A Jew under the burden of a serious problem came to
the Baal Shem Tov, seeking relief and aid. He burst into tears and begged
the Baal Shem Tov to help him through his mighty prayers.
Was it a matter of health? Offspring? Money? We don’t
know.
What everyone does know is the extraordinary love and
dedication the Baal Shem Tov maintained for every single Jew. He felt so
bad for this suffering individual and was ready to do everything in his power to
relieve his plight, but with his spiritual vision he could already see that
there was nothing he personally could do to help him.
Everyone who received a coin from Job became blessed.
The Baal Shem Tov went over to his book shelf and
pulled out a volume of Talmud. It was the tractate called Baba Basra. He
leafed through it and his eye caught a passage at the bottom of page 15b, "
‘Everyone who received a coin from Eyov (Job) became blessed’ — because Eyov was
successful in tzedaka, in his charity-giving."
He realized that if he was drawn to this particular
passage, it was no coincidence. Rather, it was divine intervention. Somehow this
was the key by which this Jew in dire need could be saved.
He pondered deeply. What was the message here?
Finally, he thought he truly realized Heaven’s intention. He recalled:
In the town of Brody lived a Jew named Shabsai Meir, a
man who knew how to study Torah and donated generously to worthy causes. In the
merit of his always giving altruistically and with a good heart, G-d had blessed
him with great wealth. He, in turn, prayed to The Holy One for "success in
tzedaka." This too was granted him. None of the tzedaka he distributed went to
undeserving hands [the first
interpretation in that same tractate, 9b], and
anyone who received any sort of contribution from him had good things happen to
them. Indeed, his requests of G-d were always fulfilled. Not that he ever asked
for anything for himself. He didn’t alter his personal lifestyle at all, and his
house was still the same as it was.
Significant amounts were given anonymously.
Really, the only recognizable change was the
increasingly large sums he utilized for tzedaka. Even here, significant amounts
were given anonymously, with neither the recipients nor anyone else knowing the
source of the gifts.
On occasion, this wealthy man would give away more
than even he could afford. At such times he would pray that he merit increased
success and increased tzedaka. To these prayers G-d would always respond, and so
Shabsai Meir became even richer. Also, the Heavenly Court ruled that he was
worthy for G-d to fulfill his request to always be successful in tzedaka.
When the Baal Shem Tov thought upon this special
individual, he immediately understood why Heaven had put it into his mind to
take out a volume of Talmud, and why he had been guided to that particular
tractate and passage. It was all so that he would recall to mind Shabsai Meir of
Brody! The Baal Shem Tov was well-aware of the Heavenly Court’s decree
concerning R. Shabsai Meir and his ‘success in tzedaka.’ Perhaps he could
be an instrument of salvation for the unfortunate Jew who was so desperately
seeking help.
The Baal Shem Tov turned back to the man in front of
him, who by now was becoming somewhat uncomfortable at the Baal Shem Tov’s
prolonged silence. The Baal Shem Tov told him to travel to Brody, and there to
look up a man called Shabsai Meir. "This Shabsai Meir," the Baal Shem Tov
explained, "has a great reputation for hospitality, and surely will invite you
for Shabbos. You should accept, and after Shabbos, when the time comes for you
to depart from Brody, thank him appropriately for his hospitality and then ask
him to give you a blessing for Heavenly salvation in the merit of his great
accomplishments in tzedaka."
The Jew went to Brody, of course, and spent Shabbos as
one of the many guests of Shabsai Meir. He was deeply impressed by his host, who
served each of his guests generously from the best that he had. On Sunday, when
he went to take leave of his host, he requested his blessing in the way the Baal
Shem Tov had instructed.
R. Shabsai Meir blessed him fervently with all his
heart.
It worked.
Shabsai Meir was able to save him through the merit of his many deeds of kindness.
Even though the Baal Shem Tov himself with all his
powers couldn’t help this Jew directly, R. Shabsai Meir was able to save him
through the merit of his many deeds of kindness.
Connection to weekly Torah reading: Gen. 26:12-14 plus commentaries
Translated-adapted from Ahavat Yisrael
#10 (based on a letter from the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak
Schneersohn).
Biographical note:
>Rabbi Yisrael 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 passed away on the festival of Shavuot in 1760.
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 Kehot.
Copyright 2003 by KabbalaOnline.org. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this work or portions thereof, in any form, unless with permission, in writing, from Kabbala Online.
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