Weekly Chasidic Story 593 (s5769-28 / 13 Nissan 5769)

The Angels of a Childless Mother

On Passover eve his followers were upset; the Baal Shem Tov was not in his usual buoyant spirits.

(Connection: seasonal)

 

The Angels of a Childless Mother

It was Passover of 1756, and as on all Jewish holidays, many of the followers of the Baal Shem Tov came to Mezibush to spend Pesach with their Rebbe. It was always an uplifting, almost magical experience to be in the presence of the Baal Shem Tov, especially at such a time. However, this Passover eve, the followers were upset because they could sense that something was terribly wrong; the Baal Shem Tov was not in his usual buoyant spirits.

After the search for chametz on the night before the Passover Seder, the Baal Shem Tov told ten of his closest disciples to say Tikun Chatzot (a midnight prayer to commemorate the destruction of the Temple) with great concentration. While they were saying this prayer, Reb Tzvi (the scribe of the Baal Shem Tov) ran in and cried, "Lord of the Universe, the Rebbe fainted and fell onto the floor of his study." Everyone was upset, but no one would dare go into the study and disturb the Rebbe.

The next morning, the Baal Shem Tov recited the prayers in a despondent mood. After he finished, he expounded about 'trust in G-d', explaining, "True and complete faith in G-d occurs only when a person can't see any way to overcome a problem. At that very moment, the person must believe without a doubt that G-d will save them. Most importantly, the person has to demonstrate this trust and faith in G-d by being b'simchah (having a joyful attitude). Such an attitude shows that the person has no doubt that they will soon, with
G-d's help, overcome their problem."

As soon as the Baal Shem Tov finished this discourse, his mood noticeably changed. He seemed more at ease. The followers whispered among themselves, "The change in the Rebbe's mood is not because of a change in the spiritual decree about which he is no doubt concerned. Nevertheless," everyone agreed, "the change in the Rebbe will soften the Heavenly decree, G-d help us."

Later that same day, just before the time to bake the matzot (matzot made in the afternoon before the Seder are considered the most precious), the Baal Shem Tov went to the mikveh (ritual bath). His mood had improved even more and he even seemed to be happy. That night, in the synagogue of the Baal Shem Tov, the special evening prayers for Passover were chanted with great enthusiasm.

Afterwards, his close disciples sat around the Seder table of the Baal Shem Tov, eagerly anticipating the Rebbe's insights on the Haggadah. But this Passover night was different; the Baal Shem Tov did not expound on the deep mystical meanings of the Haggadah. Instead, he just quietly read the text. The disciples were disappointed.

Near the end of the Seder, the Baal Shem Tov closed his eyes. The disciples looked at each other, "Is he in a state of deep meditation or did he 'almost' fall asleep." The room was silent. Suddenly, the Baal Shem Tov started laughing so hard that he could barely sit still in his chair.

"Mazel Tov!" he exclaimed, "Thanks and praise to G-d. Now you shall know that even the simplest Jew has the power to change a Heavenly edict."

The disciples sat speechless as he began to explain, "Yesterday morning, a terrible edict was decreed in Heaven against the Jews of a nearby village. The non-Jewish peasants in that village were planning to attack the Jews on the first night of Pesach."

"I prayed with all my strength, and I even had you help me. But we couldn't overcome the Heavenly decree. I finally gave up and put my trust in G-d that the decree would be rescinded. Right then I started to feel joyful. When we sat down to the Seder, the hour for the execution of the decree had arrived. I didn't see any hope for those Jews living in that village. But in a single instant, thank G-d, everything changed.

"During this time, a childless couple that are among my followers, and who live in the village where the decree was to be executed, were sitting at their Seder Table. Although they are simple, unlearned Jews, they are exceptionally kind, devout and full of good deeds. When they reached the section of the Haggadah about the Egyptians throwing the new born baby boys into the Nile, the wife started to cry. Her husband tried to comfort her, 'My sweet wife, don't be sad, after all the Jewish people were finally taken out of Egypt.'

"The wife spoke back, 'If G-d had blessed me with a son, I would have protected him and not let anyone hurt him. And I certainly would not have let anyone treat my son the way
G-d let us be treated by the Egyptians.'

"The husband stood up for G-d saying, 'G-d is righteous in all that He does, it's only that we can't see or understand why it is good for us.'

"But the wife retorted, 'Why isn't G-d more compassionate? How could He have treated us like that? Even if we do sin, we are still His children.'

"And so the argument went back and forth as they progressed through the Haggadah. Simultaneously, the case against the Jews of their village was being argued before the Heavenly Court. The defending angels were more persuasive when the wife presented her arguments and the accusing angels were more persuasive when the husband presented his rebuttals. I really couldn't tell what the outcome would be.

"Finally, after completing the fourth cup of wine near the end of the Seder, the husband couldn't think of another answer to his wife's arguments against G-d's behavior. So he conceded, 'My wife, you're right. G-d should have treated his children better.'

"They both laughed. Then they got up and began to dance around the Seder table. At that very moment, the decree in Heaven against the Jews of their village was annulled," the Baal Shem Tov concluded.

The disciples were mesmerized by the story. Then, the Baal Shem Tov told them to all place their hands on the shoulders of the persons sitting on each side of them. Finally, the Baal Shem Tov placed his hands on the shoulders of the of the two men on either side of him, closing the circle, and the disciples all saw a vision of the husband and wife dancing together around their Seder table celebrating the liberation of the Jewish people from Egypt.

Said the Baal Shem Tov with a little chuckle, "They should only know that they are also celebrating the liberation of the Jewish people of their own village."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Freely adapted by Tzvi-Meir Cohn, and posted on his BaalShemTov.com site, from a story found in Seeker Of Slumbering Souls. Edited for this list by Yerachmiel Tilles.

Connection: seasonal

Biographic Note:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer (18 Elul 1698-6 Sivan 1760), the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed the Chassidic movement and his own identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 1734. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.


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