His creations – only the receiver must be worthy (of receiving.) And if one studies Torah or prays in this way – one becomes like a pipeline from the well above, which brings great sustenance to him and the entire world. So in this way, G-d resides. | 18 Ki Sisah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Divine Blessings | The Baal Shem Tov said – we rise to God through the name Elokim (from this world,) and this causes that the name of Havayeh (God who transcends this world) permeates. | 62 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Divine Communication | 8. 9. Every day G-d announces “woe to those who embarrass the Torah…” a. If no one hears it, what difference does it make? b. The answer is, that the announcement means not speech… because the world above is a world of thought (knowing…) rather it means that every day people get from G-d messages in their thoughts and that must be adhered to. | 8/9 Bichukoisay– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Divine Connection | Whoever attaches himself even to a part of G-d, attaches Himself to all; and likewise, the other direction. Sefer Chareidim gives an example of this, namely, that just as if you pull a branch of a tree, you pull it all… | Note 1 Nasoi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Divine Focus | A parable – there was a king who had three good friends – he pretended that he was upset with them and told each to take one of his dogs; he gave them a stipend and told them to care for it. One took the money for the dog and made a beautiful crown to give to the king. The second fed the dog very meagerly; the third put all his effort into the dog – the king rewarded the first and rejected the third. | 73 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Divine GPS | However we go, we should walk directed by God. | 69 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Divine GPS | When you give your thoughts to G-d, that G-d should send you the thoughts of what you should do – like it says “Place upon G-d your package,” and one seeks a Chassidic way, then presumable, when he’s thinking, comes from G-d. | 53 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Divine Hints – Direction | We find by Arab kings (this perhaps was in the olden days, though they still act like this) they merely allude (hint). Similarly, from time to time, ideas pop into a person’s head (positive) these are hints from G-d. | 146 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Divine Reaction | Whatever we do below we cause G-d to react – so if we give charity, this causes that G-d likewise. Very often The Baal Shem Tov would share this teaching!!! | Note 17 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Divine Service – From Your Level | Everyone must work based on their current standing (in other words, not imitate.) | 4 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Divine Space | The Baal Shem Tov said, that the Holy Divine name Yud – Hei – Vov – Hei begins with a Yud (in Yiddish, yud and yid/Jew are similar…) this is because the purpose of the world is for the Jew, and in the letter Yud itself, we see how this must manifest, for the upper dot relates to God’s intent (Torah and Mitzvos) the lower dot, relates to the Jew, and when one fills their time and space (the body) with Torah and Mitzvos, the Divine intent is fulfilled. | 208 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Divine Vengeance | It states “Any Talmid Chochom (Tzaddik) who doesn’t take vengeance like a snake is no Talmid Chochom” – asks the Baal Shem Tov… but taking vengeance is forbidden? So he explains the analogy, “like a snake” – a snake only bites and (kills G-d-forbid) if this was G-d’s will. | 19 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Divine Voice / thought | You should see yourself – that the world (the heavenly) speech speaks in (through ) you, and without it, it would be impossible to speak. As the verse states, “G-d open my lips” and so too, your thoughts are not possible to be, except through the agency of the world of thoughts. And you are like a Shofar, that what comes out of you is the voice that was put in – and if the blower stops… no voice will come out. So too, without the power of G-d which places this in you, you couldn’t speak or think. | 89 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| DO NOT BE TOO HUMBLE | The Baal Shem Tov taught: From the great humility in a person, a person doesn’t fulfil their service of G-d… they don’t realize how the entire heavenly realm… all the angels etc. above, all receive their nourishment from your Torah and Prayers (for this causes the light of heaven!) – If a person truly believed this, he would constantly serve G-d with great joy and trepidation – and he would be careful in every letter and movement to do and say them with great fervor (or properly.) One should also pay heed to what King Solomon teaches, that every word of prayer and Torah, G-d kisses and longs for that word… If one truly integrates this belief… who would not tremble that the Great and Mighty King Awaits Your Words. A person should pay heed and realize, that he is like a ladder with his feet on the ground, and his head in the heavens. And everything he does and says makes a powerful impact in heaven. Then certainly one will be careful that all they do will be Lisheim Shamayim (altruistically for G-d.) But if a person feels, “who am I to affect anything above or below??…” So one goes willy-nilly after their foolish whims – but the truth is, that a person through his actions is completely attached to G-d, as it states “Imitate G-d.” And through you having compassion below, you cause compassion in all the heavenly realms. | 137 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Doveikus – Attachment | This world is compared to a wedding – as is known, that there are many difficulties to get to the wedding – similarly, the entire world is just like the wedding, where the main goal is the word “Li” (that the Groom says you are betrothed) “to me…” So this world is where we create Divine attachment (marriage.) | 22 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Dreams – Transforming | We have the power to flip negative to positive – for-example, if someone has a negative dream, by interpreting it in positive way… | 41 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Dveikus | 64. Sometimes a person falls from their level (of Divine attachment) as God sees this is necessary for the person – othertimes the world causes (this fall) however the fall is always to have a greater subsequent ascent. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Dveikus – Divine Attachment | A person who is a Tzaddik and is always attached to God, then God is with him in all that He does. | Note 54 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Dveikus – Words – Concentrations | The main completion of a Tzaddik is that he never ceases to be attached to God – and even when he speaks mundane words, he does so pithily (so his attachment remains) and especially must he be attached when doing a Mitzvah (- to not be overly obsessed, and thereby loses his attachment.) | 107 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Dviekus – Connecting to G-d | Everything in this world can be united to the Divine (through figuring out its meaningful purpose.) | 102/3 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Eat Healthy | When a person is not well, they cannot properly serve – hence one must be exceedingly careful with promoting their good health. | 231 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Educate | The Baal Shem Tov said, that whoever passes without a son, cannot ascend above… – but even if he has a son – but the son does not behave properly, this causes him deleterious things – but one whose son is right… – this gives him a complete pass. | 25 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Educating | If one needs to educate their fellow man / citizens etc. first one must connect oneself to G-d. And then one should feel connected to them – for we all have one source (particularly the leaders to the people (Rebbes etc.)) and when one does this – then “G-d your Lord is with you,” and you can uplift them and connect them to G-d. | 81 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Educating – Reprimanding | If you need to educate people, you may not be harsh – you must first realize how you are all offshoots of the Rebbe of the generation’s soul. | 113 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Education | There are two types of farmers – one sows many seeds over a vast quantity of land – the other makes little mounds and every seed, treats like his own child – the former does reap a large bounty, but what he reaps, has worms and mold… and the seeds they produce likewise – whereas the latter, not only does his little harvest yield wonderful fruit, but their seeds as well! | 32 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Education | Better to not learn, than to learn what is evil. | 216 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Education | In his travels as a Hidden-Tzaddik, the Baal Shem Tov often would put his holy hand on the heart of children and say, “May you grow up to be a warm (good, passionate) Jew.” | 287 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Education – From Love | The only time it is right to educate, is if it comes from unconditional-love (criticism is a form of abuse.) | 262 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Ego – Ignore | When you embark on doing a good thing, worry not the Yetzer Hara’s devious scheme (to get you not to…) by saying that this will lead you to arrogance… ignore him, push forward with alacrity and love, and even if it does bring some arrogance, eventually you will do it only with purity. | 201 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Egypt – Personal | “G-d didn’t desire to take the Jews by the way of the Pelishtim for perhaps they would see war and desire to return to Egypt.” Each of us has within us the level of Pharaoh and Egypt (servitude – slavery.) | 1 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Elevate | When Abraham came to Egypt he said, “Now I see that you are a beautiful woman…” Had he never seen his wife before? The answer is that Abraham always had his thoughts in a holy place, but going down to Egypt… Egypt was the place that the generation of the flood had lowered their consciousness, into less than they were… The pursuit into pornography etc… so going into Egypt, Abraham needed to elevate – which was the purpose of the Jews who were there. As the Jewish people, despite the immorality of Egypt, were always moral, so Abraham elevated the consciousness into morality. | 12 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Elevate | Whenever Rashi says, “This is the simple explanation of the verse” what He means (for the Hebrew word for simple / Pashtus, also comes the word “pasthus” to separate…) so when you separate yourself from the gross physicality / material… your soul will perceive the essence of the verse. | 18 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Elevate | The Baal Shem Tov said, the simple Rashi, is in the realm of Atzilus. The Baal Shem Tov says, when we remove ourselves from the physicality, so too we will see the essence of the Divinity in the verse. | Note 25 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Elevating | If you get a fear or a joy – know that this is to arouse you to fear or rejoice in G-d, and so with other emotions. | 7 Bichuoisay– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Elevating | There are connections (Yechudim) that are created both through the speech of Torah – as well as the speech… mundane speech one speaks… – through this one can elevate another (for all contain the 22 Holy letters.) | 70 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Elevating | If one has something in common with the other – even in a single trait, then one can (on a soul level) connect and elevate them. | 72 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Elevating | The Holy Letters (for all letters emanate from the 22 Hebrew Holy Letters) descend into foreign thoughts – but if you remove their garments (the lust etc. they are cloaked in) and then the Infinite Radiance will shine. | 5 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Elevating – Connecting | We must connect the physical to the spiritual, this includes our own animal soul (that it joins us in serving G-d.) | 187 Breishis Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Elevating – Connecting | “The whole world is filled with His glory” – There is nothing, neither big nor small, which from Him is separated. For He is the existence of all – therefore a good person can connect G-d even to physical matter(s) – whether it is eating, drinking, intercourse – business – mundane chats or interactions / exchanges. This is the secret of the giver… bending down to uplift the receiver (say a father to his child…) And this is the Kabbalistic meaning, “Know G-d in all your ways…” (as “Adam Knew Eve…”) In other words, unite everything to G-d. If (the above applies) to physical matter (that we must unite all to G-d) how much more so regarding prayer which stands at the pinnacle of reality. There are within prayer, many levels – and in each, one can unite with higher spiritual dimensions. Whichever level you are standing in, unite yourself with all people who are at this level. For they are all limbs of the Jewish soul (community) and from there pray/unite. And G-d will be with you, and you will elevate (it would appear, All…) | 189 Breishis Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Elevating – Nitzoisois | Not only do we do things for G-d – in other words, eat to have the strength to serve… – rather, in everything we do, we elevate the sparks of G-d. So when we eat, the intention is to elevate the food – and this applies to every aspect of our lives. | Note 160 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Elevating – physical To Spiritual | (When we engage in material things be they copulation, food, drink – we elevate the Divine sparks.) | 110 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| ELEVATING SILLINESS | “Take please your son, your only son Yitzchok, and offer him as a sacrifice” – Yitzchok comes from the word “laughter” – when we rejoice in G-d, we elevate the silliness of youth and teenage laughter. | 15. Va-yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Elul | These two returns are dependent on the Cheshboin Hanefesh (soul-account) that one does during the month of Elul. In other words, based on your service in Elul is how your Teshuvah during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be. | 17 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Elul | Our sages ordained we should blow the Shofar the entire month of Elul – the inner meaning behind this is that if the Leaders of the generation improve their deeds as Moses in the desert would do (in Elul) to seclude (and meditate – cogitate) during the month of Elul… then they attach themselves and elevate the people of the generation – However if they do not do this, and they are in exile by their Yetzer Hara – then the people of the generation must pray for themselves… – this is similar to the Baal Shem Tov’s teaching regarding those who are the Chazzanim during Rosh Hashanah (see below) Tzafnas Paneach. | Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Elul / Tishrei | The Baal Shem Tov had specific customs for the weekdays, Shabbos, and festivals (relative to the spiritual dynamic.) From Elul till after Yom Kippur, he was in the dynamic of “fear of God.” Then he went into the dynamic of joy. | 243 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Elvating – Generation e | The entire generation is included in the Head – those who are Torah scholars are the Tzurah, “form” spirit – and the rest are the body. Now when the soul is special, so too the body (and it also works the other way…) so to uplift your generation, you must uplift yourself. | 7 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Equanimity | Everything that occurs in our world… there is a profound reason. | 149 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Equanimity | “And G-d will be my G-d,” said Jacob – this means both for the good and the bad – a Tzaddik, when bad occurs to him, he considers, “Maybe this was due to my sins…” and when good occurs to him… he thinks, “Maybe this is decreasing my merit…” (this is very profound.. as that way a person can always be positive, not too high, nor low.) | 9 Vayeitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Equanimity | 6. Consider yourself like an angel (Lit. a heavenly being) and hence the matters of man do not concern. This entire world (universe) is like a tiny mustard seed relative to the universe above it. May it make no difference to you if people love or hate you – as their love or hate is nothing. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Equanimity | 10. A great principle of the Baal Shem Tov is Hishtavus – equanimity. May it be equal to you, if people think you know all of the Torah or none of it – the way to achieve this is to constantly be connected to God – for as you are preoccupied with being connected to God you have no time for such concerns. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Equanimity – It’s All Good | There is a famous verse “I place God before me constantly” – the word “I place,” / “Shivisy” also is related to the word “hishtavious” which roughly translates as “equanimity;” in other words, consider all things as being equal – this is an awesome level, whereby I serve God, but what occurs to me, whether it is good or bad, I consider that everything coming from God, is obviously good. Similarly, we must dedicate our lives to God, but not necessarily in the way we think – for one person may wish to attach their mind to God (“miyached-yechudim”) and God arranges that one must, “meet and greet.” One should not feel sadness over this, rather understand, that this is one of the ways God wishes to be served. | 220 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Essence – Love | The Baal Shem Tov revealed: Love of G-d, Love For The Torah, And Love For One’s Fellow – Are All One. | 357 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Essence – Not Judging | We know that the main thing is to connect to the essence – for in the essence there is integration. We know there is the emotion of kindness, but if it is not integrated with judgment – a person can end up giving to evil – conversely even a person who is judging, should not be doing to G-d-forbid harm, but to help. | 1 Pinchus– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Ethics – Business | A person who does business ethically – to G-d, this is dearer than the one studying these laws. | 24 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Evaluate – you | A person has to self-investigate to see if their emotions and opinions are correct – and when one is not sure, one must go to a Chassidic mentor. | 22 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Ever Closer | A Holy person should realize that if an extraneous force causes one to need to stop studying Torah, or praying, this too is for the sake of a deeper (Teshuva re-attachment) bond. | 135 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Ever Closer | Says the Holy Baal Shem Tov, when G-d’s left hand is pushing you away, it is so his right hand can draw you close. | 136 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Everyone Can You Teach Something | We must learn from everyone, even a bad person (for there is some good in everyone.) | 115 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Evil – Converting It | When you see something or hear something wrong in another, know that even partially you have that in you – You should then include the other in your soul and rectify it, and through this you rectify it universally. | 89 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Exile – 3 Types | There are three types of fights / Galus (exiles) a. There is the exile of the Jews under gentiles (which eventually this shifts…) b. There is the exile of the sages who are humiliated by the ignorant – who claim they are the truth – this too shall shift. c. There is the exile of the righteous altruistic sages, from the narcissistic ones (who cannot handle the honor, respect, and dignity of the righteous ones.) | 2 Balak– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Exile – The Secret | The reason Jews were spread to the four corners of the earth, or occasionally a Jewish businessman travels to some far-flung location… is, though a Jew may not even be consciously aware, the deep Divinity within – purifies that location. | 163 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Expanded Consciousness | (Introduction: the Baal Shem Tov often speaks about two states of mind: the expansive, open, thinking; and the closed, anxious, narrow) – When a person recognizes that they are in the closed state, this itself opens their mind. | 25 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Expanded Consciousness | The benefit of jokes – when a person is in the closed state by laughing, one elevates oneself. | 37 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Expanded Consciousness | Rotzu / Vshuv also is Gadlus (expansive thinking) vs. Katnus (contracted – fear based myopia) – realizing we are in Katnus, transforms us. | 273 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Expanding – Growth | There are katnus (constricted (fear based) thinking and gadlus expansive (love based) thinking – in the three dimensions of time, space and soul – when the world is in a state of constriction – this in fact is the main Avodah (service of G-d) to serve and reach higher heights (in narrow minded times) likewise a person can be doing their work, but their heart is filled with love. | 14 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Faith | The Baal Shem Tov said, that with the power of sincere simple faith, anyone can split the sea. | Note 324 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Faith | When one understands how poor, understanding (human intellect) is, one understands how rich is faith. | 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 Pinchus of Koritz needed some help in his service of G-d, and he knew he needed to travel to the Baal Shem Tov – but he didn’t have the funds, and he was from this feeling down. Suddenly the Baal Shem Tov arrived in his city, and started speaking and said – “The verse says, “That 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!” And when Pinchos heard this, he became a new person with complete faith. | 20 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Faith | 4. Always realize and be prepared (to see) that everything that comes to you, comes from God. | Tzaavas Harivash | |||||||||
| Faith – Love | Faith is a true attachment to G-d (it is well-known in the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, that being attached to G-d, is the main thing!) This is the ultimate goal, and through faith we come to Bitachoin, which is trust, that we trust, in each and every circumstance that G-d has our best interest, and we come to love G-d etc. | 29 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Faith – Miracles | The Baal Shem Tov didn’t use Sheimois (holy Names of God that create miracles) he simply had such a deep attachment and faith, that miracles would occur – once when he was young, as his Master (the prophet) Achiyah Hashiloini taught him all the names so he could know about them – as he was young he used a name to cross over the Nester river (walk across) but he deeply regreted this and did Teshuvah for it his whole life – finally his Teshuva was compete when once when he needed to cross it due to a life threatening situation from an anti-semite and instead of using a name, he placed a garment down, and “glided” across (again purely based on faith.) | 34 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro) | |||||||||
| Faith – Parnasash (Income) | There are two necessary trusts – there is the trust that my livelihood is not the means I employ, but the means only to catch God’s blessings. And the trust that God will grant me the means. | 51 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Faith – Pray | Once the Baal Shem Tov told his disciple Reb Dovid to travel to Bessarabia and bring him from there Kosher wine (on the highest level,) Reb Dovid went and had tremendous dedication to ensure that the wine was one hundred percent kosher – he also tried very hard on his way back to ensure nothing (such as a gentile, taking from the wine) unkosher – to his great sorrow, the inspector (who was so worried about people smuggling vodka) took some of the wine and invalidated – broken-hearted he came to the Baal Shem Tov and asked, why God caused this to happen? – the Baal Shem Tov said, because, you tried very hard… but most importantly you should have asked God to help. | 40 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro) | |||||||||
| Faith – Rebbes | The idea of faith is not only that one believes in God, but in his messengers – such as Moses down to the Baal Shem Tov, continuing through all the Lubavitcher Rebbes. | 403 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Faith – Trust | Once the Baal Shem Tov and his disciple were traveling in a desert, and his disciple became very very thirsty and said, “Rebbe, I am thirsty” – the Baal Shem Tov answered him not – however as it got the point of literally life and death, once again he said “Rebbe, I need water” – so the Baal Shem Tov said “Do you believe that God has already prepared for you water?” – it took him a moment to calm down, and he said “Yes” – they walked a little bit and they saw a gentile carrying two large tanks of water – they paid him a bit and he gave the person to drink – tell me, asked the Baal Shem Tov “Why exactly are you in this area carrying water?” – “Well, my lord went nuts, and told me I must get him water from the well nearby” – “You see” told the Baal Shem Tov to his disciple, from the beginning of creation, foreseeing this entire event, God made that there should bae a lord and he should go nuts, so you should have water. | 37 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro) | |||||||||
| Far = Close | When a person has a sense that they are complete in their Divine service, this indicates they haven’t begun – but when a person, as Moses, towards the end of his life said, “I have just begun…” – they see themselves relative to the greatness of G-d, as everything they have done is nothing – this is close. | 10 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| FAR BUT CLOSE | When one thinks they are close to G-d, they are far; but one who thinks they are far, they are close… The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a circular stairway – that if the king is on a higher floor – when you see the king from below you are far, but as you approach the king, making a roundabout on the stairway (hence you are getting closer… but as the stairway is circular, you are facing away from the king…) you are actually close. | 147 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| FAR/CLOSE | If we think we are close to G-d we are far – but if we think we are far, we are close. If we think we are distant from Serving G-d, eventually we will be close. The Tzadik always thinks how distant from G-d he is. The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of two people – one person, he plants much seeds in his field, and being so confident, he goes to eat and drink – and forgets about it – the other plants little, but is very very careful… – so the former, his field gets trampled on, and ends up with nothing – but the latter… which teaches us, if we will always be careful with our deeds and our thoughts, and our actions – it ends up with beauty. | Note 11 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Fasting | 56. If a person feels the need to rectify his soul through fasting, though this has a deleterious effect namely as the pain of it causes that he cannot serve God joyfully (which is primary) nonetheless as he is personally aware of his situation (what his soul needs) therefore it is o.k. (Generally Chassidus frowns upon fasting and encourages other means, such as charity or refraining from ill—speech etc. ED.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Fasting – No | The Baal Shem Tov taught, far better than fasting which weakens the body, is to put one’s effort into praying and learning Torah. | 219 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Fear | The sages teach that “the reason G-d made thunder is to remove man’s arrogance” (cause a fear of G-d…) explains the Baal Shem Tov, in truth, a man with a brain should understand that each and every moment, the entire universe continuously receives vitality from G-d – on the flip side, a person who doesn’t have this insight, and hence the reverence from this constant source – needs an outside (motivator.) | 26 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Fear – Hug From God | Every fear that comes to a person, the ultimate purpose is to lead them to have a fear of G-d – for G-d’s loving hand is spread to all – and He seeks their Teshuvah, so when one realizes this is only a loving hug from G-d… – it will eliminate their fears. | 18 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Fear – No One – Only God | Elijah the prophet tested the father of the Baal Shem Tov (as he and his wife were naturally barren) and having passed the test (of kindness) he told him, “I am Elijah the prophet and you will have a child soon, and when he is two and a half you should tell him” – “Only have fear from God, but never any person or any creation.” | 270 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Fear – Overcoming | If one encounters a bad person who one fears – a person should try to see it that the person says some words… – and this will eliminate their fear. | Note 17 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Fear – The Test | The ultimate goal is fear of G-d – though one needs both love and fear; however he who has fear will also have love – an example or test, to see if your fear of G-d is complete… though a minister has an ego – and in his own space (home, office etc.) say he likes chocolate – but when he is standing before the king – he is in such a state of humility, that even if he were to see his favorite food – no desire for it would be aroused – similarly are the Tzaddikim. | 28 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Fear – To Love | Fear of a negative can be transposed into understanding that all comes from God; so it is really God’s love (calling you home, and this transforms negative to positive.) | 365 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Fear / Love | The reason there needs to be both a love and fear of G-d – because if there was just love – a person would become accustomed to it – additionally the person would always be with G-d… – but from the fear, one is afraid. | 24 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Fear First | The entire purpose of man’s Avodah (service of G-d) is to inculcate fear of G-d, and G-d will in turn give him the love. | Note 25 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Fear God / Sages | When one has fear of G-d, they have fear of the sages, and when one has fear of the sages, they connect this person, to all positive fears. | 30 Eikev – – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Fear Love – Of God Overcoming Addictions / Phobias | Fear and love permeate all the worlds – from top to bottom – and whoever has a true love and fear of G-d, will not have addiction nor phobias. | Note 17 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Fight – For God | Once a king decided to test his son, so he created around the palace an imaginary but seemingly real river, and large walls and then a ring of fire… – so one person says, “all hope is lost…” – while the wise son says – “it’s impossible that my father who loves me, doesn’t actually desire me…” – so he begins to swim and then the walls and fire and river disappear. | 5 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Fight – For God | This world is filled with G-d, and Torah and Mitzvos, but there are distracting thoughts (illusionary fears and pleasures…) but if one realizes, that all these illusions are part and parcel of the king (for there is nothing but.) | Note 1 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Focus | “For a Peshah, for an ox, a donkey, a sheep, an article of clothing, anything that is lost.” The Baal Shem Tov explains Peshah to stand for Prikois Shel Oil – “Doing whatever you want” (as opposed to doing the heavenly will.) For everything there is (let’s call it) frivolity. Seemingly, how is it that a Jew could be frivolous? – His body was born in purity through a kosher Mikvah. The fact that the 40 sah (quantity in the Mikvah) makes one pure is absolute, and this is in fact what creates Kabalas-Oil (accepting the heavenly will.) We know angels warm themselves up, by the steam rising from the Mikvah, and when the soul comes into the body at conception, angels escort it – so how does a soul end up frivolous?! The answer is “for an ox” – an ox is the Yetzer-Hara (whose source is in the celestial ox) “For a donkey” – a donkey is cold – it cools off the spiritual passion; “For a sheep” – a sheep wanders, this refers to the fact that instead of being focused, the person spreads himself everywhere, hence he wants everything… he feels he needs it all; “For a garment” – this refers to what a person thinks, speaks and acts upon/in.. “Anything that is lost” – through this a person loses everything! and doesn’t know who they are..! | 20 Keesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Focus | King David Said “I walk expansively…. for your Mitzvos I seek” Kind David was praising Himself on his ability to go through the market place (and it causing no negative impulses) for all he sought in life was Yechiduim (making God happy.) | 113 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Focus | SINGULAR FOCUS Moses teaches us, just as G-d is singular in the world, so your dedication to serving Him should be. This is the great principle that a person should always have one thought which is “how am I serving G-d? !” When a person has many desires, this confuses them… – Consider everything as being filled from G-d. We should consider that everything – even the higher spiritual worlds – the world of Angels… – The world of the Throne of G-d… Everything is like nothing compared to G-d!! For they all exist within a vacuum of the Divine concealment… -that G-d concealed Himself and the whole thing was created with a single sentence. If this is the case… “Why should I try to get anything within this vacuum – I may as well go beyond it! To The Essence Of G-d!” You should think, that you would rather connect to the essence of G-d – for anything good in any event is just an offshoot from Him. Think that, “I always wish to give pleasure to G-d, and serve Him constantly – My thought process always be in G-d’s essence.” When you need to think about things of this world, think that temporarily you’re going away from the Divine essence, to be like a person who’s leaving his home to the outside – but he’s planning on coming back soon! Always consider that The Essence is Your Real Home! And even when you have to do things of this world – you consider this as outside of your home – and then you return to your Divekius / Divine attachment. | Shemini– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Focus | Attach your mind to G-d and then ask for something physical (any need…) for one needs to train oneself to both be able to be attached… and physical. | Shemini– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Focus | Whomever comes to “know” G-d – all other desires fall. | 8 Bahaloischa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Focus | 47. “Many tried to reach the level of Rabbi Shimoin Bar Yochai but failed.” They tried to use self-infliction to attain his level. This is incorrect – a person should not try to attain levels, rather their intent should be to bring joy to God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Focus – Positive | It is far greater, not, to know what is wrong – but how to do what is right. | 68 Kesser Shem Tov – The Rebbes | |||||||||
| Focus – Shevisi | Sometimes you have to look in both directions in order to channel your thoughts to G-d, due to the coarseness of the body which covers over the infinite radiance of the soul. | 3 Shemini– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Follow | The Tzaddik of the generation, can see from one end of the world to the other, so those who are blind… if they merely follow. | 28 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Food | The Maagid observed that immediately, as the Baal Shem Tov ate, he elevated the food into holiness. | 10 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro) | |||||||||
| Food | How does the soul which is spiritual get nourished from food which is physical? In truth, when G-d made the universe – He ushered ten energetic sources for all creation (called the ten sayings.) These energies – Divinity, remain imbued within the physical matter. Now when a person says a blessing, it sparks the Divinity inside, say the matter of the apple, to nourish the individual’s soul. This is also why a person has a desire for certain foods, as these holy sparks, seek elevation (elsewhere says the Holy Baal Shem Tov, that water may wait a thousand years – like a prince chained in a dungeon, till a Jew takes a sip and makes a blessing – the Baal Shem Tov gives a beautiful parable to explain this phenomena… Once there was a king who had an exquisite diamond that got lost – now he had tens of thousands of beloved ministers and officers and soldiers, all who loved him and would happily return the diamond. However he told his sons to go find it – in fact, this entire thing was a setup, for the king hid the diamond and he desired to both reward his son, and have the pride of his son’s find.) | 2 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Food | Says the Baal Shem Tov – even if the food is on the table – until G-d commands to eat it, it is not possible. | 4 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Forgetting | All comes from G-d, and therefore from all must come the fear of G-d – even from forgetting – but if one forgets that he has forgotten, this is a sorry state. | 11 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| FOUNDATION | The verse says, “Behold darkness covers earth” and the verse says, “All sins are concealed through love” – the main part of a building is the foundation… if the foundation is off, so the building… Similarly regarding a person – if a person’s foundation is arrogance, even the positive is off, and if a person’s foundation is love, even the negative is concealed. | 6 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Free Choice | How come there is free choice, if God knows what will be? The answer is that a person has the free choice to follow after what God knows he will do, or after the wish of God – such as keeping Torah and Mitzvos. | 2 Breishis Baal Shem Tov On The Torah | |||||||||
| Free Choice | When God made the universe, He removed His infinite radiance, and all that was left was a background radiation (so to speak) and this is but a Yud, a point, and it is called 10, The Crown of Malchus – and from them were created creations of limitation, which seemingly opposes His will – for His will is that the honor of His kingdom should be infinitely spread – and removing the infinite light is to conceal (the light – so why would He wish to conceal that which He wishes to reveal?) However God’s will is that we should have free choice – and one who truly knows and understands, will see that in the desire to remove His light, is the hidden desire that people should have free choice, and that they should choose to do good. – And this is exactly how creation in this world occurred – the good was hidden and people have a desire to fulfil physical desires – and this is the revolving sword – and this is the entire purpose of Creation objectively speaking – however when we look into the matter deeper, we realize, the purpose is to transform the negative to positive – that all of our actions should be only according to the Holy Torah – then the evil will disintegrate, and it will be transformed to good, and the original infinite light will be revealed. | Note 2 (Divrei Chayim) Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Free Choice | When God made the world, all the energy would return back to where it came from (God,) so it couldn’t exist -only when He made the Jewish people did it have staying power – the ego in the Jew keeps the world afloat – but this specifically is when the Jew’s ego is only to serve God. | 4 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| From Your Level | Seek G-d exclusively from where you are. | 10 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| FUTURE GOOD | The Baal Shem Tov says, when someone encounters a difficulty, and then through prayer it goes away… when this issue comes to the person in the future, it will easily be overcome. | 162 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Gazing | 50. Do not look at people when you speak to them if their thoughts are not connected to God, as this will cuase a degradation in your soul. In contrast, people whose thoughts are connected to God, you should look at them and this will imbue holiness. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| G-d – Everywhere | A great and wise person is able to “enjoy” life, eating delicious foods, looking wherever… but taking no personal enjoyment; as his mind’s eye is on the knowledge, that the existence of all, is truly God. | 266 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| G-d – Is One | “I G-d have not changed;” it is only that G-d conceals Himself in the miraculous repetitiveness of nature – however, once man is aware that everything is G-d – one of the fundamental secrets that there is – this = no more separation / concealments. | 85 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| G-d Cares | The Baal Shem Tov explains, each one of the four species has a separate rank in its importance – though obviously a human is far more, nonetheless God’s supervision extends to every single micro detail (and as we know from science… what would happen if two electrons or protons would collide) – however if God’s supervision extends to the electron, how much infinitely more so to each and every one of His chosen. | 181 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Genuine | The main thing is that your service / Avodah, should always be genuine. | 1 Bamidbar– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Getting Up | Whenever a person wishes to get up and certainly (in fact, this applies to all similar situations) the Yetzer will try to distract the person (get him to go back to sleep etc.) a person should intend to do something for the body – and then go to his spiritual service. | 82 – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah Veschanan | |||||||||
| Give – Passionately | What makes a miracle a miracle, is in its uniqueness; for the first time you see a natural phenomenon, you call it a miracle; the second time nature; similarly, we should pray that our life of giving, should never be rote. | 119 Kesser She Tov | |||||||||
| Giving | The whole point of Torah Shebal Peh (Halacha, Jewish law) is that from the side of Chessed comes giving, and from the side of Gevurah (the Yetzer Hara) and evil, so by studying and practicing Torah we ensure that – as from the sin of Eitz Hadas, these two sides intermingled – that we are able to eliminate negative and be givers. | 54 Brieshis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Giving – Unconditional | G-d is a giver – without any expectation – so too, you must. | 65 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| God – About | E-L – G-D 1. The name “E-l,” the Alef (first letter) stands for the Creator, and Lamed (the final letter,) stands for that He has three “emotions“ (the emotion of kindness (love;) the emotion of strength (discipline;) and the emotion of compassion (discernment.) G-D 2. “G-d is His name, and His name is G-d,” unlike people that they and their name are two separate entities. KNOW G-D The Verse Teaches us “Know G-d,” – but how can anyone know anything of G-d? Teaches the Baal Shem Tov, this means, to both know that the generality of everything and every specific detail (that occurs to you or anyone) it all comes from G-d. | 1-2 Va-aira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| God – s’ Pleasure | To G-d the greatest pleasure is when we elevate a person into holiness. | Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| God -Pride | G-d cannot brag, for no one can understand Him, therefore He brags about the greatness of His children… and with this the world was created. | 2 Ki Savoi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| God’s Voice | The Baal Shem Tov said, that if the Jewish people spiritualize themselves, and refine themselves through Torah and Mitzvahs, they will consistently hear the voice of G-d speak – as they heard at Mount Sinai. | 57 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Going To Sleep | 23. Before you go to sleep, lie down with great reverence and fear of God, tremble and shout at the Yetzer Hara, from fear of God and in this way one shall not come to sin (presumably a seminal emission at night ED.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Good | The primary thing is to choose good. Once one makes this choice, one should have complete faith, with no doubt, that G-d fills every aspect of creation, and in all creations is the life-force of G-d. Therefore, all love and fear, and all other emotions come from G-d. Even the negative in this world. Therefore a person should never love or fear or honor… give any emotional importance to anything besides G-d; for a person should think that this thing that I fear or love…where does it come from – the sense of awe or attraction… all comes from G-d! – For He places these emotional stimuli even in bad things. Therefore actually all sense of fear comes from Him. So why should I fear a little spark that fell into evil. Far better that I should connect this to the Infinite-Fear… and so too love, and the other emotions…. to extract the Sparks, and transfer and transform them to their source. So too when one speaks, do not think that you are speaking; rather with the life-force within you, which is your Creator, is speaking in you; and through this you elevate speech to its source – and in this way, all things are equal – so too, the speech of another who you speak to – it all comes from G-d! And so too, when you eat, your thought should be to take this energy and elevate it to G-d, through the energy you are going to have to serve G-d. And so too all other things – your thought process, should only be in order to connect yourself to G-d Above. | 16 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Good | 98. A righteous person even in the matters of the world, what he does is good – but a fool even when he is the leader, sins. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Good / Evil | Our sages state, what is the difference between the disciples of Abraham (humility, kindness etc.) and Billam (never satisfied, arrogant etc….) in truth each has the qualities of the other, but one uses it for the spiritual, the other for the physical. *** The difference between the spiritual / physical desires are actually amazingly.. that they both have the same tendency… just in a different direction – For the spiritual person is never satisfied from his or her spirituality, and always seeks more – while physically they are content with little; While the egoist, can never be satisfied with anything in this world, while spiritually they feel that the little they do, is enough. *** A person must have the sense, “In the material world, I have enough, but in the spiritual world, it’s never enough.” | 38-40 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Good Company | “The candle of God is man’s soul.” A candle has both light as well as a shadow; now the light comes from the candle, while the shadow comes from the candleholder which blocks the light rays. Similarly, everyone’s soul shines light – but is blocked in life, by the body. Hence when one is in the presence of a Tzaddik whose soul is shining, he receives positive thoughts, but in the presence of a rasha whose body is obscuring and hence he radiates darkness, he receives negative thoughts. Hence the goal is to learn from the Tzaddikim, while rejecting the way of the wicked. | 114 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Good Eye | Megilas Rus It states, “A good eye is a blessing…” – “Eye” refers to Chochmah – wisdom, in truth, to gaze is the lowest-level of wisdom… – but a good eye is one who has good wisdom – when he gazes at something, he brings to it blessing! For when one gazes at something… and realizes that it is part of the Divine (this brings blessing…) but a fool who sees it for its own entity (this separates it from its source (of blessing.) | Megilas Rus Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Good vs Evil | The Talmud teaches us and this is the clearest truth – that the difference between the realm of good and evil, is whereas in the latter it’s all about anarchy and sex, the former it is all about morality and order. | 83 Brieshis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Good Vs. Bad | In every physical thing there is good and evil – the physicality of it is evil, and the Divine energy which is its source, is good. So we must “turn away from evil,” in other words not use the physical thing for its taste, or beauty, pleasure; and only seek to be sustained through the Divine energy (for when one makes a blessing, the Divine spark in the food, shoots into their soul.) One must constantly seek to make peace / unity between the physical object and the Divine life that causes it (in other words, by connecting to the spiritual part of food for-example, a woman etc. we cause it’s own soul to shine.) | 61 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Good/Evil | I heard from my Master the question of the wicked priest, who said, “You believe, no place is void of G-d… if you deny idolatry, then how does this reconcile…?” He replied, that just like a person has a bathroom… – the separation is made between the home and the outhouse – that is where all the waste is flushed. This is similar to what it says – that “G-d will take away all the energy and the good in the Satan, and the evil part will fall into the abyss…” and this is the separation done by, “The Knower of Hearts,” to separate between good and evil. This is the meaning that “All the GOds of the nations are idols / nothingness…” And this is why, G-d created the Sky that separates. | Note 8 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Goodness – Be Kind | See to it that your behavior is kind, compassionate and never cruel, or G-d-forbid, sadistic. | Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| GOODNESS – Do It Daily – Eagerly | See to it that every day you do some act of goodness and kindness – in fact, you should eagerly anticipate, “Perhaps G-d will arrange such a good opportunity.” | Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| God – Greatness | The Baal Shem Tov gives an example – imagine how minute is a single thought you have relative to your soul – your soul is the source of your emotions which then becomes the source of your thoughts… – as God, hence your soul (for so he wished) is eternal! so one thought relative to infinity is nothing! – now you understand how relative to God, all of creation…. which is merely a single Divine ray… | 167 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Great = Humble | Precisely because Moses was so great (the greatest…) he was likewise the humblest. *** The Baal Shem Tov said, “When I have great wisdom, I know, that I don’t know even a single letter of the Torah, and I haven’t even begun to serve G-d.” | 14 – Note 13 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| GREAT JOY | A great meditation on increasing joy – is the understanding that the letters – the holy souls… descended… fall / break / creation, into the Kelipah. And this is why G-d has commanded us to study Torah and prayer, for then we elevate these letters back to the source – and this is like the union of male and female – which creates the child, and there can be no greater joy than this. | Note 28 Veschanan – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Growth | Leave monotony. | 57 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Growth | “And the angel of G-d appeared to him, a flame of fire amidst the burning thorn-bush – behold the thorn-bush was burning but it was not consumed. Said Moses ‘Let me turn aside and see this amazing site.’” The Targum (Aramaic translator ) translates, “And the angel of Hashem revealed to Moses in the flame, in the thorn-bush.” REVELATION The idea of revelation is that it appears to each person based on their particular capacity (of understanding.) A revelation means that even a person of limited capacity can still benefit (for revelation comes from God who is not limited.) It is for this reason, translating the verse, “And God descended on Mount Sinai;” (the great revelation) “And God revealed himself on Mount Sinai.” For in the revelation of Sinai (as the Medrash tells us, each person said, “The voice is speaking directly to me!”) it had a simultaneous effect on the highest to the lowest. Rashi comments on the revelation of the angel in the flame of fire, as, “In the heart (of fire.”) In other words, where does God reveal himself? In the heart that has a passion – the sincere heart. The reason for the lowly thorn-bush is because as Rashi says, it represents that God is with those in distress (Tzarah). This world is called a distressed world, as opposed to the bright higher worlds – for in those worlds, the clear translucent Divine energy radiates; but in this world it is concealed through the cloak of nature (whose habituation creates the appearance of a lack of Divinity.) It is our job, through passionate Torah and Mitzvahs, to light up this world. It states, “Man is like the tree of the field;” this refers to the sages, but there is another “tree,” the thorn-bush. Both have (or are referred to as) fire. However there is a difference, for the scholars being able to satisfy their hunger, in the intellectual pursuits, are not like a burning flame. However the simple pious Jew who prays and says Tehhilim, not understanding the words, his fire for God is ever present. So Moses said, “Let me turn aside and see this amazing site!” – In other words, understanding the great sight, that the true everlasting flame for God, is in the heart of the simple pious person… he decided to turn aside from where he was, to where he should be. Now obviously a Tzaddik like Moses was all good, however he realized that one must continually ascend. The Friediker Rebbe explains this: it means that one must realize, that today must be far better than yesterday, and likewise the morrow. | 18 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Growth | The Baal Shem Tov gives an awesome example for the mechanism of life which is continued growth, from a winding stairwell. So when you are at the bottom you can see the next level; but as you start ascending, because the stairwell is circular, you actually are simultaneously closer to the next level, but you cannot see it. This teaches us that, what you see, is the human comprehension vs. what you don’t – the Divine advancement (this contains extraordinary profound secrets.) | 53 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Growth | In continuation of the example of the circular stairwell – this is similar to a dance in which people go in and out… (a circle that people come close and separate) for in order to achieve the next level, one therefore must go away from the current. | 54 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Growth | A man once queried of the Baal Shem Tov: Why when I am meditating and feel connected to G-d, do I suddenly feel distant? Explained the Baal Shem Tov, this is like a father getting his little boy to walk. First he holds out his hands, the boy runs to the father but then he withdraws his hands – for if he did not do so, the furthest the son could walk, would be up to that point – but with constant removal, the son constantly grows. Note 6. Like a father who withdraws his hands so his little boy should learn to go further – the withdrawal of G-d from the Jewish people, is so we can ascend. 8. Just like a father who withdraws his hands so his son should go further – the Tzaddik who serves G-d, but feels distant… 9. Just as a father teaching his son to walk, first he may hold his hand and then he lets go… so the son can walk on his own – similarly to bring us to the service of G-d, G-d firstly gives us inspiration – but then we must persevere. DISTANCE… 10If G-d seeks our closeness, why did He make it that we can be distant? The answer is that ultimately if someone is always close (like if you eat ice cream daily) it ceases to give pleasure. | 7 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Growth | “I asked the Baal Shem Tov who I saw in a dream – why is it when I first began the Chassidic path, I felt such great growth and now it feels like every day is the same…?” – so he replied “This is like a child who goes to school and begins to study Chumash – eventually he starts to learn deeper teachings. Now when he begins, every day is like an entirely new story, but now it would seem his progress is very limited… while in actual fact, before, when he was dealing with simple stuff, his progress was little, and today dealing with complex, it is very great.” | 55 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Growth | Note 9 Always perceive that the love and awe you have for G-d, is truly nothing… – and in this way, you will always increase. | Note 9 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Growth – Altruism | The Baal Shem Tov, gives an example from making wine, … when one makes wine, in the first batch there is a lot of sediment. When one pours this into a new container, in the second batch there is also sediment… but less… – the same process continually occurs – in other words, a person who serves G-d must examine themselves, if there was any personal agenda… (even heaven – reward etc…) Eventually a person serves G-d for ever selfless reasons. | 10 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Grudges – Not | The Baal Shem Tov said: Every positive command has a prohibition (for example eating kosher has, not eating not-kosher..) the Mitzvah of loving your fellow Jew has a corresponding prohibition, to never hold any grudges. | 23 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Guide – You | It doesn’t take a genius to break one’s instincts, for any normal mind dictates this necessity. However what a wise person does, is harness (the yetzer hara) – for as it states, “there is much power in the impulse,” therefore through guiding one’s emotions, one is granted extraordinary energy. | 116 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Guilt | 44. Sometimes the Yetzer Hara tricks a person telling him he did a great sin, though it was something small or not even an Aveira at all – his intent is to make the person feel guilt (shame) sadness (depression) and due to this not serve God. One must clearly understand the Yetzer Hara’s shenanigins – one must say to the Yetzer Hara – “I don’t care about this “Chumrah” (“sin”) for your intention is only to get me to stop serving God – and what you’re saying is a lie – and even if it is slightly true it would be a far greater pleasure to God that I shouldn’t worry about it – in point of fact I will serve God joyfully, for it is not my pleasure I seek in His service, rather to give Him pleasure – hence though I will not care about this “Chumrah” (“sin”) God doesn’t care – for the reason I am not caring about it is in order to serve Him and how can I not serve him, even for but a moment.” | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Guilt – Not | A great principle in serving G-d is to stay far away from sadness (for serving requires energy…) Therefore, the Yetzer Hara (who seeks to disturb our service) often makes a person feel guilty over minor details. A person should say – “I don’t care about this… as my entire goal in life is to make G-d happy, which requires the ability to be free from guilt feelings, in order to be able to serve Him constantly.” | 153 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Guilt – Not | Do not be overly righteous… and if you make a small sin, ask G-d for forgiveness, and assume that G-d has forgiven you – after all, the purpose of your service is to make G-d happy (hence what is important is not what you failed, but what you perform!) | 154 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Hachnasas Oirchim | The Mitzvah of Hachnasas Oirchim inviting in guests cheerfully, joyfully and with respect; merits that a couple will have a good son (born.) | 75 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Halacha | The Baal Shem Tov explained, that the Taz and Shach (commentaries on Shulchan Aruch) are the final Poiskim (Halachic deciders) hence one should not go against their rulings; – One may be more strict, but not less so, unless one follows a true logic. In other words, where they too would agree to the Kula… (leniency…) Nonetheless, one of-course should never look askance at the Holy-Rabbis, written after the Shach and Taz – as they too have been universally (in the Jewish world…) accepted, and therefore – within them the Divine spirit (Ruach Hakodesh ) resides. | 3 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Halacha – Children | Furthermore we must teach this to our children, for without knowing the laws, the Torah gets forgotten – and certainly adults must learn. | 423 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Halacha – Jewish Law | One should be extraordinarily scrupulous in learning (without the explanation) the laws of Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish law.) | 423 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Happiness | The main thing is to remove any trace of sadness and always be happy. | 302 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Happiness – Don’t Self-Criticize | there are two kinds of doctors: one who hands out bitter pills, the other sweet – similarly, by engaging in self-flagellation, one then becomes miserable and begins to see the negative in others. | 302 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Hashgachah Pratis – Divine Lessons | The Baal Shem Tov said, everything one sees and hears is a lesson in one’s Divine service. | 224 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Hashgachah Pratis – Divine Lessons | The Baal Shem Tov said, every Jew goes through a rich world filled with Divine messages – albeit we must pray to understand. | 225 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Hashgachah Pratis – Divine Lessons | Our lives are absolutely predetermined – we traverse through experiences (though it is up to us to realize the message and not get bogged down in the mundane or morass.) | 226 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Hashgachah Pratis – The Divine Orchestra | Everything in truth is Divinely orchestrated, however when you don’t believe this, you fall under the forces of darkness that conceal. When Moshiach comes and the forces of darkness are removed, hence concealment of truth is – we will see how everything is one hundred percent Divinely orchestrated. | 427 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| HEALING | The Ramban asks – how a prayer works – that it changes a negative heavenly decree to a positive? Now this seems to not makes sense – why would G-d change his mind? If we are speaking about someone who has changed… this makes sense… but if we are talking about someone praying for his friends…? So the Baal Shem Tov explains, that the prayer is to sweeten the judgment of malchus (where judgments are…) to take it back into Binah (settle her – put her at ease…) and so now the person is not the same. | 159. Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| HEALING | Sometimes a person can draw down blessing through one’s speech – if G-d-forbid one is captive, one should speak about, “the four who are released…” Psalm 107 – and if one is ill, in a limb – one should speak about that limb in the supernal Sefiros. | 6 Tzav– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Hear | We know that every day G-d announces – for example an inspiration for Teshuva / repentance… – but people may have a difficult time believing this, as they cannot hear it… but actually the reason they cannot hear it – is because they are so physical, which blocks their spiritual sensitivity – as the story of Rabbi Elazar Ben Arach who went to a city which had fine wine and water and because he indulged… it caused him to lose some of the spiritual sensitivity. But if you connect to the Moshe Rabeine of the generation – then you are able to hear it. | 3 Devarim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Hearing God | The Baal Shem Tov said, that everything that a person sees and hears is a specific lesson from God in Avodas Hashem (bettering oneself.) However one must actually comprehend what the lesson is. This comes about through “our soul teaching us.” “Our soul teaching us” refers to, that one’s mind becomes illuminated and various conceptual truths become apparent visa-via the lessons that can be derived, and through this one comes to understand what God’s message is. The Baal Shem Tov says, that the most straight path to receive “the soul teaching one,” is a. to recite Tehhilim with love b. to help a fellow Jew, not only monetarily, but physically and 3. to have sacrifice for love of one’s fellow. | Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Heaven | “Through this the maiden would come to the King,” The Baal Shem Tov teaches, “this” represents the Pillar (elevator) that takes one from the lower to the higher Gan-Eden – this is achieved through fulfilling the Mitzvos, which are the 620 Pillars of Light. | 6 Megilas Esther – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Heaven – Uplifting | There is a known story of two jesters who Elijah The Prophet told Rabbi Berokeh, that they would receive a portion in the world to come – for they knew how to elevate, inspire people. | 375 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Heed! | The Baal Shem Tov gives an awesome parable: two people traversed a dangerous forest – accosted they were by vicious bandits – the difference between the two is, one was drunk as a skunk, the other was lucid. The bandits beat them up and took all their possessions – when they left the forest, people asked the drunk (who by now was somewhat sober) “Is the forest dangerous?” – He said “It’s no problem…” – When they asked him “What is the reason for all your bruises?” he did not know. Conversely the lucid person said, “The forest is a great danger!” Similarly, the righteous aware of the snares and danger of the Yetzer Hara and evil, warn people, but those drunk, blind, and in the throes of their wants/desire… like the drunk, encourage. | 9 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Heed! | A person always fluctuates – it is impossible to remain on one spot – however some (as in the previous example) descend (into this world with her challenges) and elevate; others descend and fall. | 10 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Hiding – | When a person knows not that G-d is hidden (so he thinks that He and G-d frolic…) then he is not likely to repent. | 4 Vayeilech– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Holidays – Yom Tov | The festivals are “Holy days” – in other words, in these days we draw down an awesome holiness – however they depend on, to what extent we prepare (spiritually.) | 25 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| HOLY = HUMBLE *** | The holier one is, the more humble. | Note 13 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Honor | Once the Baal Shem Tov came somewhere and they gave him great respect- said he to them – “When people give another honor, they check his deeds (above) so it would seem, that they are doing this person a disservice – however a wise person uses this opportunity to repent.” | 7 Nasoi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Honor – No | One who serves G-d seeking honor, such a person their soul gets cut off. | 2 Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Hosting | We know Avrohom interrupted speaking to G-d to invite guests – from here our sages deduce that “inviting guests is greater than receiving the Divine.” But as inviting guests may incur waste of Torah study, or Lashoin Hara – nonetheless… | 1 Va-yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Hosting – Love | It states that inviting guests is greater than having the Divine presence – however, queries the Baal Shem Tov, having to entertain, would by necessity take one away from the greatest of Mitzvahs, to study Torah… – nonetheless concludes the Baal Shem Tov, camaraderie far surpasses. | 301 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| How To Change The World | When 3 people get together for a good cause (this is thought to be a saying of the Baal Shem Tov) this has a great effect. | 189 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| HOW TO CRITICIZE | If you need criticize someone, better to criticize someone else who has not the sin – and then the person who does, realizes (that these words are really for him.) | 18 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humble | 53. Consider yourself as if you don’t exist in this world – so what difference will it make if people praise you. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Humility | When man thinks he is close to G-d, he is very far; when he thinks he is very far, he is actually very near! | 29 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | God loves those who makes themselves into nothing; to the extent, that even if they are with poor people, they feel even poorer. | 170 Kessser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | Just as if someone found an extraordinarily large treasure and was extraordinarily excited; so he packed as much as possible into his “car” – nonetheless, he would be extremely saddened by what he must leave – so too, though we may have found extraordinary treasures within Torah and Jewish mysticism, knowing we can never have it all… | 209 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | If a person were to fast even from Shabbos to Shabbos, yet have even the slightest sense of arrogance – “Look at the tremendous service I do…” – this would place his entire good-deed in the hands of the dark side – Rather one should think, relative to the holy angels who serve God constantly, day and night, my little contributions, are a joke. | 233 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | The Baal Shem Tov gives an example – every lock has a key – the two are perfectly aligned – similarly every problem has a specific alleviation (this refers to Kabbilistic mechanisms) but then there is a thief who simply breaks down the door – similarly, by properly humbling (breaking) our heart – this removes any barrier between us and G-d. | 243 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | The closer you think you are to God, the further – and vice-versa. | 264 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | If you have done much good – studied much Torah – grown etc. think not, “I have done this…” rather, God inspired this – for if not, we take the Yud (G-d) out of the Ani, and we are left with Oin – nothing. | 269 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | One should always feel that no matter the spiritual level one attains, one is on a low level. | Kesser Shem Tov 302 | |||||||||
| Humility | The verse states, “What does God desire from you (already”?) The Baal Shem Tov gives an example – even a great minister whom all fear him, when he stands before the king he becomes like a child – his entire arrogance/pompousness disappears, and he is completely humble. So too, “All that God desires is that we should always be in the state of (mah) nothingness.” A good way to do this, is as mentioned in Choivois Halivavois, imagine how you will, as all people have, and currently are, be eaten. | 314 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | Every thought comes from one of seven categories (as we know there are seven emotions and emotions cause thoughts – love, fear, beauty, victory, sensitivity, morality, humility) and in every emotion there is a positive and a negative (for example positive vs. negative loves, positive vs. negative fears, positive vs. negative victories etc.) Whenever a thought from the negative side comes to you, you should tell yourself, “how low have I fallen?…” For there are different realms, the realm of negative emotions comes from the excrement vs. the realm of thought, where God resides; By having this meditation, you destroy that emotive thought. And then you should think, “if I can love this emotion (lust etc.) then how much more so must I love my dear beloved God,” and this way you return yourself to the world of pristine thoughts. | 407 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | The more ego, the less does God assist. | 52 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Humility | In the beginning of one’s service one must feel like a nobody – meaning, this that I understand, is nothing… – the main thing is the sense (in other words, to understand how much one lacks.) | 122 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Humility | The soul studies Torah from God in the Heavenly Academy and yet God sends this soul to earth, for the entire goal is to change the Ani (I – ego – even based on Torah scholarship and good deeds… into) Ayin (nothing… humility… lack of ego) and this is done by realizing that relative to the humble person, I truly am less. | 213 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Humility | The Baal Shem Tov revealed that a Torah scholar should feel shame before those Jews who say the Tehhilim with errors – for their Tehhilim coming from sincerity, is infinitely greater (to God.) | 366 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Humility | The sadness that the Baal Shem Tov removed, is only regarding to one’s physical position, but in terms of spiritual, there has to be humility. | 392 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Humility | From this that G-d gives us all good – this causes us to be humble – because we think, “How can I have the chutzpah to sin against G-d…?!” when he gives me all good! | Note 43 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a tall powerful man who was standing all tall and proud – but the sun was beating mercilessly upon him – a wise short man came by and told him to take some water from him – but the man was too arrogant to bend and take. So the wise man threw up some water hoping it would be easy for him to catch some drops – but he pursed his lips shut! From the sunstroke he passed. The lesson is, G-d sends us wise humble leaders who try to inspire us!!! | 1 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | Once there was a king who wished to live forever – and they gave him a remedy that he should distance himself from arrogance – but the more humble he conducted himself, the more arrogant his heart felt, “for he’s such a great king… as well as being so humble…!” till his master came to him and told him that he should conduct the Kingdom from the outward appearance, but inwardly, he should be truly humble, through the fact that he showed him a toilet which comes from man. | 2 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | Another version The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a king that wanted to live forever – and all the doctors said that this is impossible… but one man came and said to him, “I will heal him, through showing him the eternal life…” and he told him to choose the way of humility…. and the King, when he came to ride in his Royal Carriage, he ordered that the carriage should ride in front of him and he will walk behind it. And the man said to the King – “This is not the correct path – sit in the carriage… the greatest difficulty is being truly humble in your own heart.” | Note 2 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | If you perceive that your Divine service is greater than another – don’t let this cause you arrogance. | 8 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | Another great principle is that even if people mock your service of G-d – don’t get into an argument with them – don’t allow yourself to become haughty (greatness is the trait of G-d.) | 11 Metzoirah | |||||||||
| Humility | It says in proverbs, “Better a beaten servant, than an honored person missing bread” – the sign that we are serving G-d, is if in your own estimation you are “beaten” (nothing..) but if you consider yourself honorable – you are lacking bread – Divine blessing. | 13 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | When a person is busy serving G-d every second – he doesn’t have time for ego. | 14 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | G-d is your shadow – the way a person behaves so does G-d – if a person behaves arrogantly (aloof – higher…) so does G-d; but if a person behaves with humility, so does G-d humble Himself to fill one’s needs. | 22 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | Moshe Rabeinu felt – that all that he had achieved in Avodas Hashem / service of G-d – was merely the beginning. | 3 Ve-eschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | The Baal Shem Tov said, before he passed, that a person should imagine that he hasn’t begun the service of G-d… and his previous service is tainted… – when a person can humble oneself, then and only then will he be able to beat the evil wiles of the Yetzer Hara. | 11 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | A Person must be very careful that not only should his service (spirituality) not cause him arrogance, but he should consider himself the least. | 13 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | A person should be very careful that no matter the service of G-d (spirituality) he attains – as there are many causes that seek to derail – a person should always consider themselves lower then the lowest – and in this way they remain. | 14 Nitzvavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | Consider yourself as an impoverished person and be humble – speak gently as an impoverished. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Humility | 12. Never think you are better than another, as you serve God; for this is the reason everything was made. You and the worm have both been given (relative) intelligence, and the worm serves God with all his mind and effort so in what way are you better – in fact a human is also called am worm, as the verse states, “I am a worm and not a man” and had God not given you extra intelligence, your ability to serve Him would be equal to the worm – as such you are no greater than a worm, how much more so another human! Considered yourself as a worm and other small insects – these are your counterparts in this world – for everything and everyone is a creation, and only has the power to serve God to the extent of the capacity He has bestowed – always keep this in mind. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Humility | 48. If you see that your service of God is greater then your friends, let this cuase you zero arrogance. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Humility | 77. When a person fast from Shabbos to Shabbos (Sunday to Friday) do not say, “I am doing such a great thing (ego…) and I shall be refined greatly.” Rather think, compared to the holy angels who serve God continually and constantly my action is nothing – I am but a putrid drop and my end is dust. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Humility – Altruism | 92. Any form of arrogance is very serious – all bias (self instead of God serving) is due to arrogance – every thought is a complete Being – and through an arrogant thought, one banishes the feet of the Shechina (God’s presence). | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Humility – Altruistic | 11. Whatever you do, consider yourself doing this only to give pleasure to God (not yourself.) Even if you serve God to give yourself a pleasure, this too is selfish. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Humility – Bad – To Good | A person who unfortunately has suffering, whether much or little should certainly assume that they sinned… when we do this, and we feel humbled… this is an atonement and wipes away the sin; however if a person feels, “but I am in charge of everything…” | 31 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility – Erroneous | From false humility namely the desire to show others that one is humble – the Yetzer Hara slaughters (the person. In other words this trait causes their spiritual (temporary) annihilation.) An example for the above trait, is someone who had all positive qualities except that he was arrogant – so people told him… so he worked on himself to become humble – one day someone mocked him – “You nothing…” he retorted “I have all qualities, including humility!” | 16 Va-Yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility – God’s | This is also the meaning of the verse “G-d the king pride wears” – so the question was asked of the Baal Shem Tov, it says, wherever you see the greatness of G-d you see his humility – and he explained, that this is exactly what the verses say – “it’s only worn for the conducting of the Kingdom” – but within Himself is only humility. | 3 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility – Holiness | Holiness is ultimately humility and low self-evaluation – and this is what it states – that even a drop of arrogance, poisons. | 58 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Humility – Just Do | 55. If you desire to do any Mitzvah (good deed etc.) go do it – let not the Yetzer Hara connive you that this is a great thing and it will cuase you to become arrogant – even so, do it. But be careful, for if you do find it making you arrogant, push the arrogance away! You will certainly end up doing it (or continue) without any arrogance. As our sages teach – when one begins doing something for personal reasons (A Mitzvah / studying etc.) eventually one does it altruistically. Do as many Mitzvahs as you can – and God will assist that it will be without any biases – but try to push away arrogance on your own. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Humility – No agenda | If a person has no agendas (nothing positive nor negative – kind of, simple truthfulness…) this leads to all the greatest spiritual levels – even humility for wrong reasons, is better than condemning for right. | 12 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Humility + arrogance | By Tzaddikim, they constantly fluctuate between the state of arrogance and humility – for in order to incentivize oneself to do something new – particularly an entirely new service – one must have a trait of boldness, nonetheless, once one does it (or during) one must do so with humility. | 393 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility Shechina | Consider yourself poor… hence speak with a humble pleasing voice, like a poor person… – and always consider your thoughts to be with the Sechinah – think only how much you love her and she in turn will love you – – and say constantly in your mind, “When will I merit that the light of the Shechina upon me shall rest.” | 32 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Humility | When we consider the words of God (say in Torah study, through prophecy etc.) one should bear in mind that this comes from the realm of Divine speech which is the source of every living thing – similarly, there is the Divine thought (behind the words) which is so much infinitely, even greater! – This brings us to a humble appreciation. | 411 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Humility | 65. One should act secretly that other knows not they are pious (high level.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Idolatry | For anyone who thinks about idolatry, the Baal Shem Tov recommends to induce diarrhea (and there is a Kabbalistic reason.) | 413 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Imitate – Not | When instead of working on improving oneself, one is imitating – as the Talmudic statement, “Many tried to achieve like Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, but for them it worked not…” – one loses both their own level and achieves not the others. | 178 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Imitate? | 96. Our sages say, “Be careful about the coals of the righteous, so from them you do not get singed – for all their words are like flaming fire.” Sometimes a complete Tzaddik falls from his elevated state and serves God in Katnus (constricted mindedness) he prays not with the same incredible devotion, and sometimes is seen to be wasting time. Now a regular person who sees the Tzaddik at this level, may think that that he can too – for if a Tzaddik can be like this certainly he can – therefore the Mishnaic sage is forewarning, “Do not compare yourself to the Tzaddik, as when he rises out of his state and begins to study and pray like before, all of the previous wasted time (and perhaps speech) will elevate to God.” But a simple person who understands not the secret of great Divine service definitely should not imitate. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Immutable | A human being, being a composite of good and evil, can never be – even holy people…. always good. We always rise and fall – the trick is, when you connect deeply to G-d… Like the example of the Minister, who had to go to a distant land to save a Prince that had fallen… and had forgotten that he was a Prince… So the minister dressed up as the peasants, in order to ingratiate himself with the prince (who saw himself now as a peasant…) But in order to remind himself of his original station – to recall who he is (that he is a Minister on a mission…) he first deeply connected to his identity. | 19 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Inclusion | The Gemarah says, “any prayer that has not a sinner praying together with the Minyan (quorum of Ten) is no prayer.” Does this mean we must go specifically to find a sinner? Explains the Baal Shem Tov, if there are ten Tzaddikim (righteous Jews) praying, their passion should be such, that just as a wet twig won’t light, but if you combine it with ten dry… it too will catch – hence, their devotion should light the sinner. | 358 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Infinite Growth | “He certainly walks and cries carrying the seed – He will come in joy…” This means, if one goes from Divine level to level, and continuously seeks more… – this person allows for the infinite seed of Divinity to continuously inspire him – however a person who feels – “I got it all… – I have studied enough Torah and need no more….” He is carrying Kelipah (darkness.) | 16 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Infinite Reward | Our sages teach, “The reward for a Mitzvah is the Mitzvah,” for there is no greater reward than the pleasure received from doing a Mitzvah with joy – this is very great! Even if there were no other reward, this would be enough – when in actual fact – for doing a Mitzvah with joy, there is infinite! | 11 Acharei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Influencing | Once there was a prince who the king sent him to learn how others live, but eventually he succumbed to their low lifestyle – so the king sent ministers to bring him back, but he was content – eventually one wise person decided to get the prince back, so he dressed up as one of the low people and ingratiated himself and convinced him. | 260 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| INSPIRATION | Says the Baal Shem Tov, what does it mean, “Cast me not aside in old age…?” Does a person need not G-d when they are young?! Rather at times a person can get inspired – teaches the Baal Shem Tov, “Don’t let that inspiration fade!” | 68 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Inspiration For Teshuva | A person knows what’s cooking in their head the whole year… – the thoughts the body produces during Torah and prayer… “if only I was a copper vessel, and I could purify and cleanse myself…. but G-d-forbid a clay pot that is impure must be broken… I’m so compared to that…” We must have a humble broken heart, for such a heart G-d does not banish. | Rosh Hashanah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Inspiration for the Baal Teffila (Chazzan) | The Cohen Gadol would be sworn by the elders to not change an iota of how the prescribed prayer service is… now the Chazzan – though he cannot offer the physical Ketoires- it is as if he does so! Therefore any slight divergence not only affects him, but the whole congregation. | Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Inspiration for the blowing of the Shofar | The watchman on the watchtower – when he sees a threat, he blows the Shofar. – And you have come onto the tower of the Synagogue – do you see, all the negative demons (angels etc.) who surround the chair that you are blowing… as the early Holy Ones would see, to chop off the thorns etc. – this is why it is called a “day of Teruah.” As a poor person knocking on the door – open for us the doors of righteousness – open for us the gates of heaven – for in your hand is the key to the gates of mercy… “This is the gateway to G-d, the righteous will walk through it.” 20. Eliyahu Hanavie – the angel who elevates also out from the Shofar – (Kara”k has the Gematriah of Eliyahu Hanavie Zachur Latoiv.) “When will you come to give us the great news?! When Will Moshiach come! When will the Beis Hamikdosh and the Mizbeach be built!! When will we reside with our Father, our King in the Beis-Hamikdosh – – how unfortunate for children banished from their father’s table.” 21. “Whomever the Beis Hamikdosh was not built in his day… it is as if was destroyed” – so imagine how sorrowful the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur… the year of its destruction was… – so ours. 22. There are demonic Angels surrounding the Holy Throne and in the soul, they surround to swallow us – as it states, “It was the day…” – this is the day of Rosh Hashana, “and the sons of G-d…” referring to those that are judged, “came before the judge” / G-d, and the Satan came too – it says “Also the Satan came..” – this includes Lilith… – And in Egypt it says, “The Jewish people lifted their eyes – the Egyptians were chasing them, and the Jews cried to G-d” – Now the Satan, the great enemy chases us with its demons to swallow us – why should we be silent – let us fall before G-d, and ask what shall be our end? Therefore there is panic and crying before Yom Kippur in the evening – for it’s the last time of the 10 days of Teshuva- On Yom Kippur the Satan cannot prosecute… – therefore the Satan comes with all, its power to prosecute against people – and as the peoples souls can see this, therefore they cry… the men, women, and children – and they should actually do so throughout the 10 days of repentance – for our sages have taught, ”Better one day of repentance and good deeds in this world, then the entire good fortune of the world to come.” How much more so every hour and minute of the 10 days of repentance. Now on the day of Rosh Hashana, the beginning of the 10 days of repentance – this is a very holy hour and auspicious time to create a pleasant delight before the Creator to want to cry tears of joys… that we have merited to stand before his Holy Throne, before the King, who sits on the exalted and glorious throne, and He adorns His throne with kindness and truth. Now we can give Him joy, and incredible joy! Through this we banish all the negative judgments against us – through this is aroused our Father King – May This Time, Be The Time Of Mercy, And Compassion Before You! G-d, we know not all the secrets, of the mysticism behind the shofar – we only know how to humbly do your will, we have done your will… Now you do your part – do not unjustifiably judge us.. – open to us the gates of repentance. 23 “Blow the Shofar concealment” The first day of Rosh Hashanah… – Now the Shechina is in Galus (exile) for when she must bestow upon the Jews – this causes pain to G-d, as first He must bestow to the ministering supernal angels of the nations (as is known to the Kabbalah disciples.) 24. In days bygone, when there was ample sustenance it was good. But now children, pray for your parents – that they should have the ability, to send you to Yeshiva. 25. “So says G-d, ‘Take heed, call out and may your eyes run with tears’” it says in Tikkunim, “There is a Chamber of music, the key to open it is only through music – there is a Chamber of tears, that the key to open it, is only tears” a prayer with tears is precious to G-d… – as it says in the Zohar, and just as in the time of the destruction of the Holy-Temple – G-d said to Yirmiyahu – “Go call to the fore-fathers, to Moses, who know how to cry…” – we too must learn from them how to cry in prayer. And our sages say, King David really had no connection to sin – the reason G-d caused this was to pave a path that all who sin know, that they can repent! – And though our sages say, “whoever thinks King David sinned is mistaken” – nonetheless he fasted for 22 years, and every day he said – “I have eaten dirt as bread, and I filled my Cup with tears…” for he repented so deeply, and now, we who passed before Your Holy Throne – on this day, like sheep before a Shepherd, we the soldiers of King David… – we shall learn from our great-grandfather, our Master, to cry and to return from sins…. And so too as a community, we shall learn from those who created the Golden-calf – the generation of the desert… and Aaron, to get them to return to G-d, he bound his hands with iron chains and he walked around the Jewish encampment – and he went by and he cried until they all did Teshuvah… – and they cried with him… as it says, in the Medrash… so too, we too copy… and we cry to return from our sins. | Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Inspiring | If a person wishes to inspire another, they must use parables from the mindset the other is in. | 8 Nasoi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Integrity | We must concentrate and ensure all we do is truthful. | 158 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Integrity | Fortunate is a man who is their true self. | 81 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Intent | “Be complete with G-d your Lord,” explains the Baal Shem Tov – this means, always be complete with your inner heart. | 10 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Integrity | Even if everyone is liars, corrupt and thieves, if there is one person who is true, faithful and trusting, this emancipates the generation. | 93 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| It Aint A Joke | If a person doesn’t connect to G-d (if he treats G-d callously….) then his life is also treated “happenstance…” He doesn’t know where to go/do | 51 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| It’s Easy | The Baal Shem Tov revealed that every Jew has an easy direct path to fulfill God’s intent (in creation.) | 382 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Jew | The Baal Shem Tov explained the teaching of our sages that there are three signs (qualities) of the Jewish people: merciful, bashful and kind. Merciful, that we have mercy upon our soul which descended from the heavenly highest heights to be clothed in the world of darkness, in a physical corporeal body. (Which for her is an extraordinarily painful experience, like going from being a prince to a beggar.) Bashful – they feel bashfulness in the face of the Divine light which hovers over their head and hence they improve. Kind – that they allow the Divine Being on the Heavenly throne to inspire, educate and guide them. | 103 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Jew | The entire purpose of the Baal Shem Tov was to reveal what a Jew is – beyond all the secrets he revealed… which great angels would “die for…” is the revelation of the absolute infinite place a Jew holds (in God’s heart.) | 381 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Jew – Definition | “You are God’s children.” “These are the children of Abraham, Abraham gave birth to Isaac.” But Abraham had also Yishmoel – however the true meaning of being a Jew, is that one receives a Divine soul. | 40 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Jew – Spiritual Warrior | Every Jew’s greatness is that s/he is a spiritual warrior (battling their Yetzer Hara, so Divinity enters.) | 67 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Jewish Activism | Any single word uttered from any Jew’s mouth, from the greatest Tzaddik to the simplest, whether man woman or child, if it is so uttered for the sake of strengthening Judaism – it is like a precious diamond. | 173 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Jews | The Greatness of The Jews – Every single Jew is as worthy as the greatest scholar – it states, “You are children to God” – just as it states that “Yitzchok was Abraham’s child,” as his face was similar, similarly the Jews mirror God’s qualities – Compassion and Loving-kindness. | 393 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Jews | Once the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov after Tikkun Chatzios were speaking about the greatness of the Jewish people… – however fundamentally they were not speaking from the heart but rather to cause G-d (the father, pleasure – but the Baal Shem Tov saw that above this caused Din… – so he went out and shouted at them – “it is like you are an example of a woman who is praising to her husband 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 truly a delight above. 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 (in the typical style…) preaching “fire and brimstone.” So he sent his helper to go tell the host to come home – meanwhile the helper told people that the Baal Shem Tov disapproved of this lecturer. So slowly but surely the people dissipated. – So he stopped his lecture – the next day the preacher came to the Baal Shem Tov and he asked him (the Baal Shem Tov asked…) Who he is? So he told him… and he asked him, why didn’t he like his speech? So he 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 Mincha and goes into a house to Daven… the angels above shake!” The Baal Shem Tov said – even a Jew who totally forgets about G-d and is consumed by his internal worries – business etc., but then Mincha comes and gives a groan – “how he could be so preoccupied…” and goes to Daven Mincha – this moan, shatters the heavens. | Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Jews – Proper Analyzation | There are two types of rebukes – one focuses on the evil others do… – The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a king whose son left the palace and became involved in low behaviors such as theft etc. – two people came to report this to the king. The first came to tell him how low the son became – this aroused the king’s anger and he banished him; the other came with tremendous sadness for the king, over how low the king’s son had fallen. This caused the king to do all in his power to restore his son. | 131 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Jews – Stars | The Baal Shem Tov, said, just as stars appear so small below – but are so big above – so too the Jews! | 27 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Joke – On…. | There are two types of jest/ers – the first are those who make fun of a Tzaddik (as is the practice…. : ( – the second is the Tzaddik, who being so certain in his path of G-d, he laughs. | 2 Bamidbar– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Joy | When the head of the generation (Tzaddik) is joyous, it causes that his entire generation. | 6 Ki Savoi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Joy | Once the Baal Shem Tov after Yom Kippur was very down, as he could foresee that unless the Jews sanctified the moon – it may not be good… – but the clouds were heavy and thick – a number of times he requested his disciples to see if the moon was visible and he tried very hard through Holy mechanisms to elevate his mind (and cause a miracle) meanwhile the disciples unaware of this saga – were as their custom, ecstatic… For spending a Yom Tov by the Holy Baal Shem Tov, to them was like being in the Beis Hamikdosh, and the Baal Shem Tov, like the Cohen Gadol… – And as they danced with great joy, they allowed their hearts to be brave and asked the Baal Shem Tov if he would join them, and he too, from their great joy was uplifted – and the clouds parted. From here we see that the joy of Jews, is even greater than the Baal Shem’s meditations. | Note 6 Ki Tetzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Joy – How | When we think about how low we are, this is called concealment. When we think about God’s tremendous kindness to us and to everyone (which we can only appreciate by first contemplating how low we are… otherwise we believe we are deserving, hence it is owed..) then this is called joy. | 428 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Joy From Giving God | There are Tzaddikim who rejoice in their ability to make G-d happy. | 54 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | The Baal Shem Tov’s teaching is known, 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 comes against us. Similarly, when we do feel their pain – and we ask God to help, we receive a blessing. | 146 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Judge – 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 believe as the verse states, “It is not good for man to be alone – a help opposing him I will make” – if we are never judged, we can come to believe we are righteous… – so when we see some sort of negativity in another, we must realize that on some level we too have it (in this way, this removes our anger and brings humility.) And the main thing is to believe, in everything you say and do, God is there. | 121 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | If you see (or hear about ) a sin, realize that you have (at least at some level) this problem – and fix it within yourself. | 124- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah Breishis | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | “Stretch out your hand not with a wicked person to be a witness to violence” this means that you should never speak bad about another Jew G-d-forbid – for through this, you’ll have to be a “witness of violence.” For when the evil – the Yetzer Hara, speaks badly, and brings this person to the Heavenly court and accuses him, desiring the punishment – they will bring you as a testimony on his words (for the Yetzer Hara on his own is not believed…) therefore if you have to speak about a negative which you have to get rid of – never speak about the person, only the behavior. | 4 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | The Baal Shem Tov teaches, 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…” 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. For the truth is anything negative you see in another – one can know that you yourself have this or something similar. That there are those who condemn you or Angels above (for this or something similar.) And when you find an extenuating circumstance for your friend, this becomes applied to you as well. When in fact you do not get angry with this Sinner, and you attribute his sin to his Yetzer Hara… then when tests come upon you – this will bring about many merits. | 2 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | A complete Tzaddik that has no evil in him (her) sees no evil (in others.) In his eyes all are righteous. And therefore his love for the Jewish people is very very great. But if he hasn’t completely rectified himself – he will see some of his own imperfections… But he should know that the guilt he sees in others, is actually 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 thing – for we know, no one is judged unless they judge themselves/// how is this? Above (on judgment day…) they show someone a scene and ask him to judge it… though he thinks he is passing judgment on another… in fact it is something that he did (thus he becomes his own judge.) | Note 2 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | The Baal Shem Tov teaches us – if we condemn another and we say – due to their sin something bad should happen to them… we are in fact judging ourselves. For even 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, as if he worshipped an idol…” and it could be that one’s own similar sin, is even worse than the other persons. However if a person decides to be foregoing, and says for example, “This person must have a very difficult time and he can’t control himself…” or similar excuses that one can find… then one in fact creates a merit for oneself. And this is what it says, that “From all my sins save me, through the fact that I’ve never condemned anyone.” | 4 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | Our sages teach – “who is wise, whoever learns from everyone?” For a wise person can recognize themselves and their limitation… however a foolish person sees only what’s wrong in others, and not in oneself. However an easy way for a person to realize where they are, is that it says – in Heaven, there are two chambers: the chamber of zechus (positivity) and the chamber of Din (negativity – judgment….) In the positive chamber – even the greatest sin they can find an extenuating circumstance; and in the chamber of negativity, even the most righteous… (they can find faults.) So ask yourself, “am I judgmental?” | 6 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | I heard from my father-in-law – the great holy Rabbi Avrohom Mordechai of Pintshov – once the Holy Disciples of the Baal Shem Tov were praying on Rosh-Hashana. From one of the disciples, his Tobacco pouch fell to the ground. He picked it up and his friend saw this, and he was upset that he had distracted his prayers to pick up the tobacco and have a snuff (as the custom was those days). The Baal Shem Tov saw by Divine prophecy – that this upsetness/judgment, would cause that the disciple would pass 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 got upset was saying Tikkun – the Baal Shem Tov (miraculously) removed his intelligence and as he couldn’t study – he began thinking about the greatness of G-d… –And then he had a thought – “why did G-d make Tobacco?” And 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…”) And then he regretted that he was upset at his friend… – for who knows… maybe there were holy souls that this Tzaddik elevated through his smelling…. Then during the day of Hoshana Rabba, the Baal Shem Tov as per his custom would answer whoever asked him anything, and would tell them what would occur… – For he saw with his Divine prophecy from one end of the world to the other…. and each would prepare a question – whether in Talmud or other matters… and he would answer them all… And this disciple asked this question… (“why did G-d make Tobacco be discovered in our generations…”) and when he asked the Baal Shem Tov this – the Baal Shem Tov said, “Tell me what you think…” – And he said (as mentioned, his thought above). Then the Baal Shem Tov said – “there is greater reason” – and he explained the story that happened with his friend, and he told him, that, “In the future, you should always judge favorably, and not cause negative judgment.” | 7 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Judge – Not | Instead of criticizing, see yourself as equal. | 15 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Judging – Don’t | Just as when you see a dirty face in a mirror, it is your own; so too the dirt you see in another – It’s our own. | 119 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| 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 “judges” deeds. – Now it may be that the person did not do the same sin, however, we know there are sins that are comparable, for example, one who is arrogant is as if he has committed adultery; one who is angry, it is as if he worshiped an idol; and perhaps the judger’s sin, is deemed worse, and the punishment is then meted. – However 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 a person is likewise forgiven. | 404 Kesser Shem ov | |||||||||
| Judging – Don’t | The Mishnah says, “Man is punished with and without his knowledge.” Explains the Baal Shem Tov, “with his knowledge” refers to when sometimes a person is very bitter, and says that he prefers death… And “without his knowledge,” is when man judges another person (believing for his sin he deserves punishment) this then is visited upon him. | 112 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Just Go/Flow | It is known the law, one may not hesitate (“hold it in” – when one needs to go to the bathroom) this causes spiritually very big problems. | 28 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kabbalah | The reason the Torah is called the wisdom of truth – namely the Kabbalah… – which is referred to as “secret…” – Now as anybody with scholarship can study and understand… so what is so secret about it…? Just like a person cannot explain to another the taste of the food if the other never tasted it… – so too, the essential nature of Kabbalah is not a wisdom, but rather an ability to attach oneself to G-d. | 51 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kabbalah | The Baal Shem Tov taught, that when we study the works of Kabbalah, we have to be very careful to strip the concepts of their corporeal (examples…) – Do not take it literally… | 71 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kabbalah | The Baal Shem Tov referring to a cult that unfortunately left Judaism said, that the cause was that they studied Kabbalah without wisdom and fear of G-d, hence they took the spiritual concepts and saw them as physical. | Note 56 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kabbalah – Don’t | The Baal Shem Tov once criticized someone for teaching in public Kabbalah – “But the Master does this” protested this person. “I teach in a way that people understand… in other words, the secret of Kabbalah can be brought to the level where they relate – but if you simply say what is happening in the higher worlds, you cause that the spiritual becomes physical.” | 69 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kabbalah – Don’t Study | The Baal Shem Tov suggests a. that one needs to be extraordinarily careful when studying Kabbalah, not to associate the Divine names to the limited attributes (see above…) and b. therefore, the average person should not (study Kabbalah, as not understanding how much is allegory…. mistakenly assumes imagery.) | 35 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Karma | Once there was a King who would go to paupers and distribute money, and see how they’re doing… – and one of them would always say, “Whatever someone does, he does for himself…” – this angered the King very much – he felt him to be ungrateful. So he gave him a chicken with poison inside – and once again the man said, “Whatever someone does he does for himself…” Turns out he decided to hold the chicken for a bit, and the King’s son was on a hunting trip, and he got lost, and he was tired and he made his way to this poor man’s home, who wished to give him some of this chicken… but the people with him said “let us first have it tasted” – and it turned out that it had poison – so they took him to the King, and he told the King that, “You were the one who gave me this chicken.” The King said, “It is true – whatever one does, one does to themselves.” | 2 Haazinu– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kelipa | The King ordered Vashti to come unclothed – Kelipah has no entity (like a bully…its merely a fake delusion – but in order to manifest its pathetic ego it must attach itself to some sort of goodness (claiming that it is righteous… hence superior…) but if one undresses the Kelipah (as mentioned…) it ceases. | Megilas Esther – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Ketoires | The secret of the Ketoires is that it can get rid of a plague. | 7 Korach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kindness | Avrohom Avinu recognized God when he was three, however his greatness lies in the fact that he had genuine self-sacrifice to teach others. | 105 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Kindness | Whatever we do below – kind or G-d-forbid cruel… we cause that a similar reaction from above… – hence when we are generous…. | 13 Re-eh– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| King David | Dovid hints to pleasure – D-a-d – refers to both the Mashpia (Dad in Hebrew is a breast or nipple which acts to minimize the flow – so both the mother can give and the child can receive…) so there is the pleasure of the giver and receiver… in this case, both in a sense, are referring to the feminine / receiver… – The reason for this is, that more than the receiver wishes to receive… the giver enjoys giving… (So they both receive a pleasure…) however King David (this is based also on the notes ED….) whose sole pleasure was to cause G-d a pleasure… so his taking, was similar to G-d’s pleasure. | Shir Hashirim – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Knife | The Baal Shem Tov says, we do not give others a present a knife. | Note 6– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Knowledge | One must know what arrogance is, but not be; know what anger is, but not be; for we find that by God there is complete recognition. | 221 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Knowledge | When a person desires to understand something and delves deeply to try – then he raises it to the realm of thought where, from there, he draws from the supernal wisdom. | 44 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Knowledge | When you learn something deep, but understand not, this is the realm of Malchus – but when you place great effort to understand, and you penetrate to its depth… – then you bind Malchus with Binah. | 45 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kosher | The Baal Shem Tov said, that he had in his collection, questions and answers from the Rambam – one of the distant countries sent a letter to the Rambam and about 70,000 people signed on this… that as it doesn’t seem to be said clearly in the Torah about Techiyas Hameisim, therefore they chose to reject it. The Rambam didn’t want to answer them, and told his disciple Ibn Taboon… to write the answer, and the essence of the answer was: “Because you doubt this principle of Jewish faith therefore your souls do not come from the sons of Abraham, Yitzchok, and Yaakov – rather the people of Sedom and Amorah;” for there are souls that come from heaven and the earth and the 7 “constellations” etc. In fact, one can ask on creation… as we know everything was made to be its specie… so one could ask, why didn’t the earth envy heaven… – the answer is, that it was not given the wisdom to understand the greatness of heaven. The reason for this is because there must be an earth. The same thing is with all creations; so too with people, there has to be wicked and good and in-between… This is so one sees the benefit of good in contrast to bad – if you ask then, where is your free choice? But if you go against the words of our sages, how are you to understand the answer to this question…. Now the soul of a person is blood, which is effectively from refinement of food – and there are many levels of refinement – first there is the gall, which puts in its juices to food in the stomach to separate the worst part which becomes excrement – and a second separation which is what is excrement – and a third which is sweat, and a 4th which is hair and nails, the 5th which is the blood in the liver, and the best of this goes to the heart and then to the brain – this becomes the mind and the thoughts – and from your words it seems that you reject the words of our sages – so this means that you have not been careful with the kosher food… therefore your thoughts are going towards evil – because they’re coming from there… so therefore with your thoughts you cannot discern against the words of our sages… whose hearts were like the expanse of the sea… – I know that as you’ve gone against the words of the sages, that punishment is going to come to you soon… And this is what happened, that a King came, he killed them… – they in fact wanted to convert, but he didn’t accept it – because they had rejected Techiyas Hameisim – as nations of the world also believe in resurrection… a few of them escaped, and they went to the Rambam, and they did Teshuva. | 4 Haazinu– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Kosher | (The following is a bit of an expansion on the above) The sages were exceptionally careful in their food, to only have holy (kosher – beneficial ) food (which as mentioned becomes the mind) therefore their minds were clear, and they were able to discern the depth of G-d’s wisdom. | 5 Haazinu – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Krias Shem – Night (Bedtime) | Before you go to sleep – you should induce upon yourself a great dread and reverence for G-d (hence to sin, you shall not fall…). | 74 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Lekach – Honey Cake | The Baal Shem Tov said Honey-Cake… as it is combined both from honey and flour which in their source, are vessels for Torah – creates that our heart is drawn to Torah. | 207 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Lessons | From everything you must make a Yichud (Divine connection) even if someone is disturbing you or you see in someone something negative – understand this was shown (came) to you from God for a benefit FOR YOU. | 115 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Leviem | The Leveim redeem the world. | 6 Behar– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| LIE NOT | The Baal Shem Tov said to his disciples, “My children, just make sure you never lie, and from this you will become great people.” | 13 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Life Purpose | The Kabbalah teaches us, says the Baal Shem Tov, that everything we do, we must do for the Divine soul within. | 274 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Life’s Journey | THE FORTY TWO LIFE TRAVELS 1. Just as when the Jew left Egypt, they traveled through forty-two Journeys of the road, and stops… – Some positive, others negative – which is the secret of the soul. As birth is the exodus – and until the soul returns… we traverse some positive (expansive) and difficult (contracted.) In truth, each journey is positive – for example, in Kivoirs Hataveh, on a higher level, a person who achieves true attachment to G-d buries his Taveh (all other desires -as his focus is on G-d.) So each stop, can be good, if we focus. | 1 Mase– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Life’s Meaning | Even if you cannot perceive what purpose you serve, you must realize that your life has! – as it is directed by God. | 71 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | When one is studying Torah they are on a high level – when they are engaged say in chit-chat or mundane affairs, on a low; but the ultimate goal is to elevate – in other words, to do all for God. | 384 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The verse states, “It will be when you come to the Eretz / Land.” The Medrash teaches: Why is Israel called Eretz? Because it is “rotz,” runs to do the will of her father in heaven. In addition, the word, Eretz means desire (in other words, she desires to do the will of her father in Heaven.) “It will be when you come to the land” – in other words, when you will arrive at God’s intent (for you) – “that God your Lord gives you as inheritance” – for this is a present to every Jew; so the Avodah (mechanism) in this should be – “You should settle” – you should bring this intent into practical methods – “And you should take etc. and place it in the basket” – you should take the light (inspiration) and put it into containers (actions) – “And you should go to the place” – this is the idea of Divine ordinance – “that God your Lord will choose” – for wherever a Jew goes, this is not circumstantial, rather Divinely ordained. And the purpose of going somewhere is – “To spread his name there” – to spread the knowledge of God. “When you will come” – in order to perceive the Divine intent in your life, this is through – “to spread his name there” – to have sacrifice in spreading Godliness. And how does one have sacrifice? This is through saying a blessing or a verse in Tehhilim. (As the Rebbe Rashab explains, on earth people marvel at wisdom, but in heaven, in simply saying the holy letters.) | 3 Kesser Shem Tov (From Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The beginning of our service is to elevate the entire world, especially the human, to the level that “God is your Lord!” – in other words, to develop a personal relationship. | 5 Kesser Shem Tov (From Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | Every soul has a specific mission – a purpose! – We must fulfill this purpose before the time allotted. | 71 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The Baal Shem Tov revealed that the specific purpose of our soul’s descent is through a Torah mission to keep Torah and Mitzvos and where the soul finds herself in their community, in their travels, to both do Torah and Mitzvos and help Torah institutions flourish. | 211 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The Baal Shem Tov revealed that the purpose of the descent of every soul is to fulfill the Torah and Mitzvos, whether it is keeping Shabbos or the festivals, lighting Shabbos candles, putting on Teffilin and though the soul comes from the highest heights (in heaven ) specifically through this, gets infinitely greater. | 212 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The Baal Shem Tov’s ultimate goal was that the Infinite Light Should Reside Within. | 364 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The main task of the Baal Shem Tov was to reveal God. | 367 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The general and specific principle is that every Jew must believe and know that there is in this world a God, who is Great and Mighty and Awesome and He is One, United, Complete Oneness – He Was Before Anything And Is The Prime Cause – And He Is Within The Heaven Above And The Earth Below, Within The Time Of This World From Beginning To End – And He Will Be Forever And Ever With No End – He Created In The Six Days Of Creation The World, Both Generally And With All Its Minute Details – And All Of This He Creates, For The Jewish People, His Holy Nation – He created us in His world for He envisioned us to begin. He took us out of Egypt and brought us before Mount Sinai, and gave us the Torah of Truth – in order to teach us, so we may keep it and do it – and to serve His service with love and fear. However, a person must know, that the main service of God is to serve Him in truth – as it states in the Zohar – “there is fear and there is fear” “there is love and there is love” – see there.. – and the principle is, that a person at every moment must look at his action and desires, all his deeds, even the good deeds and his Torah and Mitzvos, if there is an admixture of personal gain or for honor etc., and one should ensure that the only reason He serves God is to glorify His great and Holy name, and all He does should only be for God alone, with sincerity. | 17 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The Baal Shem Tov comments on the Divine command to Avrohom, “Lech Licha” – in which G-d says: “I will reveal your soul..” – for the main purpose of man’s existence is to crush their negative traits. | 3 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The Baal Shem Tov also says the purpose of man is to rid himself of vile traits – there are basically four – anger, lust, sadness, and frivolousness (fun.) When we transition out of our negative impulse – and we all have one “addiction” (G-d) – then G-d blesses us. | 4 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The Baal Shem Tov was asked – what is the main service of G-d? – Particularly as it used to be, people would fast weekly, but you have said that one who does this will need to give a Soul–accounting (in heaven, as it is wrong…) Answered He, “The purpose of serving G-d is to evoke within ourselves three: The love of G-d; The love of Our Fellow Jew, and The Love of Torah – that’s all.” | 17 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | And you Shall make beams of Keresh” (to uphold the Mishkan.) Keresh refers to man, our task, is, we are the connectors of heaven and earth. | Note 3 Terumah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The ultimate goal of the creation of spirit and matter / body and soul, is to convert the body into spirit – and this is what it says, “You shall live with it.” | 6 Acharei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Life’s Purpose | The secret of the three refugee cities – the Baal Shem Tov explains, refers to thought, speech, and action – for the Satan wishes for us to use them for bad things – and our mission is to use them for holiness. | 5 Mase– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| LISHEIM YICHUD | The idea behind the prayer, “Lishem Yichud… for the sake of the unity of G-d and his Shechina….” – the idea is to bring Tifferes “pride” to Malchus. That G-d wishes to be proud within Malchus, which is the lowest level – the world of speech – for this level gives life to all worlds – as the verse states – “It is with the word of G-d, the heavens were created.” And it says, “And you give life to them all.” And the speech of G-d consistently gives life to all the worlds. And when a person does a Mitzva, G-d takes pride in Malchus / meaning His speech; giving life to all the worlds. And then the person brings the Malchus to G-d – which means, G-d rejoices with the world of speech. And this is the unity of G-d and His Shechina – that G-d takes pride in Malchus, which is within the world – and His kingship is revealed. This means, that all recognize that He is the king of the world – and this is great pleasure to G-d. And the attribute of Malchus is within our hands. For we are the ones’ who recognize G-d’s kingship. And then His kingship is complete, for there is no king without a nation – and G-d has great pleasure in this. | 140 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Lishma – Torah | What does it mean to study Torah altruistically – as we know God says, “I have placed my soul within the very letters of the Torah” /-so to study Torah with the intent to unite with God, does so. | 320 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Lishma- Altruistic | Story is told about the Baal Shem Tov that once he felt very low – to the extent that he was certain that he would not receive the world to come…. – and he had no ability to inspire himself – so he said, “I love G-d, even without the world to come!” The story is told that once a lady who couldn’t have children came to the Baal Shem Tov and it was also a very financially strapped time for him…. and she gave him a nice donation, which also expanded his mind, and he promised her that she would have a son. And she was literally without any physical ability to do so. Because he caused a new obligation on G-d – he heard a heavenly voice that said, “He has no portion of the world to come…” and the Baal Shem Tov rejoiced greatly and he said “Now the time has come, that I can serve G-d truly with all my heart, because I don’t have any world to come…” And because he did this, he was able to rectify everything! – Then is Master Achiyah Hashiloini said, that this was a test – and because he passed, he rectified everything. | 17 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Lishmah – Altruistic | Another great principle from the Baal Shem Tov: Your Divine service should be exclusively (all the time) for God (not your) sake. | 282 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Lishmah – Altruistic | In everything you do, your intention should be for G-d, not even a minor amount should your intention be selfish. | 185 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Lishmah – Torah Study | If I study Torah or do a Mitzvah with an ulterior motive (for example, recognition) now as essentially God is one with his Torah, therefore ideally what would happen is the light of the Divine would connect to this Torah study or Mitzvah and then to my soul; however when I do something with an ulterior motive, this motive, called kelipah, a shell, acts as a barrier – it encases the Mitzvah – this perhaps can be best understood by a story about the Baal Shem Tov, that he once came to a study-hall of Torah and he wouldn’t enter, saying, “This place is filled with Torah” – he was not offering a compliment though, for with his Divine vision he could see how instead of the Torah rising to heaven… through its learners ulterior motives, it remained encased within the confines of the lower kelipah realm. | 291 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Loneliness – Not | A Jew is never lonely, wherever he goes, there goes (with him) God. | 171 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Love | Love has the same numerical equivalent to secret / stranger – when you reveal a person’s inner light (through seeing him in a positive light) this creates from a stranger, love. | 37 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| 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 God, he would have done it in an entirely more loving manner.” | 263 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Love – For God | The Baal Shem Tov bequeathed to his disciples an inner-fire in performing Torah and Mitzvos. | 379 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Love – For God Bad – To Good | “See I place before you life and death.” In the Torah there is life, when you are attached to the inner dimension – not just what is pleasurable. | 2 Re-eh – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Love / Fear – of God | “Place Shoftimm Vishoitrim (Guards and watchmen) in all your gateways” – this means, place love and fear of G-d in all your thoughts – as thoughts are referred to as gateways. | 1 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Love/Fear (Of God) | In this world, wherever there is joy, there is no trepidation – and vice-versa; however when we are dealing with our feelings for God, both simultaneously! | 349 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Lubavitch – Life-Guards | Three types of souls enter this world (Jewish.) Those who come into the ocean of madness (our world) in a boat – so their upbringing has the protective element of Torah and Mitzvos – but there are those who have been born without any life-jackets and the waves of insanity constantly threaten to submerge their Divinity, and then there are Lifeguards. | 74 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Lulls | If G-d causes one to be prevented from serving G-d, as their heart wishes… one should understand this is only to motivate. | 96 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Lust | The sexual desire comes from Chesed / love – so one is taking this holy emotion and placing it in filth. | 25 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Lust – To Sacred | It is known that the source of the desire for sexuality is actually from the loftiest of loves – our job realizing this, is to elevate (through using the same intensity for the love of G-d.) | 27 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| MAARIV | The Baal Shem Tov was very “adamant,” that we must say Boruch Ado-Nay Le-oilam, Amen Ve-amen in Maariv. | 150 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Maharsha | The Baal Shem Tov greatly praised the holiness of the Maharsha, to the extent, he said – “If the world knew his holiness, they would lick the dirt under his feet.” | 5 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Malice – Benefit | If someone is maliciously disturbing your service, you should consider that G-d has sent them, so you should restrengthen your efforts. | 302 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Man | The greatness of man, the foremost creation, is – within him is included the entire cosmic destiny. | 221 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Man | A person below is a composite of soul and body, and through him the lower universe (made of matter) and the higher universe (of spirit) get united. | 2 Vayikra– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mazal – “Luck” | G-d told Abraham – when Abraham said that he couldn’t have a son based on the stars… that he should “abandon stargazing…” “Because Jews don’t have a Mazal…” And the question is, we know that it says, the three main blessings of life, children and sustenance…. do not depend on your good deeds, but on your Mazel…?! The explanation is, that when we say “Ein Mazal Liysroel.” It means Ayin (Source/G-d) is the Jewish Mazal – which refers to G-d’s desire. In other words, if you’re getting something because you earned it, it’s not so great… – rather G-d’s DESIRE, is the force that gives you these blessings. | 26 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Meal – Talk Torah | When we speak words of Torah at our table, we elevate our Table (as we know, all has Divine sparks seeking redemption, like positive energy.) Hence you should speak an abundance of Torah during the week, and especially on Shabbos (at the meal table.) Then when Mincha (Erev Shabbos) arrives and during the Kabbalois Shabbos (Shabbos evening service) you elevate the entire week. | 299 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Meditating – Contemplating | A person shouldn’t meditate alone – he should have at least another in the room (doing Divine attachment – though each individually…) but sometimes if one is constantly attached – even just being in a house where there are others (is o.k.) | Note 32 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Meeting – Meaning | Whenever you meet someone, this was not random – most often it’s either to teach (you or the other – but you must see it as an opportunity.) | 187 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Meetings Matter | Every encounter with a fellow man – according to the Baal Shem Tov is Divinely ordained – most often there is something to learn. | 185 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Melaveh Malka | It is said in the name of the Baal Shem Tov – that one should eat Garlic in Melaveh Malka. | 51 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mezuzah Case | The Baal Shem Tov taught that better to not use a metal case for the Mezuzah – this is similar to the fact, that for the Mizbeach (and Beis Hamikdosh) metal was not used (for the source of blessing/life should not be created with the cause of death / destruction.) | 85 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mikva | The Baal Shem Tov said that all the holy levels that he achieved, all was because he continually was careful in going to the Mikvah – this is a very great thing; For the mikvah purifies the body and soul – however it must be done with proper intent – and not like a habit, for then it is considered worthless. MIKVAH | 12 Ysroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mikva | The Baal Shem Tov says, if we need to go to the Mikvah for a reason, when we go and dip in once, we will never get ill from it. | 15 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mikva | Through kosher food – keeping Shabbos – and women going to the mikvah – this is what establishes the entire universe. | 18 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mikva | Meditations for a man who does not have access to a Mikveh From the Baal Shem Tov ztz”l When a man does not have access to a mikveh or is unable to immerse in a mikveh due to circumstances beyond his control, he should wash his hands in the manner mentioned below, reciting the following before beginning to wash: לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ, בִּדְחִילוּ וּרְחִימוּ, וּרְחִימוּ וּדְחִילוּ, לְיַחֲדָא שֵׁם יו”ד הֵ”י בְּוָא”ו הֵ”י בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים בְּשֵׁם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל. Then recite the following verse, followed by four prayers: אֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּי וַאֲסֹבְבָה אֶת מִזְבַּחֲךָ יְה–וָֹה. (תהלים כו, ו) וִיהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹ–הֵינוּ וֵא–לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתְּהֵא רְחִיצַת יָדַי אֵלֶּה נֶחְשֶׁבֶת לִי כְּאִלּוּ טָבַלְתִּי בְּמִקְוֶה טְהוֹרָה שֶׁל אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה, וְאֶהְיֶה זוֹכֶה לִמְשֹׁךְ מַיִם מִן הַלֹּבֶן הָעֶלְיוֹן הֶחָתוּם בְּיוּ”ד רַבָּתִי שֶׁל (במדבר יד, יז) וְעַתָּה יִגְדַּל נָא כֹּחַ אֲדֹנָי (וחוץ עָזָא וְעַזָּאֵל בְּנֵי אַגְרַת ולִילִית). יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹ–הַי וֵאלֹ–הֵי אֲבוֹתַי שֶׁבַּכֹּחַ סְגֻלַּת זֹאת הָרְחִיצָה יִתְהַפֵּךְ מִדַּת הַדִּין וְהַגְּבוּרָה הָעוֹלָה רי”ו כְּמִסְפַּר נִקָיוֹ”ן עָלַי לְמִדַּת רַחֲמִים הָעוֹלֶה רח”ץ וְעִם הַכּוֹלֵל אֶרְחַץ – אֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּי וַאֲסֹבְבָה אֶת מִזְבַּחֲךָ יְה–וָֹה. וְיהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹ–הֵינוּ וֵאלֹ–הֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁבְּכֹּחַ סְגֻלַּת רְחִיצָה זוֹ, יִהְיוּ נִמְתָּקִין בְּרַחֲמִים, הַדִּינִים הָרְמוּזִים בְּפָסוּק וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לַיַּבָּשָׁה אֶרֶץ (בְּרֵאשִׁית א, י), וְיָאִיר שֵׁם אֶהְיֶה עָלַי בְּמִלּוּי ההי”ן אלף הה יוד הה כְּמִנְיָן מקו”ה וְיַעֲלֶה לְפָנֶיךָ כְּאִלּוּ טָבַלְתִּי בְּמִקְוֶה טְהוֹרָה שֶׁל אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה. וּבְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱלֹה–ַי וֵאלֹ–הֵי אֲבוֹתַי שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֲנִי מְטַהֵר אֶת עַצְמִי לְמַטָּה כֵּן תִּטְהַר נָשַׁמְתִּי לְמַעְלָה בְּנָהָר דִּינוּר[2] וּבְשֵׁם בְּיָהּ יְה–וָה צוּר עוֹלָמִים (ישעי’ כו, ד). וִיהִי נֹעַם אֲדֹ–נָי אֱלֹ–הֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנֵהוּ (תהלים צ, יז). After this he should wash his hands, concentrating on the letters of the Name of 72 letters יוד הי ויו היeach letter on both hands, consecutively, starting with the right hand, then left, then right etc. as in the tables below 1) Right hand י Yud 2) Left hand י Yud 3) Right hand ו Vav 4) Left hand ו Vav 5) Right hand ד Dalet 6) Left hand ד Dalet 7) Right hand ה Hai 8) Left hand ה Hai 9) Right hand י Yud 10) Left hand י Yud 11) Right hand ו Vav 12) Left hand ו Vav 13) Right hand י Yud 14) Left hand י Yud 15) Right hand ו Vav 16) Left hand ו Vav 17) Right hand ה Hai 18) Left hand ה Hai 19) Right Hand י Yud 20) Left hand י Yud Following this pour ten times on the right hand first, concentrating on the following letters with each pouring: 1) Right hand י Yud 2) Right hand ו Vav 3) Right hand ד Dalet 4) Right hand ה Hai 5) Right hand י Yud 6) Right hand ו Vav 7) Right hand י Yud 8) Right hand ו Vav 9) Right hand ה Hai 10) Right Hand י Yud Repeat the above, but now pour ten times on the left hand, concentrating on the following letters with each pouring: 1) Left hand י Yud 2) Left hand ו Vav 3) Left hand ד Dalet 4) Left hand ה Hai 5) Left hand י Yud 6) Left hand ו Vav 7) Left hand י Yud 8) Left hand ו Vav 9) Left hand ה Hai 10) Left Hand י Yud After this recite the following verses: וְהָיָה הַנִּשְׁאָר בְּצִיּוֹן וְהַנּוֹתָר בִּירוּשָׁלִַם קָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֶר לוֹ כָּל הַכָּתוּב לַחַיִּים בִּירוּשָׁלִָם. אִם רָחַץ אֲדֹ–נָי אֵת צֹאַת בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן וְאֶת דְּמֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם יָדִיחַ מִקִּרְבָּהּ בְּרוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט וּבְרוּחַ בָּעֵר. (ישעיהו ד, ג-ד) And then the following section from the Gemora: אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אַשְׁרֵיכֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי מִי אַתֶּם מְטַהֲרִין וּמִי מְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם אֲבִיכֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל לו, כה) ‘וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וּטְהַרְתֶּם מִכֹּל טֻמְאוֹתֵיכֶם וּמִכָּל גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם אֲטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם’, וְאוֹמֵר (ירמיהו יז, יג) ‘מִקְוֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה’ – מָה מִקְוֶה מְטַהֵר אֶת הַטְּמֵאִים אַף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְטַהֵר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל (יומא פה, ב) Rabbi Nochum of Chernobyl ztz”l preferred to recite this paragraph instead, from Tractate Berachos 15a with Rashi’s commentary: אֲמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כָּל הַנִּפְנֶה וְנוֹטֵל יָדָיו וּמַנִּיחַ תְּפִילִּין וְקוֹרֵא קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּמִתְפַּלֵּל, מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ וְהִקְרִיב עָלָיו קָרְבָּן, דִּכְתִיב: (תהלים כו, ו) ״אֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּי וַאֲסוֹבְבָה אֶת מִזְבַּחֲךָ ה׳. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא: לָא סָבַר לַהּ מָר כְּאִילּוּ טָבַל, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֶרְחַץ [בְּנִקָּיוֹן]״ וְלָא כְתִיב אַרְחִיץ [כַּפָּי]? ופירש רש”י, דכתיב אֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן משמע ארחץ כל הגוף ולא כתיב אַרְחִיץ כַּפָּי, לדרשא אתי, לומר שמעלה עליו שכר רחיצת כפים כאילו טבל כל גופו עכ”ל. (Notes, explanations and tables by Rabbi Moshe Miller) | 20 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mikvah | And then a person who goes into the Mikvah; he should think when he’s in the Mikvah, that the name Adnay and Malchus is the secret of speech, and the name Havayah is Zeir-Anpin – the secret of voice. And the name Ehyeh is the secret of thought – and in the Mikvah, the roof of the Mikvah corresponds to the name Ehyeh – the four walls of the Mikvah, correspond to the four letters of G-d’s name Havayeh – and the floor of the mikvah corresponds to Adnay. And these three names together have the Roshei Teivois of Yaboik – which is the Rashei Teivois of “Yichud” “Brocho” and “Kedusha.” And one should meditate to ask from G-d that he should be able to accept the holiness of the purity of thought, speech, and voice. And if he has these thoughts, even if as it says, “a Tzaddik can fall 7 times to the ground, he will get up….” Even if you went backwards seven steps, G-d will forgive him, and heal him and create a new bond with him that will never break, and then on his soul will come a great spirituality. | 11 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mikvah | The Baal Shem Tov merited his incredible high level, from the many times he would go to the Mikvah! | 219 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Mikvah – Men Daily | Action (for men) – See to it that you go to Mikvah (daily) especially when you are in need (of Divine assistance.) | Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Mikvah Charity | It is known from the Baal Shem Tov that there are certain Mitzvos that the intent doesn’t really matter, two of them are Mikvah – for even if a person didn’t intend, but the right amount of water covered them, they become purified – the other is charity, for it is not so much the reason you give, but the giving… as we know, even if you lose money and a poor person finds it (in a permissible way, say dollar bills on the street, which having no rightful claimant, can be taken..) it is considered that you have done the mitzvah. | 214 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Minagid – Chossid | When a person only learns nigleh (the Talmudic studies) they can delude themselves that their brain is wise, hence as they become self-centered, they seek not the fulfillment (of Torah) rather the leniencies (as we see with misnagdim, rachmanah litzlan;) however one who studies Chassidus (the inner dimension, the soul of Torah) such a person remains faithful (and seeks to follow correctly, and even more so! (hence the name Chassidim, which means, “go beyond the letter of the law.”) | 83 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Mind – Clear | The Baal Shem Tov taught a person must always be with a clear head. | 62 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Mind – Control | Why was the death of the firstborn the final straw which allowed the Jews to leave Egypt? The firstborn represents the mind – our minds know to do what’s right, but the kelipah obfuscate our mind with emotions; but when the mind reasserts itself, automatically a person is freed. | 154 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Mind over Matter | The whole goal of life is that the soul should dominate the body – the exile is when it is the reverse and redemption is when we exit. | 7 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mind Sweep | By Meditating on this name כ”ף וא”ו זיי”ן וא”ו we clear our mind. | 72 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Minyan | The Baal Shem Tov wrote: how come one may not precede their prayers to the community?… for it is important to pray together. Once the Baal Shem Tov took – as his custom, but this time more so – long in his prayers. All his Holy Disciples waited for a very long time, but eventually each departed to do what they needed. – When they came back, the Baal Shem Tov said, “the fact that you left caused a great separation – for when we are all together, the prayer ascended.” He gave an example that, “there was once a beautiful bird of an extraordinary kaleidoscopic color, and it perched itself high on a tree that no one could reach it – the king desperately desired it, so he said / told people to climb on each other’s shoulders to reach it. But as some people weren’t in the mood, they couldn’t get to the top. The truth behind this exercise was not really the bird – but the king desires the unity of the people. Through unity we ascend to the highest heaven, for every Jew, like every letter of the Torah, combined – form the Holy of Holies. As you caused a separation, therefore the rectification is to place deep within each of your hearts, a real love for your fellow Jew, and your Father In Heaven.” | 40 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Miracles – How | The Baal Shem Tov taught, that if someone is in the need of a miracle, he should give 18 Gedulin (a polish coin – perhaps one could substitute this with current coins or bills numbering 18) for candles for the Synagogue, for the soul of Rabbi Meir, The Master of Miracles – and he should say – “I promise these 18 gedulin for candles, for the soul of Rabbi Meir, the Master of Miracles – the God of Meir, Answer me! The God of Meir, Answer Me! The God of Meir, Answer Me! – And may it be your will God our God, that just as you listened to the prayers of your servant Meir, and did miracles and wonders for Him, so shall you do for me and all Jewish people who need both hidden and revealed miracles. Amen May It Be Your Will.” | 385 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Mirror | When you see something wrong in another – educate yourself! | Note 106 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Mirror | If a person sees evil in another, they should realize that G-d showed it to them so they should rectify – their own. (And as the Rebbe says, because we have a self-love, we only see our reflection… but not within ourselves.) | 10 Boi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Misnagdim | The satan complained to G-d that it is unfair, as Moshe through his miracles will get the whole world to Teshuvah, and he was given, that every Tzaddik that is born, an opposer is also. | 6 Korach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Misnagdim – Antagonist to Rebbes | “Those who attack Holy Peaceful people – they defiled their Bris…” those who attack Tzaddikim, sin in this. | 10 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Misnagdim (Hecklers) | The sins that the hecklers of the Tzaddik, suppose / accuse him… are actually their own. | 5 Korach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mission | In the early years of the Baal Shem Tov’s revelation, he would make frequent visits to towns and cities which had three purposes: 1. to redeem captives, for in those days it was a feudal system whereby Barons owned vast tracts and leased inns, mills etc. and if someone couldn’t pay (their rent) they would imprison them. 2. Inspire Jews to study Torah and love, and 3. Reveal the secrets of the Torah to scholars. | 257 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Mission | The Previous Rebbe said, what was innovative by the Baal Shem (versus previous greats…) was he did not wait for people to come to him, rather he and his disciples made the effort. | 259 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Mission | The Baal Shem Tov clarified (as well as through his subsequent students/Rebbes) that wherever a Jew goes, he is on a Divine purposeful mission. | 390 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Mitsvah/Sin | Even a sin as bad as the daughters of Loit… if a person’s intention is for G-d, then it is a Mitzvah; however the question is how does one know…? – For this one must study much Torah, and G-d will help the person discern. | 1 Bo– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mitzvah | The Mitzvahs we do below (when we concentrate) we connect it to the spiritual Divine source. | 3 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mitzvah – Daily | 17. Let not a day pass without an extra Mitzva (good-deed) whether big or small – as our sages have said, “Be careful to do even a small Mitzva (like you are careful with a big.”) The word “careful, zahir” also has the terminology of “shine” in other words that the soul will shine whether from a small or big Mitzvah, as “God seeks the heart.” This in fact is a great thing – for then you know that you accomplished something this day – as you created an angel (for every good deed makes an angel) and as it states, “If you have but one angel that advocates for you etc.” 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 one can do. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Mitzvah – Passion | Teaches the Holy Baal Shem Tov, from the very selfish animalistic passions that we have, 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 on the story that G-d showed Moses a half-shekel made of fire and said, “This is what you should give (as a donation.”) The obvious question… why did He show him a coin made out 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. | 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 – everything we do, creates a soul and a body – the intent is the soul, and the body is the deed. So this person who tarries, perhaps shmoozing along… then in heaven, is forced to crawl a narrow bridge over a raging river – firstly it is very scary – but then the angels he created – that were looking forward to his creation – for from his intent, the angel’s soul was born, and from his future action, the body – it blocks the way… and the extra time spent on the bridge, is for it painful. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Mitzvah – Soul Energy | When Moshiach comes – as Avrohom did – we will perceive how every Mitzvah, in fact is the source of our soul (energy) and the world… and without this energy our soul is incomplete. | 4. Chayei Sara – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mitzvah – Yours… | Everyone has a specific Mitzvah in which there is a Divine feeling. | 96 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Mitzvah = Mitzvah | “A Mitzvah attracts a Mitzvah…” for when we do the Mitzvah below, this attract us to the Divine inspiration (of the Mitzvah.) The 620 Mitzvos (613 Mitzvos of the Torah, and 7 of the Rabbis) are 620 pillars of light, so whenever we do a Mitzvah, to this pillar we connect. | Note 6 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mitzvahs – Passion | When a person does a mitzvah in a dry way… – such as out of habit… A Person Must Infuse It With Heart. | 7 Acharei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Mitzvos | Once the Baal Shem Tov was asked about the purpose of our Mitzvos – he explained, once a prince got lost – and he was starving and thirsty – a shepherd boy took him to his little hut – he hardly had anything but he took out of his knapsack the cleanest cloth he could find and put it on the table and shared whatever little food he had – he then spread out a sheet on the floor – for it was the best he had – after the prince retuned home he elevated this shepherd above all the other ministers – said they to the prince, but we served you continually – said the prince – “all the honor given to him, for is for the loving paltry gifts, done with true dedication to me.” | 51 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro) | |||||||||
| Mitzvos – Do Joyously | The Baal Shem Tov explains the meaning of our sage’s words, “The reward for a Mitzvah is the Mitzvah.” When you do a Mitzvah joyously, this brings God great joy! | 126 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Mitzvos – Eternal | The Mitzvos that come from the eternal G-d, are eternally applicable. | 24 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Modeh Ani – Begin The Day Right | The first thought we have, the first speech and action, become our train of thoughts, speech and actions – this is why it is critical that our first thought be of praise (gratitude) – our first word (Modeh Ani – gratitude) – and our first action, the clasping of the hands to say, Modeh Ani. In this way our soul becomes unified. | 212 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Modeh Ani _ First Thought | When one awakens, one must be careful to say nothing (certainly superfluous…) for the world is created as is known through (Divine) thought, speech and action. Now of-course thought was the first – just as the Torah commands one to honor the eldest son, for he receives the greatest portion from the father and transfers this to his siblings (perhaps this means latent soul talents…) similar, all comes from our first thoughts. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Money | “Jacob saw a ladder from the ground to the heaven, and angels of G-d were going up and down.” The Gematriah of Sulam (ladder) is the same as money (mamoin.) Money begins in the ground, however some people through it ascend to heaven, others it is a source of suffering. | 3 Vayeitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Morning | 81 The first Mitzva you began your day with – should be your day’s preoccupation | 81 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Moshe | The Baal Shem Tov was the “reincarnation” (as the Zohar says) of Moses (as the Zohar says, there is the reincarnation – revelation of Moses in every generation.) The Holy Rebbes following him also contain this power. CHASSIDIM The Chassidim who follow the Rebbes, though they may not have their knowledge, but they are given from this power the ability through effort, to transform the world. | 316 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Moshe – Humility | We know Moshe Rabeinu was the most humble person – considering that all the Jewish souls came from his, how (did he maintain such humility?) But this is the very reason… for when a Tzaddik has an inspirational drive, this causes all people to have an inspirational drive… (and depending on how much…) Now if G-d forbid the Tzaddik slips (even but in a thought) this can cause the wicked person to actually commit a sin – so instead of seeing the sins of some Jews as their problems, he would see it as his own. | 7 Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Moshiach | In order to bring Moshiach – which the Divine took His infinite, and placed it within the exile of the foolish pursuits of the foolish – hence, those who use the world wisely, for good / G-dly pursuits, they elevate and bring Moshiach. | 2 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Moshiach – God | Now in exile, G-d’s name is incomplete, so all of our prayers must be that Moshiach should come. | Not 19 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Moshiach – Teach Chassidus (To Bring) | I ascended into heaven on Rosh Hashanah 5507 and entered into the room of the Moshiach where he sits and teaches Torah to the seven Shepherds, and all the great Tzaddikim and saints, and I asked him “When Will Our Master Arrive?” He replied, “When your Chassidic teachings will be spread.” | 1 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Moshiach – Teshuva | Everyone must fix the part of Moshiach in his soul – as is known, that the word for man “Adam” represents Adam, Dovid, Moshiach – for the stature of Adam’s soul is that it included the souls of every subsequent Jew – then through the sin, his stature was diminished – similarly Moshiach will be a composite of all Jewish souls – the combination of the 600,000 as it was before Adam sinned – therefore each Jew is to prepare (repair) the part of Moshiach within his soul – until the entire structure will be rectified, and there will be a complete and constant oneness, bringing Moshiach. | 8 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Moshiach – Up To You | A person need not be a holy Tzaddik (involved in Yechudim, hamtakas hadinim, expansive mind etc.) rather a person who works on themselves to banish both the evil traits and desires (say lust etc.) this person within themselves creates the Yichud (union between their soul and G-d) and from doing so below, this causes it to occur above. | 11 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Moshiach – You | Moshiach’s soul is the essential Yechidah (the level of Divine that forms all souls.) As this is within each of us – it is up to each of us to reveal our soul (which as the Rebbe says, this comes by desiring the Divine revelation which will occur when Moshiach comes when we get to see G-d – and also by understanding that in essence we are this Divine – which of-course is the only way anything can be). | 218 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Moshiach’s Arrival | When Moshiach comes it will be like a happenstance – in other words all people will be busy doing their specific service, and he will just arrive. | 1. Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Moshiach’s Arrival | The arrival of Moshiach will not be preceded by death/s. | 2 Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Moshiach’s Meal | The Baal Shem Tov called the Festive meal on the last day of Pesach, “Moshiach’s meal” – the door was open and all came. | 248 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Motivating Avoida | We should analyze based on how much physical pleasures attract us, to how much, should spiritual. | 64 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Name – Soul – Mission | 131. Just as the body is grasped by grasping it – similarly the soul is grasped by calling the person’s name – this is why when you call someone’s name, even when they are asleep, they awake. Note 110 The name of a person is his soul. 133 Because the letters in a person’s name are the source of his life-force (soul) therefore it is fitting to always make from them a Yichud. 134. The main soul is the combination of the letters of a person’s name, for which s/he comes into this world to rectify (elevate.) 135. Every person’s Avodah (life mission is connected to their name (which contains what they’re about.) 136. It is known that the name of a person is their essential life – all animals, birds, and creations live based on the source of the Holy letters of their Hebrew name in the Torah – and they are sourced in their supernal Ministering angel. | 131-136 Brieshis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Negative For Positive | The Baal Shem Tov taught, the contrast emotions (bad and good) arrogance/humility – tough/gentle – generous/stingy… So the negative emotions are not there only to offer man free-choice (to choose good over evil…) Rather each negative emotion has a positive, to be proud of one’s Divine service… – to use strength for G-d… and even at times to limit (when necessary.) | 42 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE | Because a person can change information from negative to positive – like Yirmiyah the prophet, who should have prayed for the Jewish people hearing the harsh decrees… – for even in a dream, if a person sees a negative like a dead person, they can make it into a positive (from the letters of Meis (dead) to Tam (sincere.) | Note 157 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE | The Baal Shem Tov says on the verse, “Turn from evil and do good” our job is to turn evil (thoughts, fears etc.) into good (positive, hope etc.) | Note 157 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Neilah | 39. Before Neilah on Yom Kippur pray small (less concentration) so you can say Neilah with great (concentration.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Nitzoitzois | Often we travel somewhere thinking that we have a desire to go to that destination, but meanwhile, the purpose we went there, was because there were some holy-Sparks we needed to elevate. NITZOISIOS Sometimes a person has to take a business trip and the reason he took that trip is, for in that location, there is a loaf of bread or water, in which the Sparks of Divinity that are within, he is meant to elevate – which completes his soul. | 20-21 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Nitzoitzois | Everything that belongs to us is part of our mission – to elevate the spiritual Divine sparks within them. The food we eat, the clothing we wear – we must treat them carefully. | Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Nitzoitzois | It is known that the main goal of service in Torah and in prayer and the passion for Mitzvas and the meditation for eating – is to elevate the Holy Sparks, from the depths of the kelipa – and similarly as it comes to people… to elevate people stuck in the morass of materiality to spirituality. | 3 Acharei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Nitzoitzois | There are Divine G-dly sparks (the essence of physicality) trapped (in the physical / mundane) and we must make extreme effort to save them (through using the physical for spiritual.) | 4 Megilas Esther – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Nitzoitzois | It is known, in all things, there are Divine sparks who desperately seek to return to their source. Everything a person sees and hears is Divine Providence – one must elevate say a physical love to spiritual (for essentially the physical love is an offshoot of the original spiritual… – but in a crass form…) For example once a person saw a war (by the gentiles…) and he told this to a Tzaddik who elevated. | 5 Megilas Esther– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Nitzoitzois – Souls | The Mishna says, “Three who eat at a table and say not words of Torah, it is as if they have eaten from the sacrifice of the dead.” The Baal Shem Tov explains, because an incarnation of a soul may be in the food and it can only escape (and be elevated, if the people say words of Torah – but if they G-d-forbid don’t, it must descend into a rock.) | Note 6 Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| NO PRIDE | When you say words of Torah in public – have in mind that your goal is to honor and spread Kedusha / holiness. | Note 33 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| No Regrets | Our sages teach the wicked are full of regret – if they are full of regrets, and we know, that if a person has a regret… this can turn him into a complete Tzaddik, so why are they called wicked? However a person must be aware that everything that they thought about (and did) all was from Hashem. | 10 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Nodah Biyehuda | In the Beginning of the Rabbi (career of Rabbi Yechezkel Landau (the Nodah Beyehudah…)) the Baal Shem Tov said that in Heaven they announced – “Protect (or be protective from) Yichezkal and his Torah.” Note 1 Many times the Baal Shem Tov stayed by the Nodah Beyehudah who was very careful to do Hachnasas Oirchim and would serve the Baal Shem Tov tea etc. but when the Baal Shem Tov realized this deducted from his Torah study time – he stopped. NODAH BEYEHUDAH 7. The Baal Shem Tov said that the Nodah Beyehudah had a Neshama that had never come to earth and was stored in the hidden treasure-house. | 6 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| NOW | “Cast me not aside in old age” explain the Baal Shem Tov, “cast not serving G-d, till old age… “ | 67 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Onion | The Baal Shem Tov was careful to not eat raw onion. | 46 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Outreach | A person’s mission is to bring below to above – in order to do this, one must, as in the example about a Prince that fell into bad company… and no one could get him to come back – so one person dressed up as a commoner, and he was slowly able to get him to return… Similarly the rabbis / teachers must go to the level of the people… – wear their “clothing,” in order to elevate them. This is as it says, Shmuel the Prophet said, “We sinned” in other words – he went to the level of the people. SAVING Note 5 To save somebody who is in the dirt – one must be ready to get a little dirty. | 2 Acharei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Overcoming – Desires | When a person receives a negative thought, be it a fear, a lust etc. all you need to do is destroy it by seeing it as excrement. | 248 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Overcoming Arrogance | The great Holy Baal Shem Tov before he passed he said, “G-d, Master of all worlds – Lead me not even to the feet of arrogance…” (Similarly, when the Holy Ari-Zal soul’s departed, he said, “Protect me from arrogance – for one cannot begin any true service of G-d, if one’s soul is into arrogance (the sin of the heart…) and in fact, the accursed evil cult (that left Judaism) came from only arrogance and anger. Before the Baal Shem Tov passed he told his young disciples that they should go find a new Rebbe… (as that year he would pass.) So they said, “How do we recognize a Rebbe?” – So he said, “You should ask the person how to rid oneself of Gaaveh/Arrogance, and if he gives you advice, leave…” – but if he says, “G-d will help…” | Note 13 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Overcoming Desire | We must detach ourselves from the “pleasures” of this world. In an absolute truth, the only reason there is any pleasure in something as silly as an apple, intercourse, etc. is because based on the fall (of the sparks of holiness from the world of Tohu which is the source of all non-holy acts in this world…) however in essence, the true pleasure and awe is found only in God (as the great angels serve either through awe or love continuously). | 240 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Overcoming Desires | We must despise all the “pleasures” of this world, from the pleasure of food, sex etc. – for anyone who has tasted real pleasure, the spiritual bliss – this is like a person who makes a sudden windfall and his happiness causes that all other pleasures seem worthless. – Furthermore, we must place in our hearts the true fear of God – this is understood, like if you traveled to a palace – as you enter you would feel a fear – hence anyone connecting to God, should also feel a palpable awe – and this eliminates all physical fears. | 239 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Pain | “And I will remove pain from your midst” when a person has a pain – he should attach himself to G-d – meaning he should attach himself to the great qualities of G-d, and he will not feel the pain. | 19 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Pain – Overcoming | Pain is invariably the bodily suffering (or perception of lack,) however when we appreciate that the body actually is an offshoot of the spiritual force which creates both the body and the pain – thereby we nullify our attachment to the pain and bring in the positive force. | 412 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Parah Aduma | It is known that the Baal Shem Tov was asked about the Parah Aduma (red heifer) – where can we find in it a hint (lesson) in Divine service? – For all the Torah applies continuously in the realm of inspiration – also considering that a. It was only done once in a while… and b. It made the person who purified impure, and the impure pure… So he explained, that this is the trait of arrogance – for while one needs arrogance to both begin serving G-d… – for to begin with, everyone is self-serving. So this drive is important as one needs to ascend (to a higher level.) Nonetheless, after one did ascend, one must be humble. – So we find arrogance, can on one hand purify and on the other hand corrupt. | Chukas– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Passion | The Baal Shem Tov says in the name of Reb Saddiah Geon, that we should be passionate about the physical pleasures of this world, for then we can use that passion for the spiritual. | 3 Terumah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Passion | Once there was a Prince who was a dullard, and the King hired the best wisemen to teach him, but he had no interest…. and in fact, the final wise-man came complaining to the King that the Prince has fallen in love with a peasant – and the King said, “On the contrary, this is the solution!” He ordered that the peasant girl should be brought into the courtyard and the Prince was told, “if you would like her, you must learn a wisdom.” So because of his passion, he took one wisdom… and then they told him to learn another… until he reached the point, that he realized, that he is a Prince, and for him a Princess is appropriate. | 4 Terumah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Passion | A wise person realizes that the desires for the physical, are only there because in order to desire the spiritual… The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a Prince who was a Doctor, and he went to a village to heal people… and then once he got a letter from his father the King… and he was very happy…. and he wished to celebrate… but he didn’t want the villagers to think him odd…. so he bought for these peasants alcohol…. and they all celebrated together… Similarly, the wise person takes the power of celebration and uses it for G-d. | Note 3 Terumah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Passion – For God | A Jew’s heart must always be aflame. | Note 4 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Peace | G-d found no better vessel for blessings than peace – the Baal Shem Tov gives an amazing parable- if a person is super wealthy – but leaves their doors and windows open – so it will be stolen. | 9 Nasoi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Peace | A person who combines two people is called peace (for peace is combination.) | Note 5 Pinchus– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Peace – Silence | 49. Even if people condemn you for your spiritual service in prayer or other things, don’t answer them, so as not to come to arguments nor arrogance – our sages teach “A person’s silence leads them to humility.” | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Perseverance | When God desires a person, first He places a deep love in their heart which arouses, inspires and motivates them – however, then He withdraws this love and it is only through effort that the person perseveres – however, eventually, through their perseverance they begin to derive personal growth, satisfaction and joy. | 10 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Physical – Spiritual | This is great reward when the very materiality transforms. | 3 Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Pleasure | All pleasure ultimately comes from the source of spiritual love, which is the love of G-d, and when one has a physical love, one should realize that this is only an offshoot of the much deeper spiritual love. And when sometimes a person can’t get themselves out of the physical love, but the circumstances do not allow him to actualize it… he should realize, this is G-d Humbling Himself, in order to prevent him from actualizing this negative love. | Terumah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Pornography | When we think lustful or arrogant thoughts, we take our Divine soul, bind it into a filthy cesspool – one must have pity, and release one’s soul! | 99 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Pornography – Overcoming | When a person G-d-forbid has a thought of znus (pornography etc.) or avodah zorah (idol-worship…) this is an indication that he will be punished – the rectification (or prevention) is to realize, that everything (including these thoughts…) comes from the Shechina (the descent of G-d) therefore one should attempt to elevate them – through recognizing how tragic that Divinity should descend to such a low level. And this will save the person. | 11 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Positivity | When one is negative, we deny God. | 54 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Positivity – Creating | All of our thoughts create universes – if our thoughts are positive, then the experiences that filter down (from these higher universes into our personal universe) will be. | 43 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Possessions | Every Tzaddik has sparks of his souls in his possessions, his family etc. that he must elevate. Every persons’ possessions have sparks of his soul for him to elevate (when we use it for good things) therefore, if you lose something or it broke – do not worry, for it means that you have elevated the sparks (and if someone else got it, it is because some of the sparks in it, are probably from his.) | Note 2 Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Potion of Life | The Baal Shem Tov said, that whoever merited to taste food at his Shabbos table – he gave to them the “potion of life” – that they had healing… to distance themselves from all physical desires. In addition that they should be able to act in their homes with holiness – for when it comes to the way humans react to health – they only seek treatment after illness… – however they need now to protect themselves in the future that the illness shouldn’t return. This is the great power of a Tzaddik – from His Holy Table, to give a person the ability to be saved from any problem in the future. | 32 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Power | To a deep person, power is actually painful, as they see themselves unworthy. | 3 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Power – Love | There are two kinds of power – the first is, one who is all powerful and so doesn’t care (he forgoes…) the second is true power, that he cares – the Baal Shem Tov was the latter. | 317 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Pray | People often try to escape – they are suffering – this is like a woman who gave birth, but to rid herself of her pain she goes to a different city! – However the true answer is what happened to the Jewish people who escaped Egypt, but then the Egyptians pursued them… – so they realized they have no choice but to pray, and that very day they were saved. | 109 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Pray | 86. A person shouldn’t say when I can pray intensely I will, but when I can’t I won’t – to the contrary, this is like a king who goes to battle and gets dressed as a common soldier, so the way to tell where the king is… to see where is most protected – so if the king (God) is being “protected” (it is difficult to get through) this is the sign to truly attempt (for He is there.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Pray – For Trust | When G-d needs to punish someone, first the attribute of 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 the attribute of trust. | 1. Vayeitze– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Pray – For You | “When you see the donkey of your enemy struggling under its burden you should surely assist it,” the donkey refers to the body. The enemy is the Yetzer Hara – so if your body is struggling with illness or lack of finances, you should pray for it. | 8 Mishpatim – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Pray – No Matter | Even if one is in small (capacity – connection…) one should still pray (with small…) For sometimes Above, it is small (like za”h) – the most important thing is to be connected; for like a coal – the flame may be small, however with a blow, it can quickly go large. | 53 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Pray – Out Loud | Every word you say, you must hear (yourself) – for the Divine presence (the Shechina) is the world of speech – – it takes much faith to believe this. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Pray – Passion | When we pray, we must put all our energy in every letter we say. We should have in mind that the letters connect. Now if a physical union is pleasurable – infinitely more so a spiritual. We should then elevate ourselves to the point where we are in the mystical realm of Beriah. We can’t even hear the words, only our thoughts, and then we get to the point of Atzilus. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Pray – Unobtrusively | A person should cry during prayer, quietly. | 166 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Pray – YOU | The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a country in which they relied on their very strong giant – however the enemy became clever and they stole, piece by piece, his sword, spear, arrows and then took over the country. Similarly, each individual must pray – we should never rely on the Rebbe (head of the generation,) especially as there may be times, that there is one who himself doesn’t have the fighting power. | 133 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Pray + Humility | The Baal Shem Tov said, though one should pray with the fire of their soul, they must do so with a broken humble-heart. For once his disciples were all praying with fiery passion, but an accusatory decree in heaven arose, as they lacked humility – but as one person had humility, it saved them. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAY FOR THE SHECHINA | Teaches the Baal Shem Tov, one should completely of themselves forget… and pray but for the Shechina. Then a person raises themselves beyond time, to the world of thought, where all is equal – when one is humble, G-d in Him can reside. | 131 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Pray for Trust | If one needs to be punished, as the ability to generate positive blessings purely from trust (in God’s goodness) is absolute, hence they take away the trust… – thus one should pray that God grants them trust… This is why it states, that Abraham trusted, and this was considered a good thing – in other words, that it was granted. | 382 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer | When The Ark is open and an unlettered (unlearned) pious simple Jew makes a request, God will fulfill it. | 161 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Prayer | The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of children who get lost in a forest and from their deep fear they call, “Father father protect us” -as is known, how much a parent loves to hear their child, and when it comes from the depths… | 196 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Prayer | Note 13 As a father minds not when their son (baby) holds onto their beard and pulls (as babies love…) In fact enjoys… – so too, G-d descends to our “petty” prayers. | Note 13 Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYER | The Zohar teaches “There is no word that has no voice” – this voice ascends – the Baal Shem Tov explains, that this is why when we pray, we must use our voice (as it causes the words to ascend.) | 1 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer | Though it is impossible to pray (Shemoina Esrei – or the Shacharis / prayers) without any disturbing thoughts, nonetheless accustom yourself at least to begin in concentration. | 19 Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 32. One must elevate level after level in prayer – do not lose all your energy in the beginning of prayer – begin calmly – and then in middle of prayer connect deeply – then you will even be able to say the words quickly (as your connection is deep.) Though as you begin the prayers you cannot have very deep attachment nonetheless say the words with great concentration and strengthen yourself bit by bit, until God will assist that you can deeply connect. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 33. One must accustom themselves to study and say the prayers – even the songs in the prayers in a low voice, “Cry out quietly,” – say the prayers or the Torah study with all your energy, as it states, “All my bones will speak etc.” And the crying out that comes from one’s deep attachment to God, should be done silently. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 34. Know that every word of prayer and Torah is an entire Being and you must place your entire effort / energy in her – for if you don’t (the angel born) will be disabled. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 38. Do not say a lot of Tehhilim before Davening (praying in the morning) in order that you shouldn’t weaken your energy and not have the energy to do the main obligation (namely Prayer) the songs of praise Krias Shema and Shemoina Esrei with great attachment. Rather first do the most important (namely prayer – as mentioned) and if God gives you more energy say Tehhilim and Shir Hashirim with great concentration. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 40. When a person is in small–mindedness (low…) better to pray within the prayer book, for when one sees the letters it assists (in concentrating.) However when one is attached in a higher world then it is better to close one’s eyes, in order that the physical sight should not disturb. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 41. The soul of the Baal Shem Tov told him that the reason he merited many high revelations, was not because he learned (or taught) much Gemarah and its commentaries – rather because of his prayers – for he always prayed with great concentration – and this caused him, his great revelations. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 58. There is “the revolving blade blocking the entrance to the Garden Of Eden” – when one seeks to attach their thoughts to the higher worlds and God, the Kelipos try to block – nonetheless do not give up; attempt numerous times to enter the higher realms and (or, through) cleaving to God, and you will enter. Strengthen your faith that God fills the entire universe. If you fall from your level in that prayer, then say the prayer with a little bit of concentration (as much as you can… ) then strengthen yourself to return to your previous level – even many times in one’s prayers. First attach yourself to the body of the word, and then place within the word a soul. One must rouse within oneself, in their body, that the light of the soul should shine – as the Zohar says, “A log that doesn’t light, one chops it up, and it will light” – and then one can serve only in thought, without body movements. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 60. It is impossible to pray with great concentration unless one motivates oneself strongly – and one should ask before praying that God should assist and help. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 61. Consider that it would be good if God assists you, that you concentrate say half of the prayers or most of it with great focus – and towards the end if you get weak you will pray according to your capacity or a little bit of concentration (until the end of Aleinu.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 67. Sometimes a person can only serve from “katnus” (repressed thinking…) in other words he doesn’t enter into the higher realms at all – rather he thinks that God’s glory fills all the worlds and He is close to him – and at that moment he is like a child whose intellect is not very great – nonetheless though he serves in contracted thinking – he serves with great attachment (Diveikus.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 68. Prayer is marriage with the Shechina – just as in the beginning of the union, there is movement – when one begins to pray one should Shuckle (sway,) then one can stand without Shuckeling – and be attached to the Shechina with great connection. And from this that a person Shuckles, one can come to a great inspiration – for a person can contemplate – “Why am I shuckling? – It must be that the Shechina is standing opposite me.” – And from this one can come to feel great inspiration. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 69. A person can go from deep attachment in Katnus (see 68) and then think about the higher worlds and jump into them, for where a person thoughts are, there they are. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer | 75. Your words of Prayer should shine. For in each word there are universes, souls, and Godliness. They elevate and interconnect. And a person should include their soul in each of these levels – and then all the universes unite as one, and elevate and a great indescribable joy (above) ensues. This represents the three levels in the (Noah’s) ark, each level (floor) represents, world – souls – and Godliness – in every word you must hear her message – for the Shechina the world of speech talks if your intention in prayer is to create a Nachas (joy) for God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer – Ahavas Yisroel First | The Holy-Ari says, before praying one must do (undertake to do) the Mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel (as the Rebbe says “See every Jew as your other half and without him / her your soul is incomplete.”) | 20 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYER – ALTRUISM | It says in the Mishna, “Do not serve G-d in order to receive a reward,” and there is another version, “Serve G-d in order to not receive a reward.” Says the Holy Baal Shem Tov – both are true; the former is “Serve G-d for the sake of G-d, not for your own sake” – hence if what you request is or isn’t fulfilled, to you should be the same. The second is like a person who loves the king so much, and wishes to speak to him – one day said the king “All who wish for anything should come and their wish shall be granted,” this person ran to the king but said not his wish – for his greatest wish was to have the wish to always need the king. | 125 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYER – BATTLE | The Baal Shem Tov says, that until Moshiach comes, every day of prayer is (a) new (battle.) | 120 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Battle Field | When a Jew prays and connects himself to G-d – a voice is announced (from G-d in heaven) “Tzeineh Ureiena Bnois Tziyon…” in other words – “whoever is not worthy for this unity, nor wishes for it, should leave (Tzena from Yeitzei…) and whoever desires it, Urenea (from Reah / see…) that the when the kelipos hear this voice, they desire to distract the person in his prayers – with a foreign thought from the pleasures of this world – and the wise person connects the foreign love to feeling in contrast a great love and reverence for G-d. And one should say to themselves – “why should I connect to this simplistic physical pleasure – far better to attach myself to the energy which is the source of all!” | 102 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Best | Also we should ask God to do to us what he knows is best, for often what we think… is to our own detriment. | 220 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – Challenge | When you are praying and someone is talking to you (which causes a disturbance) especially if it is a gentile or child, realize that this is the Shechina challenging you (to strengthen your prayers.) | 122 – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah Breishis | |||||||||
| Prayer – Comic! | When you speak (pray,) know that the words you are saying come from G-d, and through this you elevate the words. | 86 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Communion | The idea of (Divine unity) Yichud (unity with the Divine) in prayer, is that one’s thoughts should not be distracted (thinking about something other than the) prayer – to not mix bad within good. | 100 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Concentration | 71. If a person prays but is thinking a different thought, then the Kelipa rides on the prayer (or speech) it would in fact be better if he said nothing. But words that come from the heart, enter the heavenly heart. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer – Connecting | Every word has three stories – universes, souls and Divine energy. The bottom level are the universes which we connect to the soul, which then get connected to the Divine energy – we must have faith, that this is what we accomplish in every word of prayer. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Desiring To | Once there was a king who said, “All can come and make a request!” One man came and asked for riches; another for a prominent position; but a wise person said, he would like to come speak to the king three times a day – this pleased the king very much (seeing that to this man, a relationship with the king was more important than anything) and hence when he came, all was given. | 97 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| PRAYER – DISTRACTIONS | When a distracting thought comes to one in prayer, for example about intimacy etc., a person can realize that this is a punishment – and by feeling a great fear of G-d, they elevate. | 122 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Divine Intimacy | The Baal Shem Tov says, “prayer is intimacy with the Shechina.” | Note 65 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Duty/Gratitude | The son of the king has a double duty to constantly praise his father… for firstly it his father the king, and secondly, for the graciousness his father bestows (to allow him continued access.) So we are like the son, who firstly has a duty to praise his father – but more importantly, the love for the father is so deep within us, that we wish to sing continually all his praises – however we cannot…. so we ask, the little we do sing should be considered, as if we have sung all! | 14 Va-Yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Effect | Whenever we pray, we have cosmic unifications. | 81 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – Elevating | The Baal Shem Tov said – the idea that when a person starts to pray, many distractive thoughts come… are actually a good sign. For if there is a simple person who would like to go to the king – of-course there are guards at many doorways – now if what he will relate to the king is bad for the guards – if the chances are the king in any event will ignore this individual – they will put not up a block… However if this person is an important minister whom they know the king will listen to – then they do all in their power to block him. Similarly as the kelipos are holding onto sparks of G-dliness, especially a righteous person, they attempt to disturb his prayers. But the petitioner can scream, “Father save me!” And because G-d desires the prayers of the Jewish people, hence all the doors open, and he fixes what needs to be rectified, and elevates the Holy-Spark and creates salvation. | 105 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Elevating | I heard from my master (the Baal Shem Tov) regarding Prayer – that one needs in every word humility, separation and sweetening. In every letter, all letters are included. For the source of all letters is Alef, and it is close to the infinite ray of the Infinite. And afterwards it spreads and places itself, letter into letter, until the letter Beis, which is two Alefs, until the letter Tof – each one is a cover and concealment of the infinite light. In four hundred coverings… – and the letter Tof is the final and most distant from the Creator, by many concealments. To the extent that Eisav and the four hundred (bad) men with him can draw energy from there. And the Tzaddik who knows that the Master-Of-The-World, is in every movement and in all places – and there is no place devoid of Him – then he uncovers the covering… – and elevates all the souls to the highest heights, to G-d, the Master of the World. And in this way He gathers all the stones (letters) to one location. The unity of the infinite light – and they, all become one in the singular true source, that the Tzaddik elevated them to – the original source of the infinite light. … In all the meditations that are there, one must think in every word to sweeten the anger (Din) – for the secret of the word Alef is Peleh. And this comes into the letter Beis which are two Alefs, until the letter Tof – four hundred etc. and as the letter becomes distant – it becomes distant from the supreme pleasure of the light. And it comes into the concealment of the Kelipa until the letter Tof – which is a crooked foot – Malchus of Malchus of Assiyah; Where distracting thoughts and lusts & loves, are found. And also there G-d conceals Himself, for there is a spark of Divinity (within all.) And when one considers the exile of the Shechina (the concealment of G-d within all matter) that a part of G-d is “trapped” in this dirty container of kelipa : ( One will have a deep fear (perturbed.) One must know that there is no movement without G-d – – hence “G-d is with me,” and then one can overcome the test. Especially when one has disturbing thoughts in prayer – a great fear can come to him (because of it…) and one should humble oneself literally like dust. In fact, all creatures, even a worm serves G-d… Then one removes the spark from the Kelipah (and it ascends into G-d, and through this humility, a great separation comes from above, that one should not be too broken from their great humility – and actually a division between good and evil is created – and the evil falls off… And then comes a sweetening within the light of G-dliness. And one tastes the taste of the world to come. And the anger gets sweetened (in its source.) And this is the order of prayer – first humility in the songs of praise (Pesuikie Dezimra) to feel connected to all creatures (all serving G-d) on this earth – that a nothing and breath such as you, can merit to sing praise before the Great and Awesome Infinite Creator!!! – And then in Shemah there is a separation – the choseness of the Jewish people – and but you, say the Shemah … Echad – and then during Shemoina Esrei there is a sweetening with tremendous attachment – and this is both generally and specifically in every single letter. | Note 83 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Erev Shabbos | The Baal Shem Tov established, that we should say every Erev Shabbos / Friday – psalm 107 – because we have to purify ourselves at this time… and there it is mentioned of four that have to offer gratitude to G-d, for saving them. One is those who get lost in the desert, which also in Hebrew “desert” has the word “speech” – sometimes when we begin to pray we get lost… and we cannot bring our emotions into the prayer – we must bring all our emotions into the prayer. Put all your energy in the Speaking of prayer – leave not any emotion outside… Sometimes this is because during the week we were so connected to our business… and the rectification for this is to “cry to G-d.” – A cry is without speech… we should ask, “G-d should have mercy on us” and “those who seek to purify themselves, G-d helps them….” As you’re coming to the emotion of mercy, and everything is for the sake of the service of G-d… – therefore all negativity falls away. And the emotion of humility – when you ask not for yourself, but for the sake of G-d… You don’t do this for any arrogance or self-gratification, and then all of you elevates to the higher realm. | Yisroi – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Focus | 89. When one has a Machshava Zara (sinful – or distracting thought) one should be highly embarrassed – for this is a sign that from the king’s throne room has he been banished. Return to the throne room with great humility, as having a distracting thought (presumably during prayer ED.) is a sin like giving birth to a Mamzer. Just as thought has a masculine and feminine, similarly speech – and if one thinks a foreign thought while praying, this is like a Mamzer. The outer appearance is like a Kosher person however the inside is evil – similarly this person is using holy words, but his thoughts are bad – Furthermore, one should contemplate that God says, “Why have I come into the word, but you have not.” | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer – For Shechina | 73. “We only begin to pray with humility,” in other words, do not pray for what you are lacking – for your prayer will not be answered – rather when you pray, pray for God – for whatever is lacking in you, is lacking in God – for man is a part of God above – for what is lacking in a part (of the whole) is lacking in the whole (head…) and the Head feels what is lacking in the part – Hence your prayer should be for the lack of the Head. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| PRAYER – GIFTS | In prayer there is “present” – and “war” – the war are the bad thoughts that come, which one must bring them to their source * – and then those thoughts, which are elevated – to him is a present. OPPOSING REALITY * Note 104. The opposite of love is lust – the opposite of G-d is idolatry (perhaps arrogance…) – the opposite of self-discipline – hate (murder etc.) | 121 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Gratitude | Once the Baal Shem Tov (in his concealed days) was dressed as a simple Jewish peasant and he came into a synagogue, where there was a great scholar – he asked the scholar “How are you…?” “How are things…?” “How is your livelihood…?” But the arrogant scholar just ignored him, so the Baal Shem Tov said, “Why are you removing God’s sustenance…?” – so the scholar was surprised and puzzled – so he explained, “God gives man sustenance and He receives His sustenance (so to say) by our gratitude, thanks, and appreciation.” (The Baal Shem Tov would travel from city to city to simply ask Jews how they were – for in Jew’s praise of God, this arouses God’s greatest loving reciprocal joy.) | 60 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Prayer – High | Sometimes a person prays with minimal ability to concentrate, but then in one second the light of G-d shines through his soul, and he is elevated heavenly. | 51 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Horses To The Throne | Just as horses take the king (in his chariot) so too the horses – letters of Prayer… draw to us the king. | Note 72 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – How To | Prayer from joy and happiness is much better than from tears and sadness – an example the Baal Shem Tov gives, is of two people who need something from the king – the first comes on is hands and knees, and the king perhaps gives him part of what he desires – however one of his ministers throws him a feast, serving him his favorite foods and then toward the end, asks… The king being in a jolly mood, grants him his wish. | 229 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – How To | Even when we need to beseech for God’s mercies – as we find ourselves stuck – we should go to God in a way He desires; namely prayer should always be that we beseech not only for our own, but for all who need. | 276 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – How To | “Make a Tzohar, light in the Teivah / Ark” – The Baal Shem Tov taught, “the ark” are the words of Torah and prayer; and “light” is saying them with warmth and heartfulness. | 8 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Prayer – How To Focus | The Baal Shem Tov taught, for simple people (who find it difficult to concentrate properly) it is good to rush through Davening (in order to maintain focus.) And he quoted a beautiful example he heard from his brother-in-law, Reb Gershon Kutavier – There was a forest road where ferocious bandits lurked – everyone would rush through the road – once two people went – but one was drunk as a skunk… – The normal person rushed and was saved – but the drunk was beat black and blue – said the sober to the drunk after he came out – “Amazing, how did you make it out?” – Said he to the sober, “but what was the issue?” (as he felt no issues…) Said the sober person, “But look at all the wounds…” The drunk didn’t realize. (In other words, this is about rushing through the prayers in order to be able to maintain focused concentration – not allow the kelipos to cause distracting thoughts.) | 104 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Humility | 97. “If I am not for me, who is?” – In prayer a person must be removed from the physical – this is the meaning, “If I am not for myself, who is?” that if I am removed from the physical, who is… I fear no intruding distracting thoughts – however “If I am but for myself, what am I?” – in other words if I am self-aware (arrogant…) then the distracting truths enter. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer – Intent | Make a light / Tzahor,” for the Teive (ark) and complete it (on its roof) to the width of an Ama” (app. 3 feet.) Tzohar means light, and Teiva means (also) word. Says the Holy Baal Shem, “Make your words of Torah and Teffilah (prayer) bright. For within every letter there are universes, souls and Divine energy. And these universes and souls, elevate and connect, and unify with Divine energy – then afterwards they connect with the letters of the word, and they become an ark, and afterwards combinations (Yechudim) of Divine energy occur. And a person should include his soul in each level mentioned – and then all the universes unite as one. They elevate and a great pleasure and rejoicing occurs above. This is the meaning that, the Teivah should have an upper, middle and lower floor – there are the worlds, angels, and Divine energy. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Its You | Often we don’t concentrate on prayer, for as it deals with lofty things, we think we have no association – which is a mistake. | 138 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – Lisheim Yichud | The reason our sages instituted (or Kabbalah… ) to say “Lisheim Yichud” before a Mitzvah – is for every Mitzvah elevates all parts of the soul… – Now the kelipa derive (or try to) energy, from speech – so by saying “Lisheim Yichud” we counteract. | 2 Matois– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYER – Meditation | Every letter of prayer contains – spiritual worlds, souls and Divinity; and if you meditate to unite these three dimensions, then they unify, and your soul elevates with them. (To give you an idea of the great joy this causes in Heaven, imagine the joy of a marriage, which is nothing compared to it.) | 1. Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – Most Important | The most important prayer (outside of Israel,) the understanding that G-d is everything. | 80 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| PRAYER – NEW INSIGHTS | Every single day in our prayers we should have new Divine insights | 124 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYER – NITZOITZOIS – KESSER | The prayers daily – every day new Nitzoisois (sparks of G-dliness trapped in the physical) elevate, but on Shabbos, in Kesser, they all ascend (on high.) | 148 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Of Baal Shem | “Dear Father in Heaven, we are not the soldiers of the evil satan, called Nega, which stands for the fallen strong (angels) Amelekites – No, we are soldiers of your glorious Shechinah! And we pass before you like true angels! We the soldiers of the house of David, the children of Yitzchok who was bound selflessly on an altar – Remember his children in mercy – and as it states: “Each man traveled according to his flag, each tribe to its fathers house;” so we are imprinted (the Bris,) under the wings of your Mitzvah – Please See To Whom We Belong!” | 416 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – Of Baal Shem | The Baal Shem Tov queries – that we know there is a sin to not say Lashoin-Hara (gossip…) so why would the sages say, that, “Most people sin in theft, and all in some sort of Lashoin Hara?” Answer they – that they are in fact saying a prayer, “Dear G-d, please take us out of this bitter exile, where the forces of evil are so bad, that they cause most people to sin in theft, and all, in some sort of Lashoin Hara! : ( Save us before the mud gets muddier! – PLEASE!” | 8 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Praise | The reason the supreme Divine soul comes into the supreme low body – for what is lower than the earth – for though angels above sing the heavenly praises of God in beauty and sweetness, in love and harmony, nonetheless, when a person below thanks and praises God – because precisely it comes from a body (which has a nature to take…) this to God is sweeter, infinitely better and more loved than all the songs of the highest angels. | 92 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Praising | The Baal Shem Tov once said, on the second night of Rosh Hashanah: God takes incredible pleasure in the praise we simple Jews praise Him, to the extent that the greatest infinitely wise angels have no comprehension (cannot comprehend.) | 170 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Prayer – Preparation | Sometimes prior to Davening (prayer) one must truly strengthen themselves, so they can meditate/concentrate. Some people this works by learning Torah (hence expanding their thinking…) others through saying psalms, and others though neither – as long as a person gets themselves into the right frame of mind. | 35 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Preparing | 66. When you begin to pray you should feel fear – this is the Gateway to enter before God. Say to yourself – whom am I connecting to? – To the Creator whom through His speech all the universes were created and continues to sustain them and create them – and contemplate the greatness and exaltedness of God – and afterwards you can go into the higher worlds. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer – Privilege | Once there was a king who had a custom that all the ministers would come and give him praise – however the ministers were petrified that if the king was in a bad mood… hence they would quickly come, and say their praise and depart – However the king’s son whom the king loved so much knew that no matter the king’s mood, as soon as he would come – the king’s heart would immediately be filled with joy (for love banishes anger…)… Similarly the Jewish people are permitted to continuously praise. | 245 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – Redemption | Just as there is the general redemption of all Jews – there is the personal redemption – and before you pray for the general redemption, you must pray for your personal. | 5 Shemois– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Redemption | We have a prayer that Hashem should Unite Chochmah and Malchus – our mind and our speech – and then the complete redemption will follow. | 48 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Self-Inspired | If a person suddenly is aroused by a Divine inspiration, a great love for G-d (without any effort) this is not a good sign at all. The Baal Shem Tov says, we need to ask G-d, that we should come to him in inspiration, not that we get a gift from beyond, of inspiration – for in such a circumstance there is the attribute of Din. The Baal Shem Tov said, a reason why Moshiach is delayed is because we don’t properly arouse ourselves to love G-d in Ahava Rabbah, which is preparation for Shemoinah Esrei. | Note 66 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYER – SHECHINA | Prayer is called the Shechina, and during prayer one’s intention should be, that we are trying to unite the wife (the Shechina) with her husband. | 126 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYER – SHECHINA – ALTRUISM | The Baal Shem Tov says, that the main prayer outside of Israel is the belief that within everything is G-d – and through this, one uplifts the feet of the Shechina. (ED. Instead of perceiving a separate existence…) Furthermore one should believe, as soon as one prays one is answered – as to the fact sometimes one is not…. firstly the answer may be in a heavenly realm, and it could be that the issue one is praying for is actually in the person’s benefit. If one’s purpose of prayer is just to be answered… then one mixes one’s personal issue into the Shechina… which creates a barrier. | 127 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Shemah | See to it in your daily recital of the Shema, that you concentrate (on the translation / meaning of the words.) | Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – Shemoina Esrie | As soon as one starts praying and says the words “Adn-ay Sifasay Tiftach…” (“G-d open my lips and may my mouth sing your praises” – said before Shemoinah Esrie…) immediately the Shechina (Divine voice) is speaking through the person. When one has the conviction that the Shechinah is speaking through you – certainly a great awe and reverence would be felt. Furthermore it is as if G-d-Himself has humbled Himself to come down to speak these words. | 96 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Step By Step | I heard from my Master (the Baal Shem Tov) regarding morning prayers – that it should be as is written “I wake up the dawn and the dawn doesn’t arouse (rouse) me” – a person must try and exert much effort until Boruch She-amer which corresponds to the world of Assiyah – which is below, the location of Kelipos – and then he should concentrate further from Boruch She-amer until Yishtabach which is the world of Yetzira, and there, there are less kelipos – and from Yishtabach until Shemoinah Esrai you should concentrate further (deeper) and then during Shemoinah Esrei, this is like hugging and kissing (intimacy) and one should undress oneself of one’s physicality, as it says in Shulchan Aruch, see there… – and then one arouses the spirit (Divine) and in this order/manner… a male (in other words, permanent inspiration) is engendered. However when a person randomly receives a Divine inspiration, this is not good, and therefore when this occurs one should have an intense fear (of G-d) and pray from the depths of the heart. | 95 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer – Trust | Believe that as you request of God, you are immediately answered. | 80 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Prayer – Try | God banished man from the Garden of Eden and placed there the revolving blade – there are many evil forces (kelipos) that attempt to block man’s ascension into heaven (during Prayer) but one must continually work at it and remember that the entire world is the domain of God. | 139 – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah Breishis | |||||||||
| Prayer – Try! | 72. Sometimes if a person cannot pray he should not think that today is a washout (impossible…) rather he should strengthen himself, and cuase ever greater reverence (fear) of God (in other words, contemplate matters that increase reverence.) This is an example of a king who goes to war and gets dressed in the clothing of a regular soldier – however the wise people can discern from his mannerism – however those who are not so wise can tell, for that is where the greatest protection lies. Similarly when one cannot pray with concentration, he should know that the kelipos are blocking the path to the King – the King is here, it is only that the guards are blocking – therefore one must in their fear / reverence and deep attachment in order to get closer and pray to God – and then he can pray with great concentration. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer – Yechudim | None of us know, even a fraction of a fraction of the many many “Divine unions,” and holy meditations that the Anshei Kinesses Hagedoila – the great Rabbis who composed the siddur, had in mind with each word. Certainly every Mitzvah we do, has 10s’ of thousands! of very deep reasons and meditations. And therefore what we should do is we should ask G-d to include our soul with those who know. This is one of the reasons – the Ari-Zal said we should say “Hareini Mikabel…” before Davening, to include oneself with the higher souls that do these meditations. | Pikuidei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer (Times) | 16. One should accustom themselves to awaken (presumably to say Tikkun Chatzois and Study Torah ED.) at midnight (Chatzois – which actually varies…) At the very least, ensure that your prayer – be it summer or winter – is before sunrise (Neitz.) In other words, most of your prayer until Shemah, should be before Sunrise – for the difference in praying before or after sunrise is like the distance of east to west. For before sunrise one can easily rid the negative decrees. May this not be a small thing to you – for indeed it is very great (the Baal Shem Tov was very carful to do this – sometimes when he didn’t have a minyan at that hour he nonetheless davened before Neitz.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Prayer = Close | Sometimes a person prays in small (“small” and “large” refences to capacity…) he doesn’t go heavenward. However he is aware that G-d’s glory fill this earth, and like a child feels close – this too is a great connection. | 52 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer -How To | The words of prayer must come from the depths of the heart! | 164 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayer Mitzvos – Lishma – Altruisticly | From doing a Mitzvah – Torah, prayer – with selfish intents – as every thought is a complete “person,” thus is born someone (see below for more…) who will cause you pain. Teaches the Degel Machenah Efraim (in the name of the Baal Shem Tov) the verse states, “If G-d loves someone, even their enemies make peace with them” – Why, enemies? – For some people are simply malicious… – but sometimes the hate that comes from one (even from within their own family,) is because it is offshoots (sparks) of sins they did (that are inhabiting this person) however when you do Teshuvah, those sparks die (so the hate dissolves.) | 62 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayers – Answered | If you wish to know if your prayer has been answered, after your prayer, do you feel joy?! | 167 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Prayers _ Preparation | The Baal Shem Tov told his disciples that before prayers, one should learn a teaching of the Zohar. | 38 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYERS ADVOCATING | When one attaches oneself to the letters/words of prayer, the words themselves speak for the individual. | 130 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying | If a person finds he is able to concentrate during pray, it is a sign that his prayers are answered. | 136 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Praying | My Master explained – regarding prayer and Divine service, there are two types – negative, namely G-d is distancing the person; Positive, that G-d brings the person close. Now when a person says the name of G-d, they are meant to meditate that G-d is the Master (depending on the name) as well as that He is the source of all life, constantly present… – Now can there be a greater unity then this kiss (the feeling of closeness to G-d….) But when a person is being distanced, then he is given distracting (or troublesome) thoughts. Now the truth of the matter is, that the purpose of these troubles is only to cause later a deeper bond (through re-attachment – Teshuvah.) In fact, when a person is troubling another, he’s still present (engaged with the other…) similarly, one should realize – though the sweetness of G-d is better… nonetheless, even when G-d is troubling, He is here. | 134 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying | “One who prays for his friend, his prayers are answered first.” Why? It is known, that in order to “sweeten/overcome the anger” (judgment) one must go to the source. When the Tzaddik uses his intellect (for in perception – not emotion – one can see causes… say a person was reacting out of anxiety etc. etc.) Therefore by reaching to the “fiftieth gate of understanding,” where there is no point of expansion – as the Baal Shem Tov said, something that has no surface area cannot break (like an idea that is fundamentally true – G-d…etc.) hence by being at that level, and praying for another, the Tzaddik causes that he too is first answered (for on that plane, there is no negative.) | 12 Va-yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Praying | 87. Consider that when you are praying, you are going from heavenly room (level) to room – and when you get a distracting thought, this is the Kelipos trying to expel you (from the room) for in each room they judge (if you are worthy to be there.) If a person prays not passionately, then you should place energy in your prayers – and if you pray with energy, then you should check the type of thoughts that has come to you (perhaps this is mainly for Tzaddikim ED.) if it is a bad love, such as Niuf (intimacy) elevate it to its source, which is love for God. For there are but seven types of thoughts (no more.) These are the seven days of creation, and in every day there is evening and morning – evening also has the terminology (in Hebrew) of mixing – that one thinks foreign (distracting ) thoughts; and morning has the terminology of visiting (Livaker) that one is visiting God. 1. There is love for God, and love for sins. 2. There is fear of God, and bad fears, such as hate. 3. There is glorifying God, and there is glorifying self. 4. There is winning (for God, or self.) 5. There is acknowledging (God, or self.) 6. Yesoid comes from connection (connecting to God, or self.) Each of these seven are comprised of ten and in every bad thought, one gives life to the seven nations. And this is the explanation of the “Hidden Medrash” – “the world was falling apart so God said to Abraham ‘its time to build (establish) the world’,” in other words, the emotion of kindness (was needed.) Whatever one is thinking about, whether a bad lust or anger, they give power to these energies. Now if someone is God-forbid thinking about lust – then say to yourself – “what have I done… to take part of the universe of thought and drag it into excrement?!” – In this way one humbles and diminishes this thought (desire.) Afterwards elevate this thought to the world of love, by thinking “if I can love this (desire) say a woman which is a putrid drop (as people come from…) how much infinitely more so should I love God!!” – Similarly if one hears a joke which causes joy – consider this is from the world of love and be very careful to not denigrate this pleasure – for this pleasure belongs to taking pleasure in God – – so actually elevate that pleasure (from the joke ) by saying, “it is from the universe of pleasure.” (In other words, all things begin in a holy space, hence can be elevated back.) Similarly when one is eating (consider the pleasure as emanating from God.) Now when a person must have a pleasure (say from food) this brings a God’s pleasure into all the universes (if a person connects it to God – “the world of pleasure.”) Similarly if you see something you fear – say, “Why should I be afraid of this thing – this person is just like me…?!” – How much more so if you are dealing with an animal – it is only that God’s fear is hidden within this thing – so if that is the case, infinitely more so from God should I have fear.” Similarly when it comes to honor – if you are being honored or if a person is being honored for praying nicely or studying Torah, then be humble before God. And if we are dealing with “victory,” then beat this very trait (to need to be victorious) or use it for being victorious for God. Similarly with acknowledging and connecting (Yesoid) be connected but to God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Praying – Connecting | “Ask Of Your G-d, A Sign / Ois” – (Ois in Hebrew also means letter) says the Baal Shem Tov – ask of G-d that the letters you say in prayer, you should be able to return them to their source. | 83 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Connecting | And this is called Davening (praying ) Lishmah (properly…) To pray for the sake of the words, for the words long to cleave to the thoughts (meanings) and when you speak with love and awe and voice, then the words and the thought realm, love each other. This is like the pleasure a father has from his son, for the thoughts long to come into the voice to be spoken. | 91 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Connecting | If a person learns Torah or prays without love / fear of G-d, the words ascend not (to G-d.) Certainly if one has distracting thoughts…. – these thoughts are actually the result of one’s own sins – from the kelipos. When a person realizes that they are their own sins and thus one is very perturbed and repents (for the spirituality wishes to return to her father) it so causes.109 | 109 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Cosmic | The Baal Shem Tov says, when we pray, we should realize that the person is a small (micro, which contains the macro) universe – so by praying, and realizing that this energy is coming into you, it comes into the entire (macro ) universe/s. | 82 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Cosmic | The speech of a Jew is sort of the realm of speech that gives life to the world – and the thoughts of the Jewish people is the realm of thought. | 92 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Cosmic | Just as a mother wishes for her son to say something clever so the father will fall in love with him (be proud etc.) Similarly the Shechina (Divine “motherhood”) wishes for you to pray with great love and awe and then G-d boast to all the angels… Furthermore this causes all the angels to also praise G-d – as such, best to say at least one word in your prayer, with love and awe. | 93 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Deep | Sometimes we must pray to G-d only with our soul – this means with thought… and the body is pretty stationary… in order to not wear oneself out… And sometimes, a person can say the entire prayer with great fear and love, and passion without actual movement. And it will appear to another, that he is saying these things without any passion. And a person can do this when he is deeply attached to G-d. Then he can serve Him with his soul alone, with great love. And this in fact is even better, and goes quicker, and even deeper passion to G-d – then a prayer that looks outwardly very passionate – such a prayer, the Kelipah has no hold over, for it is all internal. | 70 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Focus | When a person is praying they should crush the distracting thought, and fully focus on G-d. This is like a person who was counting money, and his son came to him saying, “I see you have money, please use it to redeem me.” | 108 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – For God | Our prayers should be specifically so the voice (meaning, the Holy letters containing Divine energy) should return to her father the king – this is like a conman who really has no business coming to the king, but as he is given the task of holding onto the kings signet ring, which the king loves – all the gates are to him open. Similarly a person who sole desire in his prayers is that the words return to her father – all gateways of blessing to him/her are open. | 94 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYING – HUMILITY – ALTRUISM | The Baal Shem Tov teaches: how do we know, if we are serving G-d not through personal motivation (such as honor etc. or reward…?) If after we do the service, we remain as humble. Sometimes the Yetzer allows one to pray with great concentration; just so later he can make him fall into the sin of Arrogance. Similarly the Baal Shem Tov teaches, a person may seek to do a Mitzvah humbly (in private…) so he can consider himself GREAT or worse… in front of others. And the best is what our sages teach – seek out to do both small and big Mitzvahs… – for if a person is altruistic, then the small and big to him are equal. | Note 101. Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – in Siddur | One who is on a low level, far better s/he should pray from the siddur, for the letters add in concentration – however one who is in heaven, far better not – for then the letters disturb. | 45 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Meaning | 76. “I heard from my Master, both when it comes to learning, and when it comes to prayer, if one understands, the words they are saying, and the actual law in his learning, then he attaches Malchus which is speech, to Binah which is thought. UNION 77. The whole point of prayer is to unite the Din (or sweeten the din) of Malchus, by connecting it to Binah. | 76-77 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Preparation | Before one speaks, one obviously must think – before one prays, one should too…. We should contemplate, that our speaking will be the Shechinah speaking through us, and in the Shechinah are all the positive qualities, hence how humble should we become! | 313 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Praying – Realize… | Realize that when you pray, that the realm of speech (above) is speaking in you – such an incredible realm through which the entire universe was made. As it is says, “G-d made the universe though Divine speech” think about the greatness of G-d – that all the life-force of all the universes come through His speech. And He is the realm of transcendence (Yirah,) and the Shechina contracts itself and rests in in your speech, as it states in Sefer Yetzira – “He placed them in the mouth” and if this is the case with the Divine speech, how much more so the Divine thought! – How many awesome pure lights which no man can fathom… so when you think (the words of prayer) realize that this is the contraction of the realm of thought in your mind, in the potential of Chochmah and Bina (your brain… ) Such an infinite realm, one should feel embarrassed (healthy sense of reverence from…) | 90 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYING – SHECHINA | A person should pray for the Shechina, for everything we lack below, is a lack above – and all the great miracles the Baal Shem Tov caused, from blind people being healed, from childlessness people getting pregnant, from death’s door… was all because he would pray for the Shechina above, which would rectify everything below. One should see themselves, as the Shechinah is praying, and in this way one is attached to G-d. | 152 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYING – SHECHINA – FOR THE KING | The Tzaddik perceives that any pain or lack that he or the Jewish people has, is a lack in the Shechina – and therefore he prays for the Shechina. As is rectified above, so is rectified below. When the prayer is for the Shechina, G-d is there. A righteous man prays that His prayers should be for the sake of the Shechina. From such a prayer G-d gives the person (as in the example above) everything. King David said, “A prayer of a poor person – Before G-d, he requests to pour forth his supplication;” that a person’s sole prayer is for G-d. The Baal Shem Tov gave an example – three types of people approach the king – the first one seeing the guards outside, run (from fright.) The second, bribe the guards, but coming to the palace and seeing treasures, the likes they have never experienced, get so caught up, they forget the king. But the third, realize, that compared to the source of all pleasures, The King Himself… (so they go only to the King.) | Note 125 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Thought – Speech | “On Rosh Hashana, three books are open … for Tzaddikim … Benoinim.. Reshayim…” The book refers to the world of speech, and the Tzaddikim connect the world of speech to the world of thought – this is the primary purpose of all their holy-words of Torah and prayer – for in every word of Torah and prayer one must believe that one is connecting the realm of thought with the realm of speech. This despite the fact, one may not receive what one is praying for – nonetheless by praying in such a manner, one likewise connects the heavenly realm of speech, with the realm of thought. When a person begins to pray, they should meditate that, “that what I am missing is missing above…” and when one prays with devotion, then G-d is glorified in the realm of speech. And the glory is felt in all the universes – and upon you too, glory descends. And be careful to not let go of your devoted concentration – to consider your personal greatness (that you pray with devotion….) An average – is a person who prays also for his own needs, if ultimately their needs are there so they can serve G-d… This too unites the world of speech, with the world of thought. | 129 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Uniting | When you pray, realize, G-d is in the letters – for you cannot speak unless you have thought. So these holy letters are the clothing for the King – and through saying them with intense joy and concentration, you unite with G-d. | 84 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying – Yerushalayim | When we pray it should be from our heart – this is our personal Yerushalayim, as the heart – like Yerushalayim – is the center of ourselves (world.) | Note 1 Shemois– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYING FOR SHECHINA – PAIN | A wise person realizes that the pain they have, is the pain of the Shechina – and as they pray for the Shechina, their pain also is healed. | 153 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYING FOR THE SHECHINA | There are two levels in prayer, the lowest is where one is asking for oneself – this is a person of the world… The higher is where one is asking for the sake of the Shechina… and as one is already within the Shechina. As is known, above and below are one – as it is fixed above, so too below. Also this is why often people do not appreciate the importance of their prayers – in which they rectify heavenly realms. | 128 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYING FOR THE SHECHINA | Before prayer one should think about the tremendous suffering of the Shechina, because Jews are in exile. Now during the time of the Beis Hamikdash, sacrifices would atone – and now prayer takes the sacrifices place. If a person sins, this hurts the Shechina – and through atonement, the Shechina comes out of her pain. In other words, through considering the pain of the Shechina in exile – then through prayer, the sins are forgiven and the Shechina is redeemed. A person should always pray that the Shechina should come out of exile. In one place in the Zohar it says that whoever requests for themselves is like a (obnoxious) dog. Yet elsewhere it says that one who prays not for his livelihood daily, is of little faith…? Explains the Baal Shem Tov, that one should realize, that their personal lack, is the lack of the Shechina. Who feels pleasure / pain? – The life-force – the proof being, if G-d-forbid the same person passed… he would sense nothing. | Note 121 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYING FOR THE WICKED | The Baal Shem Tov says, we must pray for our enemies as they are the spirit of the Tzaddik (who is being harassed) in a separate incarnation – and through praying for them, the harshness is sweetened at its source – and one extracts the spirit and what is left, disintegrates automatically. | 156 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| PRAYING LIKE A CHILD – ALWAYS | I heard from my master (the Baal Shem Tov) that though Reb Nechuniah ben Hakana (one of the great Kabbalists) knew all the Kabbalistic names of G-d, etc., nonetheless, he prayed like a child – just to G-d Himself. | 134 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Praying Preparation | When a person begins to pray, he should do so in fear – considering to whom will I be praying to…. – the Master of all the universes, who creates and keeps them going! Think about how great and lofty G-d is, and afterwards he can be in the higher universes. | 58 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Pride | As God is everything (for there is nothing, not directly being created currently) how can evil exist? – Firstly evil often becomes the motivator for Good… Additionally, a person who sees evil can take pleasure (and pride) in that he is different. | 26 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Pride | If one is looking for pride, one should praise God; if one is looking to denigrate, one should do so to oneself; for praise recognizes God. | 54 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Pride | Take no pride in the good you do (have done) – imagine, that it was God. | 55 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Pride | One must have great pride in their Divine service. | 68 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Purim | And these days of Purim shall not pass from the Jews…” Purim never ends, rather literally is reanacted in every generation. | 7 Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Purim | Teaches the Baal Shem Tov, one who thinks that Purim happened… but is not happening… – that currently we are not witnessing the same miracle – of G-d’s continuous watchful salvation… has not fulfilled the Mitzvah. | 8 Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Purpose of Life | The Baal Shem Tov teaches that (as Rabbi Sadiah Goan says) Our main purpose in life is to rid ourselves of all negative (vile) character-traits (in other words, we are born with vile tendencies, say ego, which causes anger etc.) | 24. Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Rabbi – Speech | From the Toildois: – though the whole year one should never admonish, on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the Rabbi) should… – and so have I heard from my Master, Teacher (the Baal Shem Tov). Though there are three types, those who are negative and cause dinim (negative judgment) to descend. Those who are just merciful (so they don’t effect change.) And those who use inspirational words to cause each person to come closer to G-d, and they cause blessings. | 6 Rosh Hashana – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| RATZU VSHUV (SPIRITUALITY/PRACTICALITY) | All of Judaism is ratzu / inspiration, and shuv / performance of Mitzvos, in a continuous, flying aloft / landing, and repeat. | 90 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Reality | Whatever occurs is a gift. | 302 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Reality | It is known that the human is a micro of the macro -the entire universe is your reflection – so be what you wish. | 389 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Reality | The Baal Shem Tov teaches us, that our eyes lie. In truth, those who seem on top are below, and those who seem humble are really high. | 98 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Reality | The paradigm of the Baal Shem Tov is two, which is one: Everything is God and God is everything. | 395 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| REALITY | When a person moves, even their pinky, all of heaven moves! (Explains Reb Mottele Tzchernobler….) because all universes are within the person. | Note 131 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| REALITY | Know that just as dreams follow their interpretation, for the belief in what will occur causes it – similarly thoughts – which is why if you choose to think positive…. (so if you have a negative thought, always come up with a positive.) | 161 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Reality – Speech /Intentions | All speech that people speak comes from the “realm of speech” – and man’s thoughts comes from the “realm of thought” – and when people speak good and connect their intent to their words – then they connect the realm of speech with the realm of thought and cause goodness – and likewise if they speak evil God-forbid – and in this a great secret is contained. A person should accustom themselves to never say bad words which come from the side of anger (Din) rather accustom themselves to always speak kind words, which comes from the side of Chessed (love) so too in our thoughts – And So Do We Accomplish! | 97 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Reality – Your Space | In Ksoines Pasim, “I received from my master, to know if one’s soul is connected to life or death, one need ask themselves what they want… – if it is lashoin hara, jokes etc. or if, Torah and good deeds. | 56 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Reality = God | “I I shall console you” – says the Baal Shem Tov – when you realize that the I of every I is but God, this shall comfort you. | 16 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe | Just as with a fire, if one is too far, one is cold; but too close, one gets burned – so with a Rebbe. | 92 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Rebbe | It is not enough to study Torah, but one must travel to the Tzaddik of the generation. When the Jews sinned, the Medrash gives an example of a king who gave his son two crowns – said he to his son, “My son, you lost one crown – protect the other.” Similarly the crown of Naaseh (obedience) the Jews lost; so protect the crown of “listening” – the main reverence for G-d, we get from the Tzaddik of the generation. | 21 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe | One who studies Torah from a holy vs. unholy (ego based) Rav – the former causes unity. | 61 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe | If one who receives Torah from a holy vs. unholy Rabbi – then The Torah has offspring – increases. | 62 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe | Without attaching oneself to the Tzaddik(im) of the generation, the world cannot sustain. | 73 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe | By attaching oneself to a Tzaddik, he elevates your soul. | 74 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe – Blessing | Those who love (and least don’t hate) the Head of the Generation, then the Shechina and the blessings that come through Him, go to them. The blessings for the generation come through the head of the generation. The Shechina comes to the entire generation, out of the head. | Note 3 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe – Generation | The entire Jewish people are a single entity, Soul and a body – and just as the body needs the soul, the soul needs the body – so separate yourself not from the Jewish people, rather look after them. | 7 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe – Yiras Hashem | When one has awe of a Talmid Chochom (Rebbe…) than to have awe of G-d is easy. | 12 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe – Yiras Hashem | The Talmud famously queries on what Moses said – what is G-d already asking of you, but to fear him?… – Is fear so simple?… And they reply “Yes, for Moses” – and the obvious question is that this statement is being said to the Jews… (not Moses.) Answers the Baal Shem Tov, as the people were attached to Moses – or any people to their Rebbe… therefore Moses draws upon them, fear of G-d. | 14 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe / Tzaddik | The main thing is to connect to the Tzaddik for through him – through seeing his face, one’s own character is improved greatly – similarly by giving to the Tzaddik’s discretionary fund – then all one lacks, the Tzaddik elevates– and also the Tzaddik elevates all of one’s prayers – for G-d longs for the prayers of the Tzaddik – an example of this is, a villager who wished to come speak to the king – but the king didn’t have time for his long-winded request – so he asked one of the ministers who understood how to request – to ask for him. | 76 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Rebbe = Truth | Just as when a person is deeply connected to a desire, then they do this with all their passion… similarly in the world, God sends us (in every generation) a soul like Moses, who is one hundred percent permeated with the truth (there are no foreign desires) To the extent the generation connects to the Tzaddik, is the extent they get connected (with truth vs. false pretenses.) | 370 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Rebbes | The great Tzaddikim have the Shechinah / Divinity speak through them – the opposite of this, is, with crazy people (that lose control of their reasoning.) | 217 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Recall | The Maharam of Kutzi, said that the prohibition to not be arrogant is actually from the 613 Mitzvos – he also said that he was informed from on high one night in a dream that the main purpose of the Torah is “remembrance;” and G-d-forbid the source of all problems is when we forget. | 8 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Redemption – Personal (from Yetzer Hara) | We must pray for the redemption of our soul from the Yetzer Hara. ::: REDEMPTION Through our spiritual redemption, we also gain physical. ::: REDEMPTION The physical exile results from the spiritual. There are two types of slaveries – there is the slavery (or exile) amid the nations and there is the slavery of the soul to the Yetzer Hara – one causes the other… and thereby one loses both. | Note 4 Shemois– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Refinement – Growth | The true way of self-refinement and refining one’s mind to the hallowed wisdom, is through transforming one’s negative into positives. | 236 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Refining | “I place God before me constantly – from my right side He will never depart.” God (‘s name) must be like a friend – just as when you shake your friend’s hand, so your right hand crosses and then is perpendicular to his left hand (as you shake his right hand;) similarly, God’s holiness must effect your left (selfish narcissistic) side. | 58 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Relationships | We should only look positively on everyone. | 302 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Relationships | The Gemarah says, Mar Ukbah sent to Reb Elazar, “There are people that are harassing me… and I have the power to hand them over to the Government…” So he wrote 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 disappear.” Explained the Baal Shem Tov – Reb Elazer gave him great advice – that through studying more Torah, the Dinim will be rectified – the Dinim (harsh decrees) that are within the people harassing… – For the fact that people are harassing is because there is a Din above – this Din enclothes itself in bad people – the solution is to not fight with them… rather to learn more Torah – the inner dimension of Torah… – which is the secret to knowledge – and one should pray with love and awe of G-d, which is literally Daas – and through the Daas and words (of prayer) one elevates above – to unify in the world of thought – in where there are no harsh judgments – and no evil – only good; and 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 are 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 above – and they become rectified in their source – as is known, all that descends below is through letters (of Divine speech…) and through them elevating to their source, the evil falls away… and all becomes good, and then the people who were previously enemies become friends. | Note 152 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Relationships | Says the Baal Shem Tov it is a nature in the Jewish people that when something negative occurs, we rejoice – in this rejoicing, we sweeten the judgement (from the sting / harshness.) If however a person gets angry or seeks vengeance (or G-d-forbid does something cruel etc.) then on the contrary, one is helping the enemy. For the purpose of rejoicing in the negative is, certainly there was a Din (a negative decree in heaven) and through what occurred the decree has averted. | Note 152 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Relationships | Just as a person who is standing over a body of water, his shadow on it is quite large… as he bends, the shadow becomes small, until if he places his nose to the water, the face reflecting him is exactly his (size…) Similarly, when a person is in a relationship with another person, if you act big, the other does – 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 humblest person… that G-d spoke to him face to face. | 15 Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| 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 (desire; though I repress the fact I have it, so as not to make myself appear bad – even to myself) and hence by rectifying that evil – I eliminate it. | 363 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Relationships Growth | If one sees something negative in another, it is a sign that at-least a speck of that evil is in oneself (for we only can see our own evil – even if subconscious). Hence this is a blessing, as it allows me to transform myself (for as the Rebbe says, as we have innate self-love, this blocks our ability to perceive our own negative.) | 302 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Remember | What do you recall?! | 190 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Responsibility | One of the Divine providences of the journeys of the Jews… is that when we are spread over the four corners of earth, it enables those of us in better circumstances, to assist. | 186 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Reveal G-d | The word Olam (world) in Hebrew also means (helem) concealment, this world conceals; and the goal is to reveal (olam) which refers to the Helem Haatzmi, the Divine (which is hidden.) | 117 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Revelation | “In the Beginning God Created Heaven and Earth.” The Baal Shem Tov Explains: The Beginning of our Service is To Reveal God, and this is through understanding the miracle of the creation both of heaven and of earth. | 4 Kesser Shem Tov (From Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Reverence And Love (For God | These are the chronicles of heaven and earth when they were created – the day Havaye Elokim (God the Lord) made heaven and earth” – just as the world was created with the Holy Names of Havayeh and Eloikim – similarly when a person mentions words of holiness – he must do so with love and awe of God, which is Havayeh Eloikim. | 90 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Reward | The Baal Shem Tov gives an example – in the olden days there were foot soldiers who would face the enemy, and horse riders. They would chain the legs of the foot soldiers together – when the battle is difficult, the foot soldiers give their life happily for the king, while the riders can run away. Now if the battle is won, the riders run to take the booty; whereas the foot soldiers are content with but a bit of bread and water – in any event, they can’t carry much, and they rely on the king – saying, “The king who owns it all, will certainly care for his people – after all, it is we who won the war.” The analogy is that in this world, there are those who serve G-d and they draw down G-d’s blessings, then there are those who are materialistic – so those who serve G-d, figure, as they are drawing in the blessings, the materialistic people (who receive from their blessings) certainly will bestow… But the materialistic people say, “All belongs to me…” – So they appeal to the king, who knowing that all came because of the holy ones, therefore to them is bestowed. | 5 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Reward | There is reward for elevating the sparks of Divinity trapped within the food. | 4 Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rock-Head | Sometimes a soul from Atzilus (the highest of heavens) comes to this world – and when he sees how lacking in respect people can be for the great and Holy G-d; he strengthens his own respect, and thanks G-d that he is not like these… The wise shall take to heart… – When Jacob was traveling it says “he put the stones by his head” – for he was saying that he is grateful not to be like a “rockhead” – that doesn’t praise or acknowledge G-d. | 2 Vayeitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rosh Chodesh Nissan | On Rosh Chodesh Nisan – the Baal Shem Tov told the Maagid, “Now is a time of prayer, for on Rosh Chodesh Nisan, all the people (kings, ministers etc.) are appointed” (so determine who will be good for the Jews…) | Boi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rosh Hashana | A general return to G-d on Rosh Hashanah… accepting Him as your king. | 17 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Rosh Hashana | Rosh Hashanah is a Yom Tov – a day of great joy which is why G-d tells us to eat a festive meal. The Ari-Zal (who says one should cry – at least once) this is due to the exile of the Shechina – as it states, “In the time of my great joy, I remember Jerusalem.” | Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rosh Hashana | The Baal Shem Tov teaches, though generally every Mitzvah we do, we should have an equal balance of love and fear of G-d, however when it comes to Rosh Hashanah – more fear. | 37 Rosh Hashana – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rosh Hashana | Whatever we think on Rosh Hashanah… good or bad… actually becomes what is written as our judgment (for the year…) as such a person should a. be careful to think good b. as the satan tries hard to put in bad thoughts… – if you do have a negative thought, transform it to a positive (say fear to hope etc.) and you can sweeten them through the Divine name of A”b or Mesiras Nefesh (ED. Give your desires to G-d.) | 45 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rosh Hashana | One time he commented on the verse, it says, “Seek G-d when He is close, call to Him when he is near…” explanation is, that today in exile it is easier to be answered in prayers – to achieve the Divine Spirit even more than in the times of the Beis-Hamikdash – this is an example of a King. Now when he is in his throne, it is very difficult to approach him – as opposed to when he is on his way; anybody can approach him… even a commoner that is not normally able to come and speak to him. So today in Golus, when a person thinks about his nearness to G-d, then G-d is with him – therefore it is appropriate for a person to distance themselves from desires, Machashavous Zarois / bad thoughts, in order that G-d should not be separate from him. But you should do all things for the sake of G-d – this is the saying of sages, “Stay away from a bad neighbor…” – in other words, stay away from the bad thoughts that dwells in you. | 47 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rosh Hashana – Build The Shechina | 41. The verse states, “Penina had children, but Channah did not have children.” – Penina hints to the Sitra-Achra, G-d-forbid, as the sages say,“Satan and Penina…” and Chanah hints to the Shechina.. and the verse is wailing over the fact of the lack of Tzaddikim… that there isn’t enough righteous people… that are giving birth to the Shechina – that it should have words to boast about their good deeds – people that build it. But the children of the Sitra Achra G-d-forbid, which is “Pnina” are many – for many follow those paths G-d-forbid – they become children of the dark-side to build it up under sins. 42. The verse states, “Penina had children but Channah did not have children.” The verse is complaining about the actions of men that are lazy in doing Torah and deep prayer – because unfortunately the negative side has many children… but the Shechina cannot boast about the actions of the Tzaddikim. As it lacks children to build her fortress – for her main growth depends on the effect of the Tzaddikim to build the Shechina within themselves. Apart from those who intentionally G-d-forbid sin, and hence build the sitra achra. 43. The verse states “Penina had children, but Channah did not have children” – Penina which is Kelipas Nogah, has children, namely emotions of bad (or foreign) love and fears (such as financial etc.) but Chana – Malchus of Kedusha has no children – love or fear. | 41-43 Rosh Hashana – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rosh Hashana = Prayer | As the Satan tries to stop the sound of the great Shofar… – so the individual’s redemption… – as it is written “My soul is close to redemption…” as I heard from my Master that each person should pray to G-d to redeem him from the Yetzer Hara – especially on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Toildois Yaakov Yosef.) | 33 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Rosh Hashanah Prayers | Through distracting thoughts, a prayer is considered invalid… and it’s thrown to the location of the blemished sacrifices… and when one prays on Rosh Hashana properly – it elevates all the years prayers! 39 If we do not have the proper intention / concentration during prayer, the prayer does not elevate – but if we say those same words anytime throughout the year- and especially on Rosh Hashana with concentration, it elevates the improperly prayed prayers we said throughout the year. Note 20. If a person can pray once properly – he can elevate all the impure prayers which remained below (as they couldn’t elevate above) for many years. 45. On Rosh Hashana all the thoughts man had through the year elevate – and they can be renewed and receive a great light – those thoughts that are clearer (or purer…) such as immediately after we wake up, get brighter… – however those thoughts that were not so good, like before sleep, they judge, and cast out. 40. The prayers that are not said properly, are held in abeyance by various Angels until Rosh-Hashana, and then if a person prays properly – they go up to G-d – but if not, it is passed out of heaven, to the invalid sacrifices. The main thing is – on this day to concentrate in Shema… have in mind the 10 Commandments. To renew one’s dedication to G-d. 1. Have in mind -“I am G-d Your Lord”- when you say in Shema “G-d Your Lord.” 2. When you say the word “Echad,” one should have in mind, “You should have no G-d’s besides me.” 3. When you say the words “Vehavata” / “You should love,” have in mind, “Not to take G-d’s name in vain” (for one doesn’t humiliate a friend.) 4. “The Mezuois of your home” – “Do not be jealous.” 5. “You will gather your grains” – “Do not steal.” 6. “You will swiftly perish” – “Do not murder.” 7. “To lengthen the days of your life” – this refers to “Honor your father and mother.” 8. When one says, “Do not follow your heart’s desire” – this refers to, “Do not commit adultery.” 9. When one says, “All my Mitzvois…” this refers to “Remember the day of Shabbat” which is compared to the entire Torah. 10. And in the final verse, “I am G-d your Lord,” this refers to, “Do not bear false witness.” Then you should be careful that you do not miss even one letter of the Shema… – and Adam Harishoin smells all the Shemahs that elevate – and those that are missing (defective…) he puts them into the chamber that is for invalid (sacrifices.) | 38 / 39 Note 20 Rosh Hashana – Baal Shem Tov on The Tor/ah | |||||||||
| Royal + Humble | The Alter Rebbe repeated in the name of his master (the Maggid) “The grandeur (royalty) of the Baal Shem Tov was far more prestigious than the greatest emperor, yet his humility was far more, than how a beggar who lives off a garbage dump, sees himself.” This is the idea that the Divine Light is infinitely high and likewise infinitely low. | 353 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| RUACH HAKODESH (DIVINE SPIRIT) | It is easier to attain Ruach Hakodesh – Divine Spirit (minor prophecy….) in Galus (outside of Israel…) An example of this is from a king, that though he is not in his palace, who will stay because he is on the road (hence though normally this would be beneath him…) at an inn. | 4. Vayeishev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Science | Similarly, scientific discoveries, though they may bring us momentary pleasure, they do not create any satisfaction. | 319 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| See | The world is filled with the greatest Divinity, filled with the secrets of the Torah, with infinite wisdom, and yet like a person standing before the most beautiful sight that has ever been created – glorious mountains – yet his hand is covering his eyes… all he must do is remove his blinders. | 2 Devarim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| See (God) | One should be so attached to G-d, that the main thing he sees is G-d -not that the main thing he sees is this world, and also G-d… rather your main sight should be in G-d, for man can do not a single movement without G-d. | 40 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Seforim | All the Seforim – Holy Books written until the Maharsha – including the Maharsha, were written with the Divine spirit – and because it was written with the Divine Spirit it is literally Torah. | 4 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Selichos | However Elul is a general preparation, but the specific preparation for Rosh Hashanah is during Selichois, when we say, “To you God is mercy and we are ashamed” – in other words, where we specifically supplicate. | 17 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Senses | The eye sees from the spiritual life-force that gives energy for the soul to see (which of-course is both infinitely more sublime and powerful.) Likewise the ear etc. – so one should contemplate, that these are forces bestowed by the Creator – one will certainly not use this Divine life force for narcissistic pleasure. | 35 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Senses – Elevating | The Shechina is called a consuming fire – which destroys all that is not attached to it. The idea is that there are the five senses, of sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell – when we dedicate these senses to G-d – and we are aware, they are the senses of the Shechina- then we elevate all the levels. For example, all of your thoughts and speech of this day – you should contemplate that you are elevating them through the Torah study and prayer. Similarly with sight, movement, sound – that you are elevating the physical in the spiritual- but one who is not aware of this, then he destroys all his sight, sound etc. | 5 Bichukoisay– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| SHABBAT – KASHRUS – 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 effects the sensitivity of the heart – its receptivity to Divine concepts… The second said “Mikvah,” because it effects the soul that comes into the body. And the third said, “Shabbat” for there is great depth in its holy sanctity. And the Baal Shem Tov walked into the room and he 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 | |||||||||
| SHABBOS | See to it that you keep every single “minor” detail of the observance of our Holy-Shabbos. | Kesser Shem Tov (Beginning) | |||||||||
| Shabbos | What is the meaning of the prayer we say on Shabbos “And spread your Sukkah of peace…” – We know the idea of a Sukkah is that it has Schach, which allows in the rays of starlight – in other words, depending on your vantage point, is how many stars you will see – similarly on Shabbos; when the primordial Divine-self rays into the soul (As the Zohar says, “Shabbos is the day of the soul, for souls in bodies” – especially sensitive ones – receive Divinity.) And the main thing on Shabbos is to connect to this Divinity through prayer and Torah study – yet simultaneously this experience is experienced based on the individual’s receptive sensory heart. | 402 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Shabbos | The letters (in Hebrew of Teshuvah, spell Shabbos-Vov-Hei. In The Divine name, the Yud refers to wisdom, the Hei Binah, the Vov emotions, and the final Hei Malchus; Yud and Hei are the hidden realm, and Vov Hei the revealed, on Shabbos the service to God is with intellect, hence the Vov Hei. | 237 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Shabbos | On Shabbos, the light of God is revealed – in order for the heart of the Jewish people to be drawn to God. – Shalom – peace is the attachment of Souls to God – for the idea of completeness and peace is one – to each the radiance of God comes according to their level – for some but a drop, others much – the main point of Shabbos is to attach oneself to God, through Torah and Prayer – and this is what it says in the Zohar – “This day… – the day of souls, but not the day of body” – meaning that the source of souls radiates on the soul in the body – and they then cleave to Him – and this is called the addition in the Neshomoh Yeseirah – and all whose hearts are healthy, feel this. | 83 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos | Once a prince got captured by the enemy and he was forced to be in a debased foreign country with lowlifes – the king desperately wished to save his son and he sent him a coded letter that the son should not give up hope – for the king either through war or peace, will get him – the son was elated – however he thought “how can I celebrate without people realizing??” – said the prince to his buddies “come let us go get drunk at the bar” – so while his colleagues celebrated an outer joy, he was celebrating an inner – and this is exactly the notion of feeding the body delicacies on Shabbos | 85 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos | On Shabbos which is even holier than putting on Teffilin, our whole mind – just as when we wear Teffilin – should never cease thinking about its holiness. | 85 Brieshis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos | One should keep Shabbos according to its law and all of its details – one who does this, even if he sins through idolatry – all his sins are forgiven. A person should prepare himself to accept the holiness of Shabbat. Therefore he should dip in the Mikvah every Erev Shabbos (Friday.) Before this, he should feel great humility, heartbroken, unacceptable to himself, and accept on himself the obligation of obedience to G-d, and to leave all the sins – and to feel disgusted with himself from his many sins. Now he is prepared to serve G-d with love, and all in order that G-d should take glory in him – this is what the verse says, “The Jewish people in whom I glorify…” And the person sacrifices himself for the name of G-d, and through this he will beat the dark side – with trust in G-d, that He will bring back all the Sparks that have fallen, and he has to show gratitude that he has been saved from the depths of the sea, and then he is included in the category “The Tzaddik is the foundation of the earth” -Yesoid – Through this will become great, the greatness of G-d’s Majesty, and His name will last forever and for all generations. | 11 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos | The students of Reb Aron Leib of Primishlamen, were sitting and discussing miracles of the Baal Shem Tov, and the Holy Rabbi was sitting nearby in his room and heard them speaking; He opened his door and said to them – why are you speaking about his miracles?? – Speak about the great holiness and fear of G-d… – for every Erev Shabbos (Friday) at Chatzois (midday) his heart would pound – and all his insides would “bang against themselves” and all could hear – from the great awe and reverence that his organs would feel, from the preparation of Shabbos and the holiness of the incoming day. | Note 11 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos | When we recall on Shabbos that after Shabbos our extra soul will depart, we increase (through the extra focus…) our Shabbos Joy. | 6 Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos | 18. Be certain to keep Shabbos in all her legal requirements – even one who sins in idolatry, by keeping Shabbos perfectly this is forgiven. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Shabbos – Delighting | Why does Shabbos have a Mitzvah to delight her with physical pleasures? – for once the body is taken care of, the soul can! | 107 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Shabbos – Elevating | Erev Shabbos by Mincha, and the time of Kabbalas Shabbas / Maariv – we elevate all the thoughts and the Mitzvos that we did the whole week – for then the universe is elevated. | 22 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos – Love | In all our prayers and study on Shabbos, the main emphasis should be on love (of G-d). | 35 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos – Preparation | We must clear our mind of all our worldly concerns as a preparation to enjoy Shabbos. | 157 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| SHABBOS – Prepare | The Baal Shem Tov says, “there is tilling, planting, and harvesting” – the three days leading to Shabbos,… Wed. Thurs. Fri. – these days are the days of doing everything to prepare oneself spiritually for Shabbos. The lofty spiritual prayers of Shabbos (which are a result of the preparations…) then bear fruit… and draw down Divine illumination that one reaps during the next three days. | 30 Ki Sisa– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos – Purpose | G-d gave us the Shabbos so we should be able to have a free day – to ascend through Torah study and prayer. | 319 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Shabbos – Talk | How come, though it says in the Talmud, our speech on Shabbos should be different (into holier things…) nonetheless it states in Halacha (Jewish law) one who enjoys stories and the like, may chit-chat on Shabbos… The Baal Shem Tov gives an example from a king who made a festival, and ordered that everyone should receive their wish, and one person who lived in the garbage dump, requested simply that he should have more garbage. | 34 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos – Talk | 18. When we speak words of Torah at our table – this acts as a soul to the food – hence we should speak many words of Torah – this applies on the weekday… how much more so Shabbos. | 18 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos – Torah | A Tzaddik’s main pleasure from Shabbos, is from the Shabbos itself – and from the purity of Torah and prayer in holiness, and purity that he performs during Shabbos. Now Shabbos was given to the Jewish people in order for them to have a day free to study Torah – as our sages said, that the Torah said to G-d, that when the Jews enter into Israel, and they will be busy with business / work… what will become of me? (As this was their preoccupation, during the time in the desert.) Said G-d “there is one day, that on it you will be matched…” And this is what we say – “Rejoice in your kingdom oh’ you who keep Shabbos, and call it a pleasure…” and what is the true pleasure? To give pleasure in the Shabbos. “You should be satisfied and take pleasure in its goodness…” this means through the agency of the Torah. For its nature is that the more a person is satisfied from it, the more pleasure it gives them. And this what the verse writes, “More precious than gold and many pearls,” this means the words of the Torah are more precious than gold and many pearls… – For though one may receive pleasure from money, nonetheless they lack the ability to make one satisfied… This is not the case when it comes to Torah, they are more sweet than honey… and unlike sweet food that after one is satisfied, one lacks pleasure – as it says, “Lest you are satisfied and regurgitate…” However Torah Both Satisfies And Causes Pleasure. It also says, “Your servant was Nizhar (careful) in it…” Nizhar also means to shine. For all earthly wisdoms do not refine the person – neither his body nor his soul. And even more so philosophy upon which it says “none who go to her return… neither do they achieve the ways of life.” However the wisdom of the Torah refines both the body and the soul – therefore Adam Harishon before he sinned, our sages state – “His heel was brighter than the sun.” For the sun was created to serve the world, and he was created to serve G-d. And what caused his light to shine…? Through his study of Torah, as it says by Moses – “That his face shown.” | 37 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shabbos Meals | One should speak much words of Torah during one’s weekday meals, how much more so on Shabbos! | 36 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shalesh Seudois | The Baal Shem Tov and his Holy disciples were scrupulous to have the third Shabbos meal and to do so in a public – gathering. | Note 60 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shame – Overcoming | Pretend you are not living on this planet, so what would it matter what people say! | 201 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Shaming | We should never admonish anyone – for all we will gain – hate | 280 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| 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 he just resents him… such a person transgresses a Biblical prohibition. So how can one ensure not to transgress… so, “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 things that he considers according to the Torah, one shouldn’t behave as such – therefore the solution is to go to him and prove that your way and method is correct. “And do not consider him to have sinned.” So if 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.) As you will show him how your manner and method is according to the Torah, you will remove from him the sin of hating. However as you are doing such a great mitzvah, you may say perhaps a harsh word; hence Rashi says on the words, “And do not consider him to have sinned…” you may never shame a person. | 22 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Shavous | The Baal Shem Tov had a great love for the second day Shavous, his custom was that they would wake up early and pray, and then have a small kiddush for 10 close disciples, then at the meal, everyone was invited. | 249 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Shavous | The Baal Shem Tov’s custom was, on the first day of Shavous, to give to all Mashke. | Note 12 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shechina | When you study Torah, do Mitzvos, and pray – do not think that you are doing this, but the Shechina. | 57 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shechina | It states, “Your G-d is a Cohen” – that He serves Himself – how is this? – Because it is He, who empowers the thoughts and speech of man. | 59 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shechina | “And To Levi He Spoke…” the Passuk (verse ) is hinting to Levi – namely a person who is attached to G-d – “He spoke…” That G-d Himself teaches him Torah and toil much he doesn’t have to. | 2 Vzos – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shechina | 8. Always connect your thinking to the Shechina. Only desire her love, that She attach herself to you. Always say to yourself – “when will I be so fortune that the light of the Shechina in me shall dwell.” | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Shechina – Connecting | The two jesters who will inherit the world to come (mentioned in the Talmud) their mission was to connect everyone and their entire life with Shechina.. – apart from people who were morose (as they couldn’t connect to them) that’s why they would first tell them jokes. Note 159 The two jesters would elevate everything from below to above. | 184 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Shechina – Eden | The Shechina is called Yaakov. Eden – this is achieved through fulfilling the Mitzvos which are the 620 Pillars of Light. | 1 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shechina – Humility | If one prays and studies with great devotion, think not, “I did this…” rather, this was done by the Shechina – for if one does – one removes the Yud from Ani (Yud – is G-d and what is left of the letter is A-n, nothing.) | 58 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shechina – Pray For | We mustn’t only pray for our needs, but for the redemption of the Shechinah (the Divine. For our own lustful etc. thoughts (for as all must contain the Divine (to exist – though God in his compassion, grace, mercy etc. gives us freedom) causes the Divine to be captured, which as the Alter Rebbe describes, it is like taking a king and placing his head in a toilet bowl filled with excrement.) | 290 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Shechina – Speaking | When the spark (spirit) of the Shechina descends into man, then man speaks, but it is not him speaking… – the opposite of this is by someone who has lost his mind. | Note 40 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Shema | It is super important that at least for the twice daily Shema, we seek to say it with full concentration – as it states, this prevents all harm. | 143 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Shema | “Shema Yisroel…” the meditation in the oneness of G-d from Shema is to meditate that there is only G-d in this world, who fills the entire universe with His essence, and the main intent is that a person should realize that he is nothing and the only real existence to him is his soul – which is part of G-d, so this means that the whole world only contains G-d – when saying the word “one,” think that the whole world is filled with Him, and there is nothing but Him. | 13 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shema | 19. At the very least ensure that when you say Shema twice daily you do so with dedicated concentration – there is no words to describe how important this is – as our sages say “Whoever says Shema twice daily, all possibly physical and spiritual problems will dissipate.” | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| SHEMOINA ESREI | In Shemoina Esrei, when you attach yourself above, you merit that you are raised ever higher in the prayer – as our sages teach, “he who comes to purify himself is assisted.” And through such a prayer, he merits that he attaches his thoughts above. And from this, he can come to an even higher level that even when he isn’t praying… that he will be attached above. | 144 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Shemoina Esrei | 37. In Shemoina Esrei when one attaches oneself to God, one merits to be raised even higher – as our sages state, “Those who come to purify are assisted…” – and through this prayer, one merits that one’s thoughts are attached to God, and through this, one can merit an even higher level – even when one isn’t praying – that one should be attached above. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Shidduch | The Baal Shem Tov said that when the heavenly announcement is made, “The daughter of so and so, to so and so…” (forty days before conception, this announcement in heaven is made…) then many false matches try to take its place – which it’s not so easy to rid oneself… – therefore sometimes they get spoken about, other times even engagements come – which need to be broken etc. | 20 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shidduch | The Baal Shem Tov explains the reason why it’s permitted to exaggerate when it comes to Shidduchim – because as we know, to make a Shidduch is as difficult as splitting the sea… – so one must give the Samech Mem something. | 21 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shofar | The Baal Shem Tov explains, our cry at the Shofar should not be for our pain, but for our future. | 193 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Shofar | The blast of the Shofar is the sound of the soul crying (longing for her father.) The Baal Shem Tov gives a parable – once there was a king who had a wise son whom He loved dearly, and both the king and the son thought that in order to learn more and acquaint himself with the customs of people, he should travel – so the king appointed many ministers and servants, and together with a large treasure-chest off he went. All this in order so his wisdom would deepen, sensitivity increase – even more than as he was in the palace. As time wore, all his money was spent… both because he was accustomed to such a grand lifestyle, but even more so as he indulged his every whim, till he had to pawn everything. In the interim he ended up in a faraway land where his father wasn’t even known. When he said, that he is the son of a great king, not only did they not believe him; they had never heard of the king! When he realized his luck ran out, he decided to return – but as so much time had passed, he forgot his native tongue… – so arriving at his home country, all he could do was indicate with sign language that he was the son of the king – the people thought he was nuts and he suffered both verbal and physical abuse – in such a state, he arrived at the palace and once again he indicated to the guards that he was the son of the king – seeing such a disheveled, broken and beaten person, they paid no attention, and so he figured he would cry, for hopefully his father would recognize his son’s tone – when the king heard his cry, he was filled with love… “Is this not the voice of my son?” – He ran and hugged and kissed him. Similarly we Jews are princes in heaven, and the soul is sent into a body in order to study, in other words, that through Torah and Mitzvos we achieve a far greater privileged position – but as the body and its desire begin to take hold of us – as we start to seek money and other foolish pleasures, and as we become consumed by this lust/passion, we become so distant that we forget the name of our father – we forget what we are lacking, and we become miserable both spiritually and materially (as one effects the other) – and when we wake up and wish to return to our Heavenly Father we don’t know what to say, so we simply give a heartfelt cry – this is the sound of the shofar resonating from the depths of our soul – a repentance, a regret for our past and a resolution for the future, to adhere to the will and wisdom of God – and it is this sound that aroused the Holy One Blessed Be He and He demonstrates His unbounded love and forgives us of everything (which is the idea of Yom Kippur, and then sitting in the Sukkah, it is like we are being hugged.) | 194 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Shofar | A beautiful example – once a king sent his sons to hunt for him, but they got lost, and they wanted their father to save them, but they thought, maybe we forgot the language (of their father;) So they sent one person just to shout – they told him, “Realize, we all depend on you.” – The same is, G-d sent us to elevate sparks – and the one who blows the Shofar is the one shouting. | 31 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Shofar | All who follow the custom of the Baal Shem Tov, blow 30 Shofar blasts, after the Torah reading, and 30 blasts during the silent Amida (Musaf) and 30 in the Chazaras Hashatz – and 10 in Kaddish before Tiskabel… | 44 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| SHULCHAN ARUCH – Study | The Baal Shem Tov taught us to be very careful to learn the parts of Shulchan Aruch without any explanations, and to teach them to children and certainly older people. Because people don’t know this, the Torah is forgotten from the Jewish people. | 18 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Silence – Wisdom | It states, the gateway to wisdom is silence; for when one is quiet, one’s mind thinks. | 245 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| 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 goodness (a desire for truth and compassion) however when the mind is full, it often covers this innate side.” | 264 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Sin | The reason there is a silent Alef in the word Chet – is because as the wicked person who is sinning, forgets about G-d. | 9 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Sin – Constricted | We sin when we are in a constricted (narrow “minded”) thinking, which itself G-d can cause – to cause us to persevere, so he can reward us. | 34 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Sin – Overcoming Desire | Before one sins one should contemplate, how deep does this sin go? (In other words, it goes deep into heaven…) Furthermore one should contemplate against whom (namely God) he is rebelling. He should contemplate who is watching him, even in the most concealed of places. He should contemplate if he has permission to waste his time. One should continually feel a tremendous fear, dread and panic from transgressing. One should feel a tremendous “depression,” that one demeans God, whose life-force is within him, by sinning; which is the ultimate evil, for he is using God’s gift, against the gifter; and the fact he has this desire, is only a test. Do not do even the minutest part of the sin. Stay far away, even from the slightest Aveira. One must run from doing an Aviera and likewise run to do a Mitzvah, which refers mainly to charity and going to mikvah. Neither you nor your messenger should engage in any Aveirah. When an Aveira comes your way, distance yourself; for by doing one, one then falls down a slippery slope. One should never do simultaneously two Avieros, hence when one does an Aveira they a. demean God, and b. their own soul. An Avaira must be utterly reprehensible to your estimation. Do not be confident… – this means one must continually be vigilant (fearful) of the possibility of doing an Avierah. Despise yourself for having done any Avierah (though as the Alter Rebbe writes, after this, one should request God’s pardon and feel joy – for God holds no grudges.) Realize, by sinning one does not just take oneself down, but as the Rambam says, the world is perfectly balanced, so one sin, destroys the universe. When the Yetzer Hara has you convinced to sin, run to a place filled with people – which will cause you to be ashamed. Contemplate how for every sin there is a terrible purgatory (punishment) and feel broken over what you have already racked up. | 248 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Sin / Punishment | Sin and punishment come together (simultaneously.) | 1 Haazinu – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Sin -Not | The only reason Kelipah / sin, has any Divine life-force (for nothing can exist without G-d continually making it…) so we should not do it. | 12 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Sincerity | “Live-Life – with sincerity.” | Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Sincerity | The simple sincere service of God in the faith based fulfillment of God’s Torah and Mitzvos, that the pious unlearned Jews do – this is a vessel which draws within it, the pure simplicity (for as we know God is uncomplicated simple truth) of God. | 156 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Sincerity | The holy saying which the Alter Rebbe said in the name of the Holy Baal Shem Tov is well-known, that the sincere simple Jew’s keeping of Torah and Mitzvos, due to his belief in God – is the vessel that touches God and creates a tremendous heavenly joy. The simple essence of God comes into such people. | 157 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Sincerity | In truth the greatest Jew must learn from the humblest – for that is the only real true quality. | 160 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Sincerity | If our holiness is pretense… – a way of looking good… – we are very unholy. | 58 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Sincerity | Once the Baal Shem Tov was in synagogue and all the people were praying dearly for rain – as the season had been dry – and one man who was very simple prayed without knowing the meaning of the words but his heartfelt pleas, were heard in heaven – and rain came. | 61 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Sleep | 27. Turn your nights into days – sleep a bit during the day, so that the little you sleep during the night will suffice. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Simple – Divine | Far greater are the humble Jews than the Torah scholars, for the former feel the Divine. | 222 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Speaking – Feeling | When you study or even when you speak regular (mundane) words – consider the emotion you are engaging – Love – Fear – Compassion – Power (Winning) – Acknowledging (Gratitude) – Connection – or some type of Dominion (Authority) and connect yourself to this emotion. | 109 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech | The person who studies Torah, even when they are using their speech for regular things, the speech itself, as it is drawn from a holy-soul, becomes holy. | Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Speech | A person must ensure that their speech has action. In other words, speech must go through seven levels – firstly Bina, that you must think what to say… Then it must go through love and fear, then though Tifferes – when a person wants, it should be a complete word, then the letters combine. And then it appears good in his eyes to say these words. Then one must conquer the others words that wish to (intrude) and one speaks the words one needs. And then one needs Hod – and then Yesoid – this means when his thought is attached to his speech, it is called Yesoid – which is the connection of thought to speech. – And then it comes through the mouth, which is called Malchus. And this is the lowest level – and a person must be on the level that his speech is called action. | 3 Vayikra– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Speech | 88. We must have mercy on the Shechina for when we talk (not connected to God speech) we separate (for speech comes from the Shechina – it is like separating a child from her parent ED.) Normally when speaking one should have a fear of God for the world of speech is the world of fear. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Speech – Dveikus | Even when you speak to someone in the market – your speech must be filled with love and awe (of God.) | 110 Breshis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – God | It is known, there are two types of speech, there is the speech in Torah and Mitzvos and then there is the speech in making a living and drawing someone close – to inspire them – this is in order to elevate the entire world. | Note 89 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Holy | All words can be connected to the Divine – certainly words of Torah (as the Baal Shem Tov mentions, to meditate that within these words is the Divine Author.) Even when talking to a friend… (for letters automatically come from the Divine.) | 373 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Speech – Holy | It is known from the Baal Shem Tov that when we speak, our life-force exits… but when we speak holy things such as Torah and prayer, you get a new energy – similar to Ratzu Vshuv. | 13 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Oir Keli | The Baal Shem Tov said, the letters of speech are called limited and measured (boxed) containers / called Yesh (existence.) How much more so the practical Mitzvos, like Teffilin and Tallis – the containers is called Yesh. And one must draw into it the spiritual light, that gives it life, which is called Ayin (“nothingness.”) For it is soul that comes from “nothing,” from the infinite source of life. And corresponding to these two levels one will receive the world to come, as it states, “To give to those who love me, ‘Yesh,’ and their treasure-stores will I fill.” This is the light of the soul inside the treasure-house, and container, which gives it life, called Ayin. | Note 59 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Positive | Just as a parable is the container of a wisdom, so too speech contains thought – however when a person is disconnected from themselves and they ramble, this speech is connected to kelipos – hence a person must ensure that their speech is connected to their mind, which is in turn sourced in the Divine. | 279 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Speech – Think | It is super-important that you think before you speak. | 3 Vayeishev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Thoughts | “Make your words bright” – when a Jew speaks, he must make sure that before he speaks, he thinks (so his word will be illuminated.) | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Words | Why is the Shechina in Galus (exile?) For “With the words of God, did He create heaven” (in other words, words are source code) and one must use all their words for the sake of God – in order to arouse the speech with which God made the world – that this speech should spread to all the universes. However now through our many sins – all peoples’ speech are about physical pleasure, and even the words used in Torah and Prayer are filled with distracting thoughts or ulterior motives – and therefore the speech is in Exile. | 98 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Words | The Baal Shem Tov said, why is the Shechinah in Galus? For all words come from her – and instead of using them for God, we use them for physicality, pleasure, and lies. | 99 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Words | The Baal Shem Tov said, the Galus of the Shechina is that a foreign (not for God) thought, rides on the word. | 100 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Words | One must feel sorry for the Shechina for instead of using words for God it is used for physicality. | 101 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Words – Elevating | The Baal Shem Tov said “at times when I attach my thoughts heavenward, I allow my speech to say whatever it says (as it is elevated) and at times when I am in the midst of people who are schmoozing, I elevate all their speaking (through attaching myself above.”) | 106 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Words – Life | Speech is connected to the soul, and the soul is God – so when a person uses their speech for good things, then their life force gets replenished. | 102 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Speech – Words – Light | When a person speaks with reverence words of Torah or words of wisdom – this – in every word said – makes a big heavenly impact – and there are Tzaddikim who even when they say mundane words – as we say “the mundane words of the sages, can be studied” – these words make a big impact – and contributes much benefit to God (for as God wishes for the side of light to win…) | 108 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah– Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Spiritual Pleasure | It is known, the difference between physical and spiritual pleasure – whereas physical pleasure, connected to the body, which itself is limited, therefore these pleasures become stale (as is known, “all constant pleasure ceases to be pleasurable”) but as the spirit is infinite.. therefore the spiritual pleasure likewise. | 35 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| SPREAD CHASSIDUS | In our generation, the final before Moshiach, teaches the Baal Shem Tov – it is Mitzvah to reveal the secrets of the Torah – to destroy the thorns from the bushes. | 67 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Start | The harder your beginning(s,) the greater your end(s). | 85 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Stay Divine | The man “human” (in us) is the image of God (our Divine self / soul) -as the Kabbalah says, if an animal eats a person, certainly it is because the Divine image wasn’t seen, and the animal comprehended another (animal,) this image departed due to one’s sins – the Gematriah (numerical equivalent) of Adam (man) is Ma”h (the Divine part of one’s soul) Never foolishly lose your Divinity. | 57 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Strength | 91. Sometimes one must show arrogance for the sake of God as our sages teach, a Talmid Chocham (Torah sage) must have an 1/8th of an 1/8th of arrogance. However one must be super careful that simultaneously one should feel very humble – tell yourself in truth, I am actually very low – and the only reason I am acting arrogant is for God, but for myself I need zero arrogance for I am but a worm and not a man – so why would I need honor. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Study – Remind About G-d | Today when our minds are weak we must strengthen our faith – even during study, every once in a while. | 167 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Sukkah | When we truly sit in the Sukkah for seven days (meaning, use the Sukkah as much as we should – for the law is to do as many activities as possible, besides eating and drinking there) then we draw the supernal-light within (us.) | 26 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Sukkah | When the Baal Shem Tov “pitched his tent of Torah” in Mezibuz, there were many great Rabbis (from ignorance…) who opposed him, and they came to his flimsy Sukkah and told him… “based on Torah it was not kosher…” And he argued the law… – Seeing they were adamant – he put his hand on his head for a few moments, and opened his hand – there was a note written on a piece of Parchment, “This Sukkah of Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov Is Kosher – Signed Matat, The (angel who is the) Interior Minister.” This note was inherited by the grandson of the Baal Shem Tov – The Holy Rebbe of Zdilikov (Degel Machaneh Efraim) and when G-d-forbid someone was ill – they would go to the Rebbe who told them to put the note under the head of the ill person… – and he would immediately get better – – This worked for two years and not a single person in the city passed – and once after this, they put the note by an ill person and it literally disappeared… – and the Rebbe explained that they told him from heaven that from this practice they were not pleased… – for “those who are born must pass…” – Therefore he prayed that the note be removed – and I have heard from verifiable people, that they heard from The Tzaddik Reb Yosky, the grandson of the Degel, that he saw this note. | 1 Sukois – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Taalis | When one puts away the Tallis, one should feel awe. | 6 Shelach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Taalis | 21. “When you put on the Taalis you should see the Ticheiles” – in other words you should sense the fear of God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Taboos | Once we break a taboo 3 times, it seems o.k…. and we need help to even realize what we are doing is taboo. | 82 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Teach | What is the meaning of what Hillel said to the convert, “that which you want not another to do to you, don’t do to them” – the Tzaddik often must descend (from their spiritual high) help those on a spiritual low – so this convert said: “I wish to study the Torah while standing on one foot” – in other words, I won’t need to descend… hence the reply “That which you wish another not another to do to you, don’t do them” – for if you were on a low level, you certainly would wish for someone to elevate you . | Note 60 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Teach – 7 Noahide Laws | “And God Commanded On Man Saying” The Gemarah says – from here we see God commanded, the Seven Noahide Laws – The Baal Shem Tov said, regarding the seven Noahide laws – the Jews are responsible for the nations. | 120 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Teffilin – How To | Whenever the Holy Maagid of Trisk would teach a Bar Mitzvah boy to put on Teffilin, he would teach him to tie the Teffilin straps outward, as well that there should be three on the top part of the arm – and then on the middle, (elbow to the hand,) eight (for the top and bottom count but as halves…) and he would say, “In this manner I put on Teffilin, and so my father did, and my grandfather and so put on the Baal Shem Tov and the Holy Ari, as they received from Eliyahu Hanavie.” | 84 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Tehhilim | The Baal Shem Tov says, that the true simple faith exhibited by a Jewish man or woman saying Tehhilim, is the highest level of connection. | 11 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Tehhilim | When we say the beautiful songs of praise to God, composed by King David (Tehhilim) we shatter any negative. | 72 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Tehhilim | Whoever says the whole book of Psalms, eliminates any negative (Divine) decree. | 73 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Tehhilim | One should say the Portion of Tehhilim corresponding to his age (+ 1) every morning. | 265 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Tehhilim – Elul | The Alter Rebbe told the Tzemach Tzeddek, “I heard from my Master who heard from His, who heard from his famous Master (Achiyah Hashiloini) that from the second day of Elul, one should recite 3 Chapters of Tehhilim daily, and then on Yom Kippur the final 36.” | 244 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Temptation | The Baal Shem Tov quotes in the name of the Ramban – one who wishes to serve God in all their ways, that their life should be for the sake of God – whenever a pleasurable deed comes their way (for pleasure is the great seducer of logic and ethics) you should first imagine that this will give you zero pleasure – then you should think to not do it (or do the opposite) then you will be able to see (objectively, both the side “to do” or “not to do”///) and your decision shall be accurate. This is a great principle in life. | 150 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuva | There are seven ways – based on the seven branches of the Menorah – 1. A person unfortunately is not going in a good path – but realizes not – this is the feminine side of darkness. 2. That one knows one is going in a bad way, but prays not for oneself – 3. That one knows one is going in a bad way but prays for help – this person unifies with G-d. | 3 Behar– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuva | In Kesser Shem Tov – there are seven levels in the Shechina 1. that one knows that one’s level (of spirituality / goodness) has fallen – but prays not 2. That one knows and one prays. 3. That one knows not, and in fact considers oneself, that no one is higher – this is the feminine side of kelipah. | Note 1 Behar– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuva – Cosmic | A person contains sins from previous incarnations, but when one prays for all sinners, then this rectifies their own. | 5 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuva – Elevating | The inner essence of every Sin, which is a desire for some sort of pleasure – is really G-d…. Which is the Inner essence of everything – so when we do Teshuva – we return our desire to G-d… we remove the Kelipah. | 7 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| TESHUVA – Growth | The Baal Shem Tov teaches, that Teshuvah (repentance) is (for-example…) A person who told lies should stop; An argumentative person should act peacefully (and this simple principle of ceasing the negative behavior, which is a perfect repentance, applies to everything.) | 40 | |||||||||
| Teshuva – Growth | When we do Teshuvah – turn our life around – we must do so, step after step, otherwise it dies. | 110 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Teshuva – Joy | 46. When one begins serving God, don’t be too pedantic (about all the details) for this is a trick of the Yetzer to cuase the person fear and sadness… lest he is not doing it properly… – sadness is a tremendous block to serving God. Even if one slipped up and did a sin, do not be sad – just repent and trust that God has forgiven you. And even if you know for certain you are failing in something, do not let this worry you – rather know that God sees all hearts and intentions and knows you wish to serve Him to the best of your ability – strengthen yourself to serve God joyously. Each one of these matters is a great principle. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| TESHUVA – PASSION | When a person does a Mitzvah, they so to say fix the 248 Limbs of the King – they complete the Shechina, and if G-d-forbid they sin, they lower the Shechina, until they do Teshuva. “And your cattle, you will remember…” this hints to Teshuva – 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 male, which is compassion. And one subdues the animalistic drive and breaks their animalistic impulses – and elevates 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 | |||||||||
| Teshuva – Past | To do a proper Teshuva, a person must despise that which was previously pleasurable (desired.) | 36 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuvah | The Zohar says: This Mitzvah of Teshuvah – whoever keeps one Mitzvah properly, it is as if he has kept the entire Torah – for there is no Mitzvah which is not a composite of all… This is based on the philosophy of the early sages who teach, “The understanding of the unity of G-d…”- that “Whenever I touch and hold onto a part of G-d (say Torah etc.) As G-d is one, I am holding, the whole.” | 4 Nasoi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuvah | 43. The main Teshuva is to repent from one’s evil ways. A person should also never think that they are greater. Even a single person who does Teshuva, the entire worlds sins are forgiven. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Teshuvah – Forgiveness | Even a single person who does Teshuva, the entire world is forgiven | 168 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuvah – Redemption | When we are enslaved by our Yetzer Hara, this causes exile, but if we do Teshuva (dedicate ourselves to G-d) this brings redemption. | Note 1 Bishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuvah – Returning | When Adam first sinned, G-d brought him another sin, so he could withstand it, and then repent and be forgiven for the first. However the Satan worked hard on cajoling him – then this happened a third time. After the third time, he had put his nefesh ruach neshama (manifest soul – not essence which is unconditionally pure…) into the dark side – and only by fully uprooting the desire to follow your desires, and returning faithfully to G-d, can atonement occur. | 25 Ki Sisah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Teshuvah _ Transformation | It is well-known – in everything, even wood and stones, there are holy sparks of Divinity. Even in a sin – what is the spark? The spark is the Teshuva (repentance) when one does repentance, one elevates the Divinity, that gave life to the sin. | 167 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| The Path – Torah | You shall tell them the path to go on…” The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a den of thieves, that lurked in a forest – and they would always send one scout out, to pretend to be upstanding… in order to lure unsuspecting people to take the path into the forest, where they would rob and kill the person. The Torah teaches us the way to safety, not the path of our Yetzer Hara. | 4 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| The Three Weeks | 2. During the three weeks, which are difficult times, and the Satan is strengthened then, so it is appropriate to review your deeds… – to ensure they are holy, particularly regarding the Bris (not wasting seed etc.) and whoever does this, receives greater Shechina. | Megilas Eicha 2 – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| The Tzaddik | The Nara”n (nefesh ruach neshoma) of a person incarnates in the seven sefiros – – the nefesh, its light spreads into the secret of his servants and animals – and if a person does evil action, this causes that he has pain from his servant and animals – that the horses and donkeys die… And sometimes through his bad actions, he causes souls to descend into the kelipah – and they incarnate into the physical, and plants. And so his animals graze there and eat that grass, and the souls that are there, cause illness and death to his animals (as revenge…) and when a Tzaddik passes there, he elevates those souls – – then they leave the animals alone, and they get healed. And if one sins in his ruach – speech – lashoin-hara etc. or speaks negatively about a Jew etc…. now we know that holy speech is called a unity – and the opposite in Lashoin Hara (ED. A separation.) So G-d forbid one who talks Lashoin Hara effects the Vov … and his is a sin worse than idolatry, murder, and adultery – for the person literally spills the “blood…” the visage of his fellow. And the Shechina cannot shine – – this is a general sin, and he removes all the energy and radiance that is in the Shechina. From this, bad people come and talk bad against him and this breaks him – and the person also has problems from his wife – and in direct proportion to ones’ negative effect – so is one’s suffering – – and through his suffering, the person whom he criticized becomes appeased, and he forgives him. And this about a Tzaddik who just happened to speak negatively about another (like accidently…) but a wicked person who indulges in malicious speech – he lives in this world peacefully, but his soul is cut off, and loses any connection to existence. And if one sins in their Neshomoh – and the Neshomah dwells in the mind… and the person’s thoughts, which is where the semen (the source of it) comes from – so one who sins in thoughts, causes pain from his children. And in all the Sefiros and emotions, one can elevate the nara”n (nefesh, ruach, neshomoh) except for malchus, for that is where the kelipa derives… it is therefore difficult to elevate from there the holiness. For one needs great faith and to withstand many tests – and to be firm in their convictions, that in every single negative experience, G-d is with him – in other words, “for him.” –And one should believe with complete faith and trust in the name of G-d, and rely on his G-d in all matters – and in this way one handles the evil of his friends, and accepts it with joy. And the principle that 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… that every Jew who caused you suffering and speaks evil against you becomes a Baal-Teshuva, even a gentile converts… – however if one doesn’t do this, but casts them aside and causes upon them Din – they become coarse, and hate him even more. And this is a punishment for a Tzaddik whose not completely good – for all who hate him and cause him mental pain, actually come 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. So this being the truth, why should the Tzaddik cast them aside – they cause him life in this world and the next… Therefore with all his effort, he must fix them – and cause them to shine his light upon them – and to 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 – and one shouldn’t be angry (and cause judgement on them, even between oneself and G-d…) On the contrary, one should pray for them and see miracles – and the good will return to be his friends. And this is the idea of Moses, the true Shephard… and then he gave them the Torah, and they became his disciples. The Baal Shem Tov teaches, that there is the world of thought from where all thoughts come to a person – there is the world of speech from where speech comes to the person, and there is the world of action, from where all types of action come to the person – now if a person sins in thought, then the person has trouble from their children, for they come from his thought (mind – the seminal beginning of the seed). If a person had no sins in his thoughts, his sons would be connected to his brain – and his thought would envelope his children – however when a person sins in thought – then his thought departs from his children, and he has pain from his children (which is measure for measure – midah cineged midah.) And if one sins in speech, then one has pain from one’s wife – for woman is the secret of speech – for the woman is like the mirror who understands her husband…. and when one’s speech is complete in Torah and Mitzvos and faith, then one has Nachas (satisfaction) from his own speech, and when one has faith, one has nachas from their speech – and similarly the wife has Nachas from him, as she comes from the world of speech. But if one sins in speech, which includes voice (sound…) one has pain from one’s wife. Similarly with action, one who is complete in their actions, one doesn’t have pain from their possessions – and therefore when one does a Mitzvah (action) one must ensure that their intention (thought) mind, is connected… – But when one’s thoughts, speech and action are disconnected, one suffers. | Note152 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Think | Only when you think what you’re thinking about – do you know. | 1 Devarim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Thinking | One must connect Hashem and the Shechinah which is when you connect your thought to your deeds. | Note 3 Vayeishev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Thinking – Be-ware | Whatever you are thinking about, is where you are. | 275 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Thinking – Good/Bad | Whenever you have a bad thought, you must know it comes from evil. | 162 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Thinking – Positive | Whatever we think about, we manifest (like the law of attraction, hence one must think exclusively positively.) | 283 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Thinking – Positive | When a person thinks negatively, they constrict themselves – for wherever a person’s thoughts are, there they are – within a narrow “bandwidth” preventing the infinite blessings of God (similarly when a person thinks of physical things, he descends there.) | 97 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Thinking – Transforming | I also heard from the Master, we serve God in thought – for by transforming a negative to a positive, we thus have the oomph to do positive. | 302 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Thinking – Watch “out” | Whenever you think about something, you are one hundred percent “THERE!”. | 56 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Thought – Action | Whenever you connect thought (which is connected to G-d) with action, Malchus (the lowest level…) you should have in mind to “sweeten the judgment…” (bring joy to the lowest…) traversing from the highest heaven to the lowest earth. The goal is to connect thought/intent which comes from the right side, to action (Malchus) which comes from the left side (sweetening her judgment.) Thought is called Ayin (Divine) while action is called Ani (I – ego.) You need to connect your actions with your soul, which is your thoughts (this sweetens all judgments.) Action is called the body, and intention/thought is called the soul. Connecting intention and action is the greatness of Moses. | Note 154 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Thoughts | When we are thinking positive, and connecting to G-d, we are connecting this universe to G-d – but G-d-forbid if we are not, it is as if we are worshiping idols. | Note 5. Terumah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Thoughts – Bad To Good | Every thought comes from one of seven categories (as we know there are seven emotions and emotions cause thoughts – love, fear, beauty, victory, sensitivity, morality, humility) and in every emotion there is a positive and a negative (for example positive vs. negative loves, positive vs. negative fears, positive vs. negative victories etc.) Whenever a thought from the negative side comes to you, you should tell yourself, “how low have I fallen?…” For there are different realms, the realm of negative emotions comes from the excrement vs. the realm of thought, where God resides; By having this meditation, you destroy that emotive thought. And then you should think, “if I can love this emotion (lust etc.) then how much more so must I love my dear beloved God,” and this way you return yourself to the world of pristine thoughts. | 406 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Thoughts – Intent | A person who speaks without thinking, this is as grievous as the sin of one who emits wasteful semen (as is known, the thought one has during intimacy effects the child, and if one thinks foreign thoughts, this created a foreign child.) | 44 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Thoughts – On G-d | We should always – even in middle of work, have at least a small part of our thought on God, for like a coal, as long as there is a single spark, it can fan. | 217 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Thoughts – Reactions | In Shoishanim Lidavid he writes: the Baal Shem Tov explained, where a person’s thoughts are, that is where he is connected to – if he thinks angry thoughts, he is connected to the realm of din (anger, and he will be judged…) if he has trust in G-d’s plan – he will receive blessings – hence a person should always be connected to G-d. | 56 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Thoughts + Actions | Chanoich was a shoemaker – literally sewed shoes – and in each stich he made, he connected G-d and the Shechina. Explains the Baal Shem Tov: thoughts come from the higher name of G-d, Havayeh (they contain the aspect of infinity…) whereas action is a limited (to a time place) dimension – and the goal is to connect your thoughts to your actions. | 179 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| TIFFERES – UNDERSTANDING G-D | Avrohom Avinue was a man of love, as such he realized that this world was built through a Creator’s love. Yitzchok understood from his father, but wished to dig deeper and he came to understand G-d-Himself, hence had tremendous fear/awe/reverence. But Yaakov understood with his mind’s eye that it must be that there is an intermediary force – for total love or total strictness would not allow the world to be… (total love would allow evil, and total strictness, no free choice…) So he understood there is a middle path called mercy – and this is why Yaakov is “The chosen of the forefathers” – and this is how the world continually – and we, function. | Vayeitzi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Tikkun | 83. Be very careful to awaken at Chatzois (app. midnight) and connect day to night (in Torah study or prayer.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Tikkun Chatzois | (This may apply only to holier men…ED.) One should be exceedingly careful to always get out of bed at midnight and turn one’s night into day – one should perhaps sleep a drop during the day, so this little bit of sleep at night will suffice. | 234 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Tikkun Chatzois | “When you go to sleep, and when you rise…” a person should accustom themselves to wake at Chatzois (midnight, to study Torah – this midnight is actually the exact time between nightfall and sunrise.) | 77 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Tikkun Chatzois | When you wake up at midnight and you get tired – you should walk back and forth and sing songs of praise, and raise your voice to remove the sleep. | 78 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Tikkun Chatzois | Be most careful to get up in middle of the night and transform your nights to day, and sleep a few hours in the day… – so but a few nightly hours, is sufficient. | 79 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Tikkun Chatzois | 26. Be very scrupulous about getting up at midnight (Chatzois) if you don’t, and have no excuse, you are shunned (from above.) | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Tikkun Chatzois | 28. When you awaken at Chatzois and get drowsy – walk from place to place in your home (sing songs – raise your voice – to remove the drowsiness.) Study many different Torah subjects (not just one, lest it becomes burdensome) study many different things. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Tikkunei Zohar | The Baal Shem Tov encouraged good people to daily study from Tikkunei Zohar. | 68 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Time-Management | The Baal Shem Tov teaches, one of the problems we have is not having an organized methodology (time-management) to our Divine service – one must regret (Teshuvah) this, and make a positive resolution. | 178 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Tisha Bav | On Shabbos Chazon (the Shabbos before Tisha B’av) even if it occurs on Tisha B’av, at the third meal, it is our custom to eat with the whole family – and to eat fish and meat… – so do those who follow the way of the Baal Shem Tov act. | Megilas Eicha 1 Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Tishrei | We should eagerly anticipate the month of Tishrie and its festivals (not habitually.) | 34 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| To Serve – God | The Baal Shem Tov says, even the simplest unlearned Jew can and must become a Servant of God. | 162 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Too Busy-To Sin | When one serves Hashem all the time, there is no time for boasting, and the other negative character desires. | 201 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah | The Torah restores (revives) the soul – when one approaches the study of Torah with pure faith and fear of God, then the light of the Torah revives one – it gives a tremendous appreciation for the greatness of God. | 59 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah | The Baal Shem Tov says, every Jew has a Torah light that shines through him, it is with this light that he goes about his daily activities and most importantly imparts the Torah (the Previous Rebbe mentions, that strengthening Torah education – giving children a Torah education, is what saves them from the darkness and disgustingness of societal denigration.) | 210 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah | “ANOICHI” stands for “I Have Written And Given My Soul” – “My Soul” Is the Torah. | 9 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah | The Baal Shem Tov says, that if one drinks from the sweet waters of the Torah versus the bitter, this creates life versus G-d-forbid the opposite. | 4 Mase– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah | The question is well-known – how can it be that a great Torah scholar studied for weeks to understand a Jewish law, and then even a common person grasps it (without communication….) Explains the Holy Baal Shem Tov, this is like a pot of gold which resides on-top of a cabinet – which was beyond anyone’s reach – one very wise man developed a system to bring it down and placed it on a table… and now all can come and get it… Every novel Torah insight is under G-ds’ throne, until it is revealed, often through toil. | Shir Hashirim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – After Prayer | After praying we must immediately learn. | Note 52 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Ascending | The Baal Shem Tov once came to a Torah study Hall and he said, that he cannot come in, because it was filled with Torah and prayer – so his disciples wondered – “how can that be – what can be better than that…” – so he explained to them, that if one’s prayer is done with love and awe of G-d, then it ascends… – but if it is done only for selfish reasons, it remains below. | 55 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Benefit | However the Torah, not only does it give us pleasure, not only does it gives us satisfaction, it furthermore refines, elevates, and brightens our life. | 319 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Break To Remember God | When we study Torah, every hour we must break in order to unite ourselves with G-d (as the Alter Rebbe says – have the meditation – that we study the Torah to unite with G-d) although during the study – as one is focusing on the content – one cannot attach to G-d… nonetheless the Torah itself purifies the soul – it is the Tree of Life for those who study it. | 24 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Business | Business is also Torah / Avodah, for in it there are many laws… – the Baal Shem Tov said – If one learns Torah for the sake of G-d… for example, the law of one who exchanges a cow and a donkey…- This to G-d is exceptionally precious… – how much more so if one actually does it! For everything in this world was created but to fulfill – the vision of Torah… – and in everything, one can envision G-d, and see the miracles of G-d – and comprehend from it, deep wisdom – Furthermore by not cheating, lying, theft, we are also doing the will of G-d… – hence in this way even in business, is Torah. | 5 Behar– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Connecting | When one learns Torah with awe and love, one attaches their soul to the Rabbi’s soul, hence his source in the Divine. | 320 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Diveikus | 29. When you study every hour – take a break in order to attach yourself to God – and then continue. Although during learning one cannot connect (contemplate) God – nonetheless one must study Torah for the Torah purifies the soul – and “it is a Tree of life for all who hold onto her” – and if one doesn’t study, their connection (Diveikus) to God will dissipate. (If this bothers a person, that when he is studying he is not Bidviekus – contemplating God) consider that when one is sleeping or down, they are not, so should the study of Torah be worse than this? Nonetheless one should ensure that hourly one does take a break for Divkeuis – connecting. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Torah – Elevating | When someone learns Torah not for the sake of G-d, but when they later learn it for the sake… – it elevates the previous. Additionally the Tzaddik of the generation can elevate everyone. | 5 Pinchus– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Elixir | It is written “G-d’s Torah is complete – it restores refreshes the soul.” G-d’s Torah is consistently complete – nobody has actually even begun to touch it – for it continuously revives the spirit of the person who studies with a new energy. Whoever studies the Torah with sincerity – it is, as if he has never begun, and then it revives. | 29 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Eternal | “Jacob never died” – the Torah is called Jacob, and just as we say regarding Jacob, “he never died” – the Torah is eternally forever. | 6 Vayechi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Even Mistakes | One can read the Torah making mistakes, but knowing its light – as one cherishes the Torah, this brings G-d joy. This is like a parent who though his young son is stumbling over the words, but he is so happy to listen, and fulfil his requests. | Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – How | 51. When you study you should do so with great energy and joy and this will lessen distracting thoughts. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Torah – How To | A person who studies Torah, must always bear in mind…. that the Torah is Divine. | 12 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – How To Study | The Baal Shem Tov teaches, there were some businessmen traveling and they lost their way – being stuck in a forest, they went to sleep – they happened to meet some people and they asked them for the way, the first group were kind and told them; the second group were thieves and they led them to their den. Similarly, we come to this world like that lost businessman – the words of the Torah are the people who find us – however if we study the Torah searching for the truth, it will lead us – however, if study the Torah searching for ego, we will end up in the lowest hell. | 137 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – How To Study | Just as the world was created with the two Divine names of Haveyeh and Eloikim, similarly, whenever we study or pray, we must do so with these two names which represent respectively, love and fear (of G-d). | 294 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – How To Study | “And God planted a Garden In Eden and He placed there man” – though no verse is not also literal – that God placed him in a physical Gan Eden – nonetheless the Holy Zohar explains – that Gan represents the 53 Parshas of the Torah – and based on the Zohar, this is the explanation – God planted 53 Parshas of the Torah in Eden (which also means pleasure) in the beginning – meaning that before Creation, God took pleasure in the Torah – and God taught Adam Torah – in Gan Eden, as it states “To work it and protect it” – meaning to work it – this is the Mitzvahs Asei (positive commandments) – and to protect it, these are the prohibitions – God is teaching how to study Torah – whenever one studies Torah, one should seek to take out lessons in Yiras Hashem (growth etc.) but one who hears Torah and decides this I like or this I don’t, like going to a musical production… – this is called the Tree of Knowledge (“this is good/bad…”) The day we study in this way we shall surely (spiritually) die. | 117 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – How To Study | When we study we should do so with energy and great joy – this minimizes distracting thoughts. | 20 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Humility | The Baal Shem Tov teaches, when a person is arrogant, hence desires superiority, hence instead of loving, they look askance at anyone who they deem unworthy; this causes that their Torah study – itself limited to the simple meaning, not the remez, drush and soid – is worthless. | 118 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah – Humility | Once the Baal Shem Tov took his disciples to a far flung town – in this town lived a skinner (of carcasses) who was very devout and would constantly say Tehhilim – and there also lived a sacred hermit who would study Torah non-stop, and removed himself from all worldly affairs. The Baal Shem Tov took his student to the home of the skinner and asked his students to place their hands on one another’s shoulders and then he closed the circle and they were astounded to see the heaven in store for this man – then they went to the house of the hermit who had amazing mental abilities and would be able to teach anyone anything, in fact, he would often say “This I heard from Elijah the prophet…” and once again they formed a closed loop and they saw snakes and scorpions (the result of his arrogance.) Explained the Baal Shem Tov, though it says, “if one fasts for thirty days they will merit to see Elijah,” nonetheless they will not merit to see their own soul. | 126 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah – Humility | The Baal Shem Tov explains the bizarre statement that “whoever dwells in Israel it is as if he has a G-d, whoever dwells outside of Israel, as if he is G-dless…” that when he studies Torah and is connected to G-d… but when he disconnects… | 36 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Infinite | The Torah is complete – no one has taken anything from it (expropriated…) for the Torah restores (revives) the soul – when one approaches the study of Torah with pure faith and fear of God, then the light of the Torah revives one – it gives a tremendous appreciation for the greatness of God. Therefore the Torah remains complete – no one has touched (in other words, it is an inexhaustible supply of Divine energy.) | 59 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah – Interesting (keep it | Learn many different Torah classes / (variety of) subjects, so it doesn’t become burdensome to you. | 23 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Legacy | Whoever rejoices in the study and sharing of the Torah (studies) is fortunate that their children and grandchildren will likewise. | 82 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah – Letters – God | The idea of learning Lishma… – Everything of Creation big or small was created through 231 gates – derivatives of the 22 letters – when a person sins they lower the Holy Souls, which are these Holy letters from their place – The source of life to the Kelipa. And when a person rectifies and studies for the sake Lishma, which means for the sake of that letter – which he caused to descend below – he elevates the soul from the Kelipa and attaches it to its source. Now from the level of Kelipa to its source – there are 10’s of thousands of levels, therefore he elevates all these levels, till the source. | 35 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Life | “See I place before you life and death.” In the Torah there is life, when you are attached to the inner dimension – not just what is pleasurable. | 1 Re-eh – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Lishma – For good character | The Tzaddikei of Karlin say – in the name of the Baal Shem Tov, that the main study of Torah Lishmah, is to study Torah in order to learn from it good character-traits. | 54 Veschanan | |||||||||
| Torah – Lost & Found | An example for the letters of the Torah… Once there were businessmen who were traveling in the forest and they got lost, and they went to sleep… – so some people found them, and they led them to a den of thieves. While others found them and they lead them on the straight path. Similarly, the letters of Torah are lost in this world – and those that use them, and are inspired, they elevate the letters – and those that G-d-forbid use them to feel arrogant, they denigrate. | 32 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Lshma – Letters | The main study of Torah and prayer, is that one should attach oneself to the inner essential spirituality of the infinite light – which is inside these letters, which is called “learning for the sake of G-d, Lishma.” This is what Rebbi Meir said, “Whoever studies Torah for the sake of its name – Lishmah…. receives many things.. and it is revealed to him secrets of the Torah.” In other words, that he will know the future, and everything from the Torah… and you will know how to behave in serving G-d, and you will see the heavenly realms. | 36 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Money | If we neglect the study of Torah, while we are wealthy – we may then be forced into poverty- so we can’t have the excuse… but if we prove ourselves able to study during poverty, we may be granted wealth. | 6 Bichukoisay– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Not in Mood | Whenever you learn Torah, understand that even if you are not so into it… your soul rejoices. | 364 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Passion | When the great scholar Reb Dovber heard about the Baal Shem Tov that all were flocking to him and many were healed from his great prayers – though he was an incredible scholar in all of Torah, he decided to go see for himself (and test him;) as he arrived, the Baal Shem Tov told him what appeared to be simple (though very deep) fables – he decided to leave – at midnight the Baal Shem Tov sent his attended to ask the Maagid to come to him, which he did – he said “You are knowledgeable in Torah, correct?” – “Yes.” – He asked his attendant to open Eitz Chayim (a Kabbalistic book) and he asked the Maagid to explain – the Maagid did – the Baal Shem Tov told him, “You don’t understand” – so he explained it again, and the Baal Shem Tov said “You don’t understand” – so he said “If the master has another explanation, please tell me” – so the Baal Shem Tov told him to stand, which he did – and then the Baal Shem Tov read it – and as he read it, all that it was speaking about, Holy names of God, angels… all manifested – he saw a great fire etc. – the Baal Shem Tov said “Your study lacked your soul” – and then the Maagid became his disciple. | 8 Baal Shem Tov On The Torah (Intro) | |||||||||
| Torah – Paying For | “Though you may be in the distant far-flung corners, from there I will gather you,” the Baal Shem Tov explains that though it is higher to have a complete altruistic service of G-d, but if a person serves G-d, and they even have a partial positive intention – for example someone desires to study Torah for recognition, but meanwhile also helps pay for a Torah study partner (hence the Mitzvah of charity…) this too is good. | 9 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Proper Study | A teaching on the Mishnah, “Whoever learns Torah Lishmah (for its sake) merits many things.” The Ramban told his son, a sign that you are studying Torah “Lishmah,” is when you feel great awe and love (for G-d, then.) You see, every letter of the Torah is intimately one with its Creator. When we study Torah lacking Divine (but rachmanah litzlan personal) intent – this then takes the Divine into the place of kelipah (death.) However if one then restudies this Torah with the proper awe and love, it elevates these letters from death. | 126 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Pure | When you study, do not think about any benefit, neither for this world or the next – only for the sake of G-d above – this occurs when you first have fear of G-d. | 53 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Rabbi | Whenever you study, and you mention the name of the Rabbi, you should have in mind, as if he is there, and then his energy will permeate you. | 30 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Rebbe | Note 48 One who studies Torah from a holy vs. unholy Rabbi, in the former, there is unity. One who studies Torah from a Tzaddik, though he may receive an outer wisdom, its inner light penetrates. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that from a Tzaddik – the Torah not only penetrates, but gives birth to ever deeper insights. | Note 48 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Refining | A Torah teaching, banishes the negative. | 379 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Remember God | Another great principle is there shouldn’t be over-studying – for the earlier generations, when their minds were great and they learned Torah in great holiness – they didn’t have to focus on fear of G-d – for it was always with them. And they could study much – but we whose minds are much smaller… – if we stop thinking about G-d, and only study, we can forget fear of G-d. And fear is the main thing – as is it says “Fear of G-d is your treasure!” Therefore we should minimize our learning, and think only about the greatness of G-d – in order to love and fear Him. Do not think many foreign thoughts, but one,.. | 28 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Stories/Lessons | Once there was a king who sent his son to a distant land (to tour.) But eventually his son became a native and didn’t return – so the King sent important ministers, but the son wasn’t interested – so he sent many other delegations, but no one could change his mind. Eventually one wise person, dressed up as a native, and became his friend, and convinced him. This is a parable the Baal Shem Tov gives, explaining the stories of the Torah (in other words, these are not tales – rather as we relate to human experiences, they are actually examples of behavior.) | 144 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Study | The first judgment against man (in heaven) is for not having studied Torah, and man complains, “But I was too busy…” but the long summer days and winter nights, show otherwise. | 83 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Study From Tzaddikim | One must be careful whom they study from, for if their master (Rabbi) comes from the soul source of unity (Divine light) then they receive unity. | 23 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Study! | The beginning of the Judgment in heaven (on the soul that arrives) is whether they studied Torah, and though people complain they had no time… – the winter night proves. | 1 Emor– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Teach | One must teach every Jew, even those completely distant, for every Jew’s soul has come to transform himself into God’s vessel/vehicle. | 141 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah – Teacher | 66. Once a man came to the Baal Shem Tov and he told him what our sages teach, “If a man is like an angel, then you should from him study” – – “But how does one know?” – So he explained, that the nature of an angel is that its spiritual level is stationary (it doesn’t go down – fall) now though even a great Rabbi has more expansive and constricted times… nonetheless his original high level is never low (in other words, even when he is lowish, he still high.) | 66 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Teaching | The verse says, “New and Old, My Beloved prepared for me…” – Said the Baal Shem Tov, “New and old insights (wisdom) G-d prepared for me…” – but his disciples queried, “You teach us…?” (So it seems… it’s not for you…) He gave them an example of a barrel that because its overflowing… | 19 Shir Hashirim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – Teaching | When one teaches Torah, the goal is not to enthrall the audience but to inspire (with meaningful lessons.) | 319 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Teaching | There is expansive and contracted in the three primary realms of space, time and soul (times when we are secure and open, and insecure and fearful) this is why, before teaching one should tell a joke – or connect positively, for this opens the heart of the recipient. | 366 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah – Teaching | When a person dedicates their life to teaching others, this is what accompanies a person in the hereafter (both in Gan Eden and Tichias Hameisim). | 39 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah – Teaching | 93. When you teach another Torah, first connect to God and as your friend’s soul to God is also connected – for every person lives but from His energy… consider you are saying these words only before God, to give him a pleasure – it is not speaking to my friend… – for what difference does it make if he praises or shames me. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Torah – Truth | When the study of Torah is for the sake of arriving at truth – then G-d is there. | 1 Balak– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah – With Humility | Those who study Torah, and most specifically those who teach (even more specifically those who Pasken – giving Halachic rulings) must pray with great beseeching that God should grant that they discern (for unless one is humble, the conclusions they arrive at are false.) | 230 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah – Yiras Hashem | Another great principle is there shouldn’t be over-studying – for the earlier generations, when their minds were great and they learned Torah in great holiness – they didn’t have to focus on fear of G-d – for it was always with them. And they could study much – but we whose minds are much smaller… – if we stop thinking about G-d, and only study, we can forget fear of G-d. And fear is the main thing – as is it says “Fear of G-d is your treasure!” Therefore we should minimize our learning, and think only about the greatness of G-d – in order to love and fear Him. Do not think many foreign thoughts, but one,.. | 27 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah & Mitzvos | “All Torah that one performs not with it work…” – in the end it will dissipate – this means, that if we have a chance to study and do a Mitzvah, and we neglect. | Note 64 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah & Mitzvos | There is a great example from the Baal Shem Tov – a father warned his son not to go barefoot – now the father’s intent is the son shouldn’t hurt his foot… – the son wanting to go barefoot but afraid of his father goes with shoes, but if he is smart he understands that this is in his own interest – similarly the commandments. | 27 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Torah & Mitzvos – Intention | Note 9 A person who serves G-d altruistically, all of his Torah become Holy, but if one serves G-d selfishly (for ulterior motives, such as recognition or simply serves self) then all their Torah and Mitzvos are trapped in Kelipah, and they need to descend (reincarnated) in order to once again do it (with proper intent) and then they elevate it. | Note 9 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah & Mitzvos – Proper Intent Shabbos – Proper Intent Rosh Hashanah – Proper Intent | The Baal Shem Tov quotes the teaching of the Kabbalists: All study of Torah, prayer and Mitzvos, should have an equal balance of love and reverence (for G-d.) However on Rosh Hashanah, our reverence should outweigh our love. And on Shabbos, our love over our reverence. | 130 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah / Prayer | There is the compassion a father has for his sons, that even if his son has everything, but if there is a minor thing he needs – he will give it to him… Then there is the compassion that a king has on an impoverished villager – this compassion is because he is in major need… Then there is a pain a king has for his sons’ (pain.) The difference between the first and latter two is, while the former is constant, the latter are dependent (for if the villager is o.k. and if the son has no pain…) However if the son calls his father by his name, or even the villager calls the honorific titles of the king, practically this arouses the compassion (love.) Similarly G-d concealed Himself in the Torah – so besides His constant love for us due to our suffering… – in addition, we arouse His compassion when we read the Torah – even a villager…. In other words, even someone who doesn’t understand the inner aspect of Torah, but reads it with love and compassion – – for the entire Torah is the names of G-d. And G-d and his Torah is one – and just as when you call someone by their name, they stop everything they are doing and they respond… similarly, G-d conceals Himself in the Torah and when you read Torah, you draw Him down, and arouse His compassion and mercies – for He and His Torah/name are one. | 22 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah + Growth | The Talmud states that one who learns Torah and is meritorious, it becomes a potion of life, but if in the reverse… death. The Gemarah explains, this depends on a person who studies, with faith. Asks the Baal Shem Tov… what is the connection between belief and knowledge? On the contrary, belief refers to what you cannot understand; versus Torah study, which you must. Now in Gemarah Shabbos, Rava explains this – that “those who believe” means those who strive, and through their toil, they come to proper conclusions. Whoever studies Torah must be cognizant that in every concept is a deep secret. Hence, one must work very hard to discover this hidden wisdom. Such a learning, creates a refinement, and merit to the studier. This is the explanation of “merit,” which in Hebrew is Zocheh, which also means refined; so if Torah refines the person, then it is a merit. However if God-forbid the reverse, namely (as in the case of misnagdim Ed.) the Torah contributes to arrogance, ego, hence evil, then it is pure poison. | 99 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah + Humility | Through Torah a person can draw down heaven or (if allowed to egotistically intermingle) hell. | 298 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah + Work | Our sages teach, all Torah that isn’t accompanied by work causes sin. For while we pray and study Torah we need to use our mind – ironically, though this inspires us, part of the inspiration and the use of our mind adds to our ego, and then when we are not actively engaged in mental pursuits, our ego can take over (hence we can fall into lashon hara, anger, arguments) therefore one should engage in work. | 378 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah = Growth | When one listens to a Torah class, the goal is not to choose what you enjoy, rather what you can grow. | 319 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah After Prayer | The Baal Shem Tov said, after prayer, one must be very careful, for if one prayed with fear of G-d, these emotions can then turn into anger… and if a person prayed with love to G-d, these emotion can turn into lust etc. therefore immediately after prayer, a person must delve into Torah study, or work…. and this is the meaning of the Mishna, “All Torah (in this context prayer) that doesn’t include work (or Torah study after prayers…) in the end it becomes nullified, and leads to sin.” | 166 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Torah and Mitzvos – Concentration | Our sages teach us regarding sacrifices, “Whether it is much or little – the only thing that matters, is that your heart is dedicated to G-d.” So the Baal Shem Tov explains, that when a person learns Torah and prays, one must concentrate… – and therefore even if somebody learns or prays less, in order that their concentration should be better… – this is as good as somebody who does more – and is able to concentrate. | 6 Vayikra– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah and Mitzvos – Diveikus | 1. A great principle is one must attach oneself to the source of Torah and Mitzvos (while so doing or studying…) for if not, one creates a separation. | 1 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah and Mitzvos – Intent | Note 1. As G-d and His Torah is one, therefore when one does a Mitzvah with positive intent, then G-d and the Mitzvah unite (but if not – this create a kelipah – barrier / separation.) | Note 1 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah- BODY/SOUL OF LETTERS | 38. Just as a person has a body and a soul – the holy letters of prayer and Torah… the physicality is its body, the spirituality, the Divinity within it, is its soul – and one should meditate on uniting the Divinity to the body. | 38 Ve-schanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah Humility | When one studies Torah, one should never delude themselves that they have grasped (for every word of Torah has infinite depth and meanings.) | 235 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah -Lishma | 34. When we study Torah, the purpose is to study Lishmah – Unite the letters with G-d. | 34 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Torah Lishmah – How To Study | The idea of learning Torah Lishmah (altruistically) is to connect to the Divinity in the letters. | 142 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah Study – How | 54. When you study every once in a while – hour – you should remind yourself before whom – God, you are studying. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Torah Study – How To | If we study Torah as it is fascinating, this is worthless; but if we do so to fulfill the Divine will, as a means of forming a bond (with G-d) which can only be done through Torah and Mitzvos, it’s priceless! | 174 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Torah Study – How To | Every day Torah should seem as if it is, “Just Released.” | 66 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Torah Study – Redemption | Just as it is a Mitzvah to mention the name of the Rabbi (whose law one studies, which hastens the redemption) how much more so, we cause redemption from studying Torah altruistically. | 320 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Transcendence | One must understand, there is infinitely beyond… | 74 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Transforming | evil is only there so the Tzaddik can extract the sparks of G-dliness. The evil causes the Tzaddik to pray from a place of constriction, which unites the Shechina with G-d – and subsequently brings Moshiach. | 151 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Transforming | Everything that exists comes from either the emotion of Divine love or fear – now if a person sees a woman or a food that he loves, one must realize that within this emotion of “love” is the Divine love, and therefore to look at it in the way it has fallen in the physical… as opposed to its essential spiritual nature, is too like unclothe the King. And the same thing applies to say if somebody is afraid of a person – one should think, “why should I be afraid of this individual…” let me touch the source of fear, which is the fear of G-d. | 15 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Transforming – Desires | If to one comes a thought of boasting or love etc. then at that time one is that realm – and one can transform it to Godly desires. | 37 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Transforming – Desires | One must remove the outer part (the kelipah – selfish part) of a Machashavah Zarah (sinful thought) extract from it the spiritual light hidden within. | 43 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| TRANSFORMING DARKNESS TO LIGHT | The Baal Shem Tov teaches that we sweeten the harsh decrees by finding the hidden (or motivational) kindness behind them. >>> When we find the kindness in a harsh (circumstance,) the kind element overtakes it. When something bad occurs do whatever you can to see something good in it – for then the good becomes extracted and the bad will disintegrate. | Note155 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Trust | If you wonder – “but sometimes what I prayed for was not helped” – all prayers work, though some cosmically, for in actual fact, it could be that the circumstance is actually in the interest of the person. | 80 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Trust | Ask that God always send you that which He knows is best. Do not seek what others or your mind thinks is best – for what others (or you) assume is for your best, may actually be the opposite. Cast all of your needs and matters to God (as the verse states, “Cast your issues onto God.”) | 4 Tzaavas Harivash | |||||||||
| TRUST | 24. Your thoughts should be in the heavenly realm in the service of God – connect to God, and rely on God to fulfill your needs. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Truth – Discerning | A great principle – whenever you imagine or decide on a path to pursue – immediately think of the exact opposite and the truth in the center shall guide. | 151 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Truth – Discerning | The Baal Shem Tov said in the name of the Ramban – whenever we are not sure what to do; and seeing that any personal benefit (be it a pleasure, or our honor) skews our logic (so the mind presents fallacious rationalizations;) hence to begin with, you must imagine that this action will bring you neither pleasure nor honor… and then G-d will guide. | 6 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Truth – Discerning | The Baal Shem Tov says in the name of the Ramban, “Whatever gives you pleasure – as pleasure will cause you to see anything forbidden as permissible (it subconsciously alters our opinion…) therefore you have to initially remove all desire.” | 152 Breishis– Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Truth – Finding | When there is something not understood, but a person truly seeks to understand it, then they elevate that thing to the world of Machshavah (the realm of thought) and from there the Divine reveals. | 281 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Truth – Nothing But | The main way we develop a passion for holiness is through looking at the truth – for when one realizes that all the lusts of this world are all fleeting fantasies, the desire for truth, permeance, that which is eternally valuable is inculcated. | Note 44 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Truth – Sincerity | Each person must know, that not all people merit to come to truth, quintessential truth – unless one first acquires the trait of humility, and seeing oneself truly as nothing, to the nth degree – to not consider yourself important at all – as Moses said, “we are nothing” – therefore all clever, should realize that “really there is nothing I have to be prideful about” – pride (arrogance) is opposite to truth – the truth is humility and feeling unimportant, while arrogance is a lie – and this has already been dealt with at length in all the ethical works – however a fool who understands not, doesn’t realize their own issue, and unfortunately distances themselves from truth – and such a person is distant from God, whose seal is truth – and he is distant from the Torah, which is a Torah of truth – and God says “I and such a person together cannot dwell” – and it says there – “whoever is arrogant, is as if one worships idols” – as it states, “God hates a haughty heart” – especially as arrogance is a false reality – and the verse states, “A person of falsehood cannot stand in front of me.” However one who in their own estimation is like nothing – this person is close to God and His Torah – as the verse states – “To him I will peer, to the humble-hearted” – and this is also hinted to when they said, “when one is humble, God can dwell within Him” and then he achieves the quintessential truth, and everything He does is true, and it elevates to God! | 17 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Truth – Tifferes | Our forefather Jacob understood, that one cannot be exclusively either in the character trait of kindness (which allows for evil, for it never judges…) nor in the charterer trait of harsh-discipline (for it creates resentment, hence jealousy, hence evil). Therefore he understood, there must be a balancing act between – which is called Tifferes, which essentially is the side of judging each situation on its specific needs – and when appropriate, for the benefit of the other, being kind or tuff. | 210 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Tzaadik | Note 90 The Tzaddik is the one who elevates (to God) all the words of his disciples. (This comes through attachment to the Tzaddik.) The disciples of the Tzaddik (in Torah) they receive this through his Torah, and to simple people, through the fact that the Tzaddik derives lessons in serving Hashem – as well as (especially) when The Tzaddik speaks to them. | Note 90 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Tzaddik | Our Sages Teach That G-d called Yaakov – “E-l,” because a Tzaddik is one who subdues, his Yetzer Hara, and the Divine name E-l represents strength. | 9 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Tzaddik | The Tzaddik is called “who is this…?” because He is always going from level to level – so wherever you look, it is as if he has gone. | 4 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Tzaddikim – Faith | There are three verifications: sight, sound and comprehension – seeing is believing; hearing, though less concrete, is still… but third-party verification is the least – for example, if you see lightning, it’s obvious; if you hear thunder, though you cannot see it, it’s still pretty much… but if someone tells you, that “on the moon there are unique explosions,” it’s hard to believe… The truth is, if our body didn’t cover our soul, we could see from one side of the world to the other – furthermore, our ears would hear the announcements that come daily from the heavenly court, but as we cannot see or hear, we must trust those who have. | 175 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Tznius | When The Baal Shem Tov was in Istanbul (on his “ill-fated” trip to Israel – as he knew if he met the Oir Hachayim (who was in Israel) Moshaich would come…) he saw young married men, that had souls of the Taanaim (great Tzaddikim of the past…) and he said, this was because their mothers were so careful in Tznius. | 5. Vayeishev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Understanding God | The Baal Shem Tov comments on the saying, “the greatest knowledge is not knowing;” – that two types of people seek to know the unknowable king…. the first gives up, as he is unknowable… the second researches as much as possible, but realizing that the king is infinite, understands his limitation… – such must be our quest. | Note 156 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| UNITY | It is o.k. to lie to cause unity. | 9 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Unity | Like a symphony, each one of us has a unique complementary strength. | 287 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Uplift | There was such a story with the Baal Shem Tov (not sure why… ED.) that something caused him to feel low, until one of his students stood before him with great reverence and said, “Our Master And Teacher.” Another story of the Baal Shem Tov who was mercilessly persecuted by the Erev Rav (fake scholars…) that he once had such a dispirit… that he was capable of losing his holiness… until from Heaven he was inspired. | Note 10 Pinchus– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Uplifting | A person can also elevate another through listening…, by understanding that it is the soul – which is part of G-d, that is listening. | 71 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Vidue – Final Prayer | Once there was a King who heard about a captive Princess and her son, and he felt great mercy… so he sent his son the Prince to redeem the Princess and her son – and he told his son to then marry the Princess – but he told him to bring gifts to the captors… for not only did he give much wealth to the Princess, but he wished to get rid of the obligation and attachment of the captors. The lesson of the story is, that firstly G-d sends the holy Tzaddikim, to unite the Holy Sparks captured from the dark side, and the Holy Souls to G-d – and then when Moshiach comes, the Princess will be completely redeemed. Whoever can understand how deep this concept is and how high it goes – will ensure to think this before they pass on – and in this way they will certainly go to heaven. | Veschanan – – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Visualizing | A great level is to continuously have the awareness that you are seeing (visualize) G-d, and that likewise if your mind and thoughts are clear, G-d is watching. | 37 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Vowing | “When you make a vow (to offer a sacrifice) to G-d, you shall not delay its implementation” when you make a vow to G-d, then He will enable! | 18 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Water | “The lower waters cry, we wish to be before the king.” Explains the Baal Shem Tov, from when the waters were separated – during creation – the lower waters weep with an incredible yearning that a Jew should come by and use them for something spiritual – be it washing one’s hands (for prayer) a mikvah etc. This weeping may continuously go on for hundreds, if not thousands of years. | 123 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Water – Prayer | The Baal Shem Tov said, when you encounter a body of water, you should say, that, “The Baal Shem Tov says, that water is a blessing.” | 250 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Wealth | The Baal Shem Tov explains: how does one escape poverty? through creating a shift in thinking, in emotions, and even by simply dancing. | 130 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Wealth | Wealth is to one heaven, another hell. | 228 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Win – The Battle | The way we overcome the Kelipa is we are aware that G-d is literally in everything – when one is conscious of this fact, this allows one to not become angry, petty…And have a humble heart – hence filled with love of G-d and for the Jewish people – and through this, one separates the good from the evil in all times and places. | Note 89 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Win – The Cloak | When a person knows and believes that G-d inhabits every single atom, and every detail, and thought, it all comes from Him… then all the Kelipah (dark-forces) will dissipate – this is Knowing G-d, Your Father. | 114 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Win – The Light | Regarding bad thoughts – how to elevate them and fix them and the bad will dissipate… If one doesn’t know how to do this, for each individual thought… then one should know that within everything that exists, is the two Divine names of Yud-Hei- Vov-Hei and Adnay. | 115 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Win – The War | Just knowing that G-d is within every single detail and movement in this world, gives the person the powerful faith to subdue the kelipa. | 111 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Wise – Happy – Humble | The Alter Rebbe said in the name of the Baal Shem Tov: Being a fool Sadness And considering yourself significant (important… VIP!…) Are considered by Chassidim to be cardinal sins! Being sharp! Being happy, through finding in everything a positive benefit! And working alertly, yet conscientiously, Are cardinal principles! | 205 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Work | Just as when we are praying, we can think of work, when we work, we can pray. | 357 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| World-Views | How much more so, the “philosophies” (Humanities) that lead us to distorted and misaligned behavior (not only causing lack of pleasure, but deep existential angst.) | 319 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| YECHUDIM – STICK TO YOUR LEVEL | Just as if a person was hungry for a food, which happened to be on a high shelf out of reach – so he begins to imagine eating it… but this far from satiating him, causes greater hunger… Similarly the person who imagines lofty (Yechudim) meditations, that he has no grasp on. | 138 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara | The Yetzer Hara puts on a fake clothing (of righteousness) how can we discern? – When we are busy seeing what’s wrong (in everyone.) | Note 5 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara | The Yetzer Hara cannot get man to sin (take him away from His Divine service…) through telling him to sin… (for the person would ignore…) so the Yetzer Hara clothes himself in a Mitzvah (which is the wrong time/place…) | Megilas Esther – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Beat | A person must gather all his energies and abilities to do the will of G-d, for example to not transgress… – when a person does this, then the Yetzer Hara cannot beat him, for if he is willing to give his life, than nothing is more precious than life (as the Yetzer Hara must somehow offer a seduction.) | Note 15 ki Teitze– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Beat Life’s Purpose | The Baal Shem Tov brings from the Arizal, that this world is about overcoming lusts and desires – along this path, God gave us a Yetzer Hara that constantly implants such stupidities. When we can ignore him and go on the straight, normal and decent road, this gives God incredible joy. | 172 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Beating | Even by regular people, the Yetzer Hara tells a person “Who are you…?” Causing them to doubt what effect they can, and even should have. So a person must say to themselves, “The entire world was created solely for my ability to make it better!” – However once one does the actual service, one must return to a state of infinite humility, for it is alone God that has empowered. | 393 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Beating | “And they saw the G-d of Israel” – meaning they understood this… – “And under his feet” meaning, what can one do to become “G-d’s feet…” – A Merkavah – servant? This is through “Like the sapphire”… the person refines himself like a sapphire – that one combines the body and the soul – and also similar to the sapphire, that the anvil that tries to smash it, itself breaks apart – this refers to the Yetzer Hara. In other words, if you can get rid of the Yetzer Hara – through this you will be like the essence of Heaven – and pure – like it says “And the righteous will shine like the shine of the Sky.” | 21 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Beating Merkavah – Divine Will | How does one become a true Merkavah – vehicle for the Divine will? – Firstly we must integrate our soul with our body, like a diamond that radiates light; and secondly as our sages state, the quality of the diamond (the hardest physical substance) is, it even would smash the hammer trying to crack it, similarly, must our determination be infinitely stronger (then our Yetzer Hara’s). | 350 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Beware | Once upon a time lived a man in a beautiful home – but a conman desiring his home told him “I will give you a billion dollars to just own a single hook” – so they made the sale and every hour the man would come into the house to hang on his hook something, so the first owner had to give up his home – if you let the Yetzer Hara control any of your limbs (especially sezual)…) | 145 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Challenge | The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of the great King that wanted to test his people, and he dressed up as a simple King – and he went to a holding city of his and he tried to get them to rebel – so some people decided to go with him, others didn’t. But then the wise people said – “how’s it possible, that such a small King, would even think about attacking a big King?!?” – “It must be that he himself is the King…” – and this is an example of the Yetzer Hara – that everything that comes to us is just a challenge. | Note 4 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Con The Con | There is no possibility of doing only good – for it is only when the Yetzer Hara sees some possible (ego) gain from your action, does he permit it. However one must steal the Yetzer Hara’s knowledge (con him). In other words, you must pretend to do things for your personal (ego) gain. | 141 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yetzer hara – Con The Con | One must learn from the Yetzer Hara that, just as he (people…) have such a tremendous passion for stupid pleasures… – must I have for the true. | 160 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Con the Con | It is impossible to do but good, without ulterior motives – one must do good, even saying, “I am doing this selfishly” (which gives us the oomph…) and then toward the end, do it selflessly. | 165 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Destroyer | In the past the Yetzer Hara was only into preventing a person to receive the bliss of the world to come – now he got slyer and attempts to prevent both this world and the next – for example, causing a person to be consumed with (financial ) worries. | 144 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – End | Why in the future will the Yetzer Hara be slaughtered – was not his job to entice man – true, but not to pretend he is pious. | 147 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Harnessing | “When you go to war against your enemy, and you see amongst the captives a beautiful woman…” this is an example of the Shechina which may be captive, and when G-d gives in your hand the Yetzer Hara, so your desire should be to redeem her from her captivity – and take her as your wife. | 4 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – His Ploy | A Parable: Once there was a world emperor and he sent his trusted servant to go and foment in all countries a rebellion – some countries went to a full scale war against the king – others accepted their “new ruler” – there was one though, that was comprised of exceptionally wise people, and they realized that in fact this messenger “fomenting-rebellion” was in fact, not real. | 116 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – His Ploys | When the Yetzer Hara attacks a scholar, he does so using “holy” distractions. | 114 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – How To Beat | From the Yetzer Hara we learn how to beat it – just look at how well it serves its Divine mission! | 135 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Lesson | From the passion that evil exhibits, we may deduce how much passion we must have. | 372 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Lesson | The Baal Shem Tov teaches that from the Yetzer Hara itself, who is so careful to always stand to do her mission to seduce the Jew away from G-d – we learn how important it is, for us to do our mission, to always listen to G-d. | 1 Ki Teitzei – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Lesson | From the tremendous evil passion of Haman, we can tell how much the positive passion of Mordechai should be. | Note 1 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Moshiach | When we all individually redeem ourselves from our Yetzer-Hara (perhaps through this mechanism, to do things both with our Yetzer Tov and Yetzer Hara – not to worry about perfection, just doing what we know is good…) then the infinite redemption will come. | 166 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Transform | Who Is Wise – Who Learns From Everyone? Even from the Yetzer Hara!… Then the Yetzer Hara becomes a Yetzer Tov! This is the meaning.. “Who Is Strong, Whoever Conquers His Yetzer….” Not Kills, but conquers under his power, to serve G-d. | 161 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Trickery | To a Tzaddik the Yetzer Hara dresses up as a Tzaddik, but to the regular people (as a regular person, for the Tzaddik would not be simply swayed by stupid desires.) | 146 Breishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – War! | One must go to war with the Yetzer Hara, for when he attempts to shame and humiliate a person and say, “You are just a nothing…” “who are you to be holy?” You have to use his tool of arrogance and say, “I am a part of G-d!” | 37 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yetzer Hara – Torah Study | The Yetzer Hara knows it cannot tell you not to study – for then you will think, you will appear worthless in others eyes… Rather he tells you not to study things that matter – that will cause you to fear G-d, and the Jewish laws… | 164 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem | Breshis is Yira Boshees (fear of shame) just like when one is before a great king, he thinks not, does he love me… – rather of the king’s exaltedness, so before him I shall be humble. | 10 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem | When one has an inner (yirah-pnimis) fear of G-d, then one has nothing to fear of the kelipah (using their energy for the negative) and such a person can be a Rabbi – Rebbe. | 5 Chayei Sara– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem | A person’s constant fear of G-d should match the level they would feel when G-d forbid something terrible to them occurred (which wakes a person up…) | 4 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem | All the Hebrew letters are face and back (so Alef, then Beis – the Beis has its “back” to the Alef…) the reason for this is, as they receive from the level above them, they have an embarrassment.. similarly a Jew must feel to G-d. | 16 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem | The reason there are all these outer fears is, all is meant to bring one to fear of G-d, for the source of fear, is this. In fact when one contemplates how the source of all these fears ultimately stems from the fear of G-d – then one actually can come to love G-d – which sweetens the anger/judgment, creating only love. | Note 17 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem – Fear of God | You should connect deeply to the concept – that you are currently in Divine space (as it says, the world is in Divine space) and God as we speak, is watching. | 169 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem – Fear of God | It is a great and noble level, if we consistently realize how, “just as if I were looking at someone and they at me… they are observing me; how much more so the Creator of eyes.” | 232 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem – Fear of God | You shouldn’t need to attach yourself to G-d – rather imagine that you are completely within. | 31 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem – Fear of God (Litmus Test) | How can one know if they have proper fear of God? The test is, if a Minister was standing before his king and someone brought by, one of, say, his favorite foods… but because at that moment the fear of the king is upon him (or the bashfulness before the king) his heart would not even seek the food. | 391 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem – Fear of God Waking Up | Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakai in his living will said, “May the fear of God be as great to you as your fear of man” – explains the Baal Shem Tov, for-example, if you are sleeping and your Rabbi / Master woke you up, immediately you would be alert and prepared to fulfill his will – so why not, when God? | 205 Kesser Shem Tov | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem – Humbly | The ultimate goal of fear of G-d is that it should be in an inward way – our inside should be Yisroel (fear of G-d) our outer Yaakov. | Balak– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem – Inner | There is a query, as G-d is called “Nora” awe-inspiring – Why is there a command to have awe (for it should be natural… like one feels from a great king…) the answer is that there is an outer fear… -for example a rat fears a cat, the cat fears a dog, the dog fears a wolf etc. Now a person needs to take all his outer fears (even fear of the outer “part” of G-d – such as punishment-fear etc.) and bring it to the inner fear (sense of awe.) | 17 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Hashem – Torah | Yaakov says, “But this is but the House of G-d…” – the meaning of this is, as we know that Yaakov spent 14 years studying Torah in the Yeshivah of Sheim and Eiver – but as we know, Torah is but the gateway to fear of G-d – when he arrived on Mount-Moriah, he sensed such an awe of G-d as never before… Hence he realized, this is the Beis-Hamikdosh – and he said, “This shall be my home.” In other words, everything I did until now, was to prepare me for living with fear of G-d. | Vayeitztei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yiras Shamayim – Self-Control | Who is a Yiras Shamayim? (a notable accolade, literally one who fears God – does good…) one who has self-control – But one who merely studies Torah (and this is their sole occupation..) Stay Far Away! | 84 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Yom Kippur | A specific returning on Yom Kippur… to specify each sin and to cleanse oneself. | 17 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Yom Kippur | In the Beis Hamikdosh they would tie a red thread, that when it turned white it was a sign (on Yom Kippur…) that the Jews were forgiven – if there was a case when they couldn’t determine, so the Jews would be sad (as they didn’t know.) Today of-course we do not know – so it is like a sword hanging over one’s head… – nonetheless one should never stop asking for mercy… | 50 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yom Kippur | The reason we call the day after Yom Kippur, “G-d’s day,” is because we stop saying, “the Holy King” and we say “the Holy G-d.” | 51 Rosh Hashana– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Yom Tov – Lessons | “Whoever reads the story of the Megillah in reverse order does not fulfill the obligation” (Jewish Law.) Explains the Baal Shem Tov, whoever reads the story of the Megillah (which primarily applies to all our festivals and Biblical stories) and thinks “this is history…” not realizing this is guidance! misses the point. | 100 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| Yor Tzeit Tzaddikim | Every year on the Yor Tzeit (anniversary of passing) a parent is judged – for in heaven the only way – which is the goal on a Yor-Tzeit, to ascend, is through having a merit – therefore they go into ever deeper scrutiny… perhaps a Mitzvah here or there etc. – However for one who has been totally purified (seems, like used up all merits…) therefore only relating about the person – learning from their ways, is what causes their elevation. And for the righteous Tzaddikim… those that cause their elevation, get with them elevated. | 10 Va-yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| You – Matter | The Baal Shem Tov explains the idea of Divine providence – that it extends to the four kingdoms of non-living, vegetation, animal and especially human – each and every event, from a leaf blowing in the wind, to an insect’s life-cycle, is by Divine Providence, so how much infinitely more so your and my life. | 180 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes) | |||||||||
| You See Who You | People who are involved in foolish pursuits – instead of seeing goodness in those involved in holiness – see ugliness. | 6 Re-eh – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah | |||||||||
| Young | When the young listen to the elders – like the sun which enlightens the moon (then the world is stable.) | 3 Emor– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Zera livatala | When a person sins with wasting semen, the first time this causes his Nefesh to depart – the second time his Ruach – third time his Neshamah – the Kelipah surrounds him and he cannot accept any rebuke – which causes G-d-forbid spiritual death – however if there is a day of purity – then the person is able to receive. | 11 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Zera livatala | When one says the Shema with concentration, this can destroy negative energy produced by a seminal emission – for only when it is together with one’s wife – is it Kosher. | 12 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Zera livatala | The Baal Shem Tov said a person should not worry from having a seminal discharge at night during sleep – if it was not preceded by any thoughts… – for this is done, as the punishment of death was upon the person, and this took its place. | 13 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Zera Livatala | A way to rectify the sin of wasting semen, is through both giving charity and tears. | 23 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
| Zrizus – Alert | 20. Always be exceptionally quick (Zrizus – alert to do what should be done.) As soon as you awake, get out of bed, for you have become renewed and made into a new person and now you can give birth / create, like God who births / creates universes. And similarly everything you do – you should do it with Zrizus – alertness – for in everything, you can serve God. | Tzavaas Harivash | |||||||||
| Zrizus – Alertness | The Baal Shem Tov brought angels down from heaven to earth – he didn’t look at them, saying – “They obviously belong in heaven – but I wish to learn from them, how they serve G-d, maybe I can learn from their manner.” In Kesser Shem Tov it explains that the soul must learn from the angels – for the angels are very alert, energetic, and immediately fulfill Divine demands. | Vayeitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah | |||||||||
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