Baal Shem Tov
At the end of 1971 I moved across country from Brooklyn to Lomita, an area where few Jews lived. I was sent by the Chassidic leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, to establish a Chassidic Jewish community for the South Bay. Being Chassidic means our family customs are different, as are our lifestyles. On the Sabbath the married men wear a long jacket called a kapota, which looks like a Prince Albert tuxedo, and distinct black fedoras. We don't work on the Sabbath, and basically keep the many other customs of Orthodox Jews.
One Sabbath morning as I was walking to the synagogue a Chevy convertible drove past me. The driver hit his brakes, got out of the car and ran over to me. I was startled and frightened. Hey, Padre, are you Jewish? I said Yes. Padre, are you a Chassid? I said Yes. If that is the case you must be from the happiest people in the world. Then he asked to shake my hand. "My name is Jose Rodriguez and I come from Mexico. I took a college course called social anthropology. There I studied different races, cults and people. In studying the Jewish people I was told by my professor about a group called Chassidim. Chassidim are the happiest people in the world he said. No matter what happens to them their deep faith in G‑d keeps them happy. So, Padre, when I drove by I thought it couldn't be possible that a chassid would live so far away from his people. When I saw that you had a beard, a black hat, and a long black jacket you fit the description of my text books and I realized that, yes indeed, you must be a Chassid. So, amigo, let me wish you good luck." He saluted and off he went. The encounter gave me a wonderful feeling.
Sept. 9 will mark a great day in the Chassidic movement. It is the 300th anniversary of the birth of the first Chassidic leader, Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov - Master of the Good Name. Rabbi Yisroel, living in the Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe, launched a new movement called Chassidism. It captured the attention of millions of Jewish people. Within the initial 150 years of the movement 6 million Jews adopted this lifestyle. It's been said that more then half of Eastern Europe were followers of the Chassidic movement.
Rabbi Yisroels mother died when he was born and his father, a saintly man, addressed the little boy before his death and told him Yisroel, my 5 year old, have no fear of anyone except of G‑d. As a child Yisroel spent much time in the forest under the stars observing nature. He wasn't known to be a brilliant student; as a matter of fact, he was different from most children. Perhaps today you would think him autistic. Growing up the young Yisroel was definitely plugged into a different spiritual source. The elders of the town tried to bring him back to the school; however, Yisroel defied them and lived his own lifestyle. He befriended many of the simple people. As he grew older he brought joy and happiness to the poor and oppressed. One of his greatest attributes was a happy and joyful attitude to life and a countenance which he tried to impart to all sorts of people.
For 30 years Yisroel traveled from town to town where he introduced the people to the concept of self-worth and happiness. Everything, he claimed, had a purpose, whether good or seemingly bad. The main thing was to have faith in G‑d and to obey his commandments happily. If you are happy with your lot in life, then G‑d will be happy with you. Our Father in Heaven hates sadness and rejoices when His children are joyful. He had a saying, It is mans duty to always live joyfully while serving G‑d through prayer and the study of Torah.
You can well imagine the opposition of the scholars toward this mans philosophy in saying that the main thing was to be happy when worshipping G‑d. This meant that the ignoramus could be just as happy as the scholar. They thought maybe the scholars would not be respected for his learning. According to the Baal Shem Tov, all men were created equal, some more learned than others, but when it came to joy there was no monopoly. As a result, a schism was created between the Jewish people.
To the gentiles of his era, the Baal Shem Tov was extremely kind. He extended his patience and understanding to those in need. Tradition tells how the Baal Shem Tov became a healer. He learned the healing mysteries of the roots and herbs from a poor gentile peasant whom he saved when he was from sick. As a gift the peasant gave the Baal Shem Tov the secret healing powers found in herbs and shrubs.
According to the Baal Shem Tov every event in the physical universe, even that of a leaf, twirling from a tree, has a purpose. Once there was a scoffer of the Baal Shem Tov who decided to follow a leaf which was twirling across a street. He followed the leaf over many blocks until the leaf stopped. Ha said the man to himself, The leaf stopped for no purpose. He then bent down and looked under the leaf and sure enough there was a dying baby worm baking in the heat of the day. Now this little leaf was providing the worm with shelter, thus ensuring that the worm would not perish.
This idea of G‑d loving everybody and everything having a purpose was novel. The new movement flourished. The People who followed the Baal Shem Tov were called Chassidim - pious ones - for they respected everything and considered that everything created in the world is worth and is divinely given.
This month, hundreds of thousands of Jewish people worldwide will celebrate the birth of this Chassidic leader. During this period people will speak about the many different Chassidic movements that have flourished and branched out due to the encouragement of this man. In a way the Baal Shem Tov is a great emancipator of the soul. His lessons revived and rejuvenated the individuality of every single person in this world. Our society could use the message of worshipping G‑d with joy. If we had a generation of joyful people, what a wonderful world it would be. Through joy any person can follow his religious instinct and immerse himself in helping the world become a better and safer place.
Within the many Chassidic movements, it has been the Chabad Chassidic movement that has mainstreamed without finding a dichotomy between the modern world and ancient Jewish religion. If anything, the Chassidic movement has enriched the world through its eclectic approach of joy and learning.
Today there are over 3,000 Chabad centers spanning the globe and continuing the work started by the Baal Shem Tov. Thousands of young and old rabbis carry out his work in trying to bring G‑dliness and goodness to the world, all inspired with joy.
Strangely enough there is no authentic drawing or painting of this great man . Yet his spirit lives through his Chassidim.