Tazria Metzora: Naming at the Circumcision
"Please do not ask me these questions,” responded the Baal Shem Tov, “for the time for me to be known in this world has not yet come...
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Shmini: A Kosher Animal
“Perhaps,” the Baal Shem Tov reasoned, “the problem is not a halachic one. Perhaps the shochet is in a spiritual “position” that he needs to be removed from?”
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Vayakhel: Iyov’s Penny
A line of people wound its way from the door of the holy Baal Shem Tov’s office. Many stood in line to seek advice and blessings from the holy tzaddik...
Tetzaveh: The Man Who Thought He Was God
Later, when Lord Elokim, the master of the castle, returned, his servants ran to him and said, "Lord Elokim, a Rabbi has come to visit. He is waiting for you in the library."
Tetzaveh: Eating for Atonement
The women rushed to prepare the meat broth while the men stood around the sick man’s bed saying Tehillim (Psalms). Almost everyone, except for the doctor, felt relieved because...
Terumah: A Pinch of Snuff
Once, a poor man came with a group of beggars to collect charity at the shul of the Baal Shem Tov. The shammos (caretaker) of the shul gave each beggar a few coins...
Mishpatim: Reincarnation
Suddenly, in a dream-like vision, Rabbi Dov Ber saw a handsome prince and a female friend come to a river for a picnic and a swim. The only other person there was a border guard...
Yitro: The Stocking Maker
The host looked out the window at the man as he continued walking down the road. "Oh, that's just Reb Dovid, the stocking maker...
Beshalach: 100 Questions
I asked myself; perhaps this man is not human? How could a person achieve such holy power? Had he perhaps fallen from Heaven?
Bo: The First Revelation
The Rabbi took the Baal Shem Tov aside and asked him, “Who are you? Please tell me the truth.” The Baal Shem Tov disclosed to the Rav that in fact he was a holy man...
Pekudei: A Heavenly Teacher
I was born in the village of Okup in the year 5458. When I was five years old I was orphaned from my father and mother, of blessed memory. The community...
Pekudei: The Redemption of Sparks
In any case, the Baal Shem Tov arrived a few days before Shabbat. He immediately met with Rabbi Yaakov Yosef (whom he affectionately called Yossele) and they...
Vayera: The Inhospitable Rabbi
The rabbi prided himself on his meticulous attention to religious law and painstaking efforts to avoid mistakes. Yet, he was a fierce opponent of the Baal Shem Tov…
Shoftim: False Testimony
“It is a painful story so I did not share it with you,” Yisrael answered. But Yisrael was still skeptical. He questioned the Chassidim, “How would the Rebbe know...
Vayechi: The Passing
“My friends, when I leave this world, both clocks in this room will stop.” His followers saw the hands of the big clock stop while he...
Vayikra: The Revolving Wheel
As “luck” would have it, the wheel of fortune turned in favor of the friend who had remained in his childhood Polish city, while it turned against his friend in...
Shlach Lecha: The Pre-Dawn Request
He stepped down and wandered off into the dense forest. I quietly followed at a short distance behind him. He wandered aimlessly for a few minutes and then...
Ki Teitzei: Reb Michel’s Kameya
Reb Michel wanted to continue studying deeper levels of Torah in the more sublime spiritual chambers of Heaven and to study with the Holy Torah Masters of past times.