Baal Shem Tov, R. Israel

When the man saw me he asked: "What is a small child doing all alone in the forest? Are you not afraid to be in the forest all by yourself?"

Holding little Shaul by the hand, the Baal Shem Tov stood for a few moments among the the crowd of noisy, drunken peasants. Then he clapped his hands to get their attention. “Silence!” he called out in their language, which the Baal Shem Tov knew ...

The Baal Shem Tov helps a would-be thief repent.

The holy beggar's face was transformed. His eyes began to glow with a divine light, and his coarse features assumed a sublime grace...

Angels don’t say l’chaim on Simchat Torah, so they arose to sing G-d’s praises in the heavens at the usual time. They found heaven littered with strange objects: torn slippers, broken heels. "Yes," admitted the angel Michoel, "this is my merchandise"

When the two neighbors would pass each other in the yard, the scholar would throw the crass materialist a look of contempt and hurry on to his holy pursuits

The Baal Shem Tov was once asked: "Why do Chassidim burst into song and dance at the slightest provocation? Is this the behavior of a sane person?"

The young prodigy overheard the exchange between the rabbi and the wagon driver. He could scarcely believe his ears. A pound of candles to atone for violating the holy Shabbat?

Their leader spotted a beautiful bird perched atop a tall tree. "Come," he said to his disciples, "I wish to capture this bird, so that we may delight in her song and gaze upon her wondrous hues"

"No, no," came the impatient reply from within. "Everything is in perfect condition. There's no need for any repairs"