The Perfect Faith

Pesach

 

Seventh Day of Pesach

 

In the Torah portion (Shemot 13:17 to 15:26), we read that following the departure of the Jewish people from Egypt, Pharaoh regretted his decision to allow them to leave, and pursued them to the Reed Sea. There, Moshe (Moses) raised his staff and the Sea split and the Children of Israel crossed over the sea. Once all of the Children of Israel had crossed, Moshe again stretched out his staff and the water returned to its former state, drowning the pursuing Egyptians. When the Children of Israel saw the dead Egyptians on the sea shore…

 

"The people … believed in God and Moshe His servant" (Shemot 14:31).

 

* * *

 

And then there was the time that Rabbi David Leikes, a member of the Baal Shem Tov's innermost circle, was sitting with a group of Chassidim who were followers of Rabbi Mottel of Chernobyl (otherwise known as the Chernobyler Rebbe).

 

Rabbi David asked the Chassidim, "Tell me, do you have perfect faith in your Rebbe, Rabbi Mottel." The Chassidim didn't answer. After a pause Rabbi David asked, "So nu?"

 

One of the Chassidim answered, "Who can say they have perfect faith?"

 

Rabbi David nodded and then said, "My friends, let me tell you a story about faith. Once, several close followers of the Baal Shem Tov and I spent a Shabbat at an inn with our holy Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov. As usual, the third meal of Shabbat went late into the night. The Baal Shem Tov told us some of the mystical insights he had received while meditating, praying, and studying Torah during the holy Shabbat. Later, when the Baal Shem Tov gave a sign, we joined in the blessings over the food, the evening prayers, and the Havdalah service (a prayer separating the holy days from the profane days).

 

"Immediately afterwards," Rabbi David continued, "we sat down together with the Baal Shem Tov for a Melava Malkah [a meal escorting the spiritual Shabbat Queen as she leaves].

 

"The Baal Shem Tov turned to me and said, 'Rabbi David, reach into your pocket and take out a gulden [coin] to buy some mead from the inn keeper.'

 

"I was still wearing my Shabbat clothes, and I never carry money on Shabbat. Yet, with neither a thought nor hesitation, I reached into my pocket to 'take out the gulden,' as the Rebbe had just instructed. And — the most amazing thing! I found a gulden in my pocket."

 

The Chassidim of Rabbi Mottel, after hearing this story commented to Rabbi David, "It's really not that amazing. It's just another miracle story about the Baal Shem Tov."

 

"Yes. That is so," said Rabbi David. "But the point of the story is much deeper than 'just another miracle story.' My faith in the Baal Shem Tov was so great that I didn't even think to question his request when I reach into my pocket for the money."

 

(www.baalshemtov.com)