Chai Elul
Birth of a movement
"Chai Elul" — the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Elul — is a most significant date on the Chassidic calendar. The founder of Chassidism, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, was born on this date, in 1698. It is also the day, 36 years later, on which the Baal Shem Tov began to publicly disseminate his teachings, after many years as a member of the society of "hidden tzaddikim" during which he lived disguised as a simple innkeeper and clay-digger, his greatness known only to a very small circle of fellow mystics and disciples.
Elul 18 is also the birthday — in 1745 — of the Baal Shem Tov's "spiritual grandson," Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad branch of Chassidism (Rabbi Schneur Zalman was the disciple of Rabbi Israel's disciple, Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch). After gaining fame as a child prodigy and young Talmudic genius, Rabbi Schneur Zalman journeyed to Mezeritch to study under the tutelage of the Baal Shem Tov's successor; as he later explained, "to study I knew somewhat, but I needed to learn how to pray." He was soon accepted into the intimate circle of Rabbi DovBer's leading disciples. Though the youngest of the group, his greatness was recognized by his master and his colleagues, and he played a leading role in the leadership of the Chassidic community. After Rabbi DovBer's passing in 1772, a number of his disciples made aliyah to the Holy Land and established Chassidic communities there, while others fanned out throughout Eastern Europe to establish Chassidic "courts" in their respective provinces. Rabbi Schneur Zalman settled in his native province of "Riessin" (Lithuania and White Russia) where he established the "Chabad" branch of Chassidism, which emphasizes in-depth study and intense contemplation as the key to vitalizing the entire person, from sublime mind to practical deed.
For more on the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Schneur Zalman and Chassidism, see the 41 essays and stories, published over the last five years on Chabad.org and assembled below:
On Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov:
The Baal Shem Tov's 16th Birthday
The Baal Shem Tov's Mysterious Journey to Leipzig
The Truth About the Baal Shem Tov
Thirty-Six Aphorisms of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov
On Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi:
Body: The Physical World According to Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
Twenty Eight Teachings from Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
On Chassidim and Chassidism:
The Abnormality of Jewish Life
On Elul 18
Every hundred years or so, a person comes along and changes the way we look at ourselves and our world. But there is something that is rarer still -- someone who will tell us something that we already know
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?"
When the holy was finally allowed to penetrate to the depths where it belongs, heaven was made a neighborhood
“Fundraising for bribes?” objected Rabbi Baruch. “Surely the matter can be dealt with in a more elevated way. Could you not teach our Jews the ‘echad’ of my holy grandfather?”
“Remember, Reb Ze’ev,” were the Baal Shem Tov’s parting words to him, “one must know how to properly answer a question. Weigh your words carefully before you speak . . .”
To each of his disciples Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov revealed his task in life, and one, who is the hero of our story, he instructed to become a wandering storyteller. “You will know when your mission is achieved,” the Besht added.
The holy beggar's face was transformed. His eyes began to glow with a divine light, and his coarse features assumed a sublime grace...
"No, no," came the impatient reply from within. "Everything is in perfect condition. There's no need for any repairs"
Finally, the great moment arrived. It was the morning of Rosh Hashanah, and Rabbi Ze’ev stood on the reading platform in the center of the Baal Shem Tov’s synagogue amidst the Torah scrolls, surrounded by a sea of tallit-draped bodies.
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"
"Perhaps I can help you," said the Baal Shem Tov. On small slips of paper he wrote, in simple Yiddish, "morning prayers," "addition for Mondays and Thursdays," "for Shabbat," and inserted them in the innkeeper's siddur
A tall thin man, wrapped in a black cloak, suddenly appeared at the open door. He looked silently around the room, walked to a corner and just stood there, staring at the Baal Shem Tov
There are many myths and legends about the Baal Shem Tov. Even the most fantastic ones, they say, are true. But there's one, very popular, myth that's not true: the Modern Jewish Legend of the Baal Shem Tov...
Everything is by Divine Providence. If a leaf is turned over by a breeze, it is only because this has been specifically ordained by G-d to serve a particular function within the purpose of creation.
"In Vilna one was taught how to study," recalled the Rebbe. "In Mezeritch one could learn how to pray..."
“Grind, mix, pour, squander the entire gemstone,” commanded the king. “Who knows? Perhaps a single drop will enter the mouth of my son, and he will be healed!”
As the most direct and simple line between two points, it is misleadingly the surest way to town; but in truth, the "direct approach" is a dead end
"You are a spy for Russia!" thundered Napoleon, and placed his hand upon my chest to feel the pounding heart of a man exposed
The fact that you cannot rationally understand something is no reason not to study it.
Which is loftier—spirit or matter? The soul or the body? The teachings of Rabbi Schneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chassidism, extol the first over the second, and then the second over the first, offering a unique and life-altering vision of reality.
The human psyche is home to two contrasting drives: a striving for freedom, and an impulse to submit to authority. Which should be given priority over the other? Or, to otherwise state the question: in what sort of environment would the Torah prefer to see the Jew—as a member of a free society, or as the subject of an authoritarian regime?
We detect two tendencies of thought on the place of alienation and loneliness in the Jewish analysis of the emotions. To state this contrast is not to formulate an opposition; simply to open another gate...
The room fell utterly silent. All were caught in the thrall of the melody, a melody of yearning and resolve, of ascent and retreat...
This is what man is all about; this is the purpose of his creation and of the creation of all the worlds, sublime and lowly -- to make for G-d a dwelling in the physical world ... A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness ...
They cherished these dresses dearly until, one day, they heard that in America the style was to wear short skirts. Now their dresses no longer seemed so beautiful...
“The flame is not yours,” said the Rebbe, “you are just its carrier. The lamp is ready to be lit—you need only touch it with the flame.” “Should I grab him by the throat?” asked the chassid. “By the throat, no,” replied the rebbe. “By the lapels, yes.”
He had his tallit over his shoulder and was obviously preparing for prayer. I gave him little thought until three and a half hours later when I got ready to leave for home. He was standing in the same place with his tallit still over his shoulder...
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?"
“What have you been doing for the last year?” asked the incensed father-in-law. “What have you accomplished wasting your time by those wild men?” “I learned that G‑d creates the world,” answered the young man.
At Belitza everyone gets off the wagon and proceeds on foot. But I, fearing that father would again forget me, remain on the wagon.
I find this battle terrifying, because I have no idea where it will lead. It forces me to confront the plaguing question: if I truly let G‑d in, what will He do to me once He is there? Who will I be?
I would describe myself as a Chassidic feminist. The two terms are not mutually exclusive, though their combination is not without tension...
People intuitively equate "normal" with good. In fact, normal is very bad. A person achieves normalcy when the molecules that comprised his being are in thermodynamic equilibrium with the environment, which is to say he is dust
He was full of gratitude to the wagon driver, but his gratitude did not keep him warm. After a few minutes huddled between the barrels, he was abruptly reminded that he was still freezing to death, and not being able to move didn’t help any.
Within every love, there is fear: The fear of separation from that which you love.
A child fears separation from her parents, a lover from his beloved, the body fears separation from the soul, and the soul from its Source Above.
So what do you love? Look at your worries and you will know. If you seethe in worry over you...
