The"[These words] shall [also] be a sign on your arm and an insignia in the center of your head." (Bo 13:16)
"These words" indicates that this chapter of the Torah must be included in the Tefillin (phylacteries), which are worn as a sign on one's arm and head. The center of your head is written literally as "between your eyes." This is an idiom that means between your eyes and just above the hairline. Insignia means frontlets or totafos in Hebrew.
During the time of the Baal Shem Tov, it was common for travelers to stay at inns. Many of those small inns were leased by Jewish innkeepers from the gentile landowners.
Prior to revelation of Rabbenu Baal Shem Tov as a spiritual giant, he would disguise himself as an ignorant, albeit pious peasant and was simply known as Reb Israel. Rabbi Gershon Kitover, his brother-in- law, wanted to help his sister, the Baal Shem Tov's wife Chana, with their material needs, so he attempted to find local employment for Reb Yisrael. But the Baal Shem Tov proved unsuitable for any work and an embarrassment to Rabbi Gershon who was well known as a famous Talmud Chocham and Rav (expert in Jewish law) in his city of Kitov. In desperation, Rabbi Gershon rented an inn in a small village where Reb Yisrael could make a living and support his wife.
When the couple took over the inn, the Baal Shem Tov built a small study house in the nearby forest where he studied all week with his Heavenly spiritual master Achiya HaShaloni. It was during this time that the Baal Shem Tov reached his spiritual perfection. Rebbetzyn Chana tended to the inn.
Whenever a guest would arrive, she would send for the Baal Shem Tov and he would return to serve their guests. No one suspected that Reb Israel was anything other than a simple Jewish innkeeper.
For the High Holidays, it was the Baal Shem Tov's custom to close the inn and spend the entire month with Rebbetzyn Chana in the city of Kitov.
Once during the intermediate days of Succot (an eight day holiday following Yom Kippur), Rabbi Gershon noticed that his brother-in-law was not putting on Tefillin during his prayers. The fact was obvious to everyone in the Synogogue since the Baal Shem Tov davened by the eastern wall at the front of the synagogue. Feeling quite annoyed with Reb Israel, Rabbi Gershon asked, "Reb Yisrael, why didn't you put on your Tefillin today?"
The Baal Shem Tov answered, "I saw an interpretation in a particular holy sefer (book) that he who puts on Tefillin during the intermediate days (between the first two and last two days of the holiday) is sentenced to death."
Rabbi Gershon turned from annoyed and angry that his wife's brother was following the customs of the Kabbalist from Germany instead of the prevailing customs of the Jewry of Galicia. So he took him to the Rav of the city to discuss the matter.
When they came to the house of the Rav, Rabbi Gershon touched the mezuzah at the entranceway and then kissed his fingers, as is the custom. The Baal Shem Tov also touched the Mezuzah but didn't kiss his fingers. When Rabbi Gershon saw this, he became angrier, "Reb Yisrael, what is wrong with you?"
When Rabbi Gershon and the Baal Shem Tov entered the study of the Rav, the Baal Shem Tov removed the spiritual disguise from his face. The Rav saw a great spiritual light shining from the Baal Shem Tov's face and immediately stood up. The Baal Shem Tov then replaced his spiritual disguise and the Rav sat down.
This happened several times. The Rav was bewildered and frightened because Reb Yisrael first looked like a holy man and then returned to looking like a simple man.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Gershon looked at the Rav's strange antics and wondered what was going on. Rabbi Gershon explained to the Rav about Reb Yisrael's refusal to put on Tefillin and his failure to kiss the Mezuzah.
The Rabbi took the Baal Shem Tov aside and asked him, "Who are you? Please tell me the truth."
The Baal Shem Tov disclosed to the Rav that in fact he was a holy man but ordered him not to tell anyone what he saw or heard. "You are the first to see my true nature because the time has not yet arrived for me to reveal my spiritual status to others."
When they returned to Rabbi Gershon, the Rav said, "I have discussed the matters with him. He would not knowingly disregard our customs. He acted in innocence."
As soon as Rabbi Gershon and the Baal Shem Tov left, the Rav examined his Mezuzah. Sure enough, he found that it was defective.
And so it was.
Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn. Patent Attorney) from a story in SHIVCHEI HABESHT and translated in IN PRAISE OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV by Mintz and Ben Amos.
BAAL SHEM TOV FOUNDATION
The Baal Shem Tov Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, uses emails, teleclasses and other material to spread and publicize the Torah of the Baal Shem Tov throughout the world. Please visit us at www.baalshemtov.com to learn more about the Baal Shem Tov and the work of the Foundation.
The goal of the Foundation is to hasten the imminent coming of the Moshiach (Messiah) by acting on the answer of the Moshiach to the Baal Shem Tov's question: 'When are you coming Master?' (The Moshiach answered) "When your teachings have become well-known and revealed throughout the world, and when your well springs have spread outwards, imparting to others what I have taught you, so that they too will be able to perform contemplative unifications and ascents of the soul…" [quoted from a letter from the Baal Shem Tov to his brother-in-law Rabbi Gershon Kitover.]
One of the major projects of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation is the World Wide Mezuzah Campaign whose goal is to insure that every Jewish person in the world has a kosher Mezuzah attached to the doorpost of their home.
Please visit www.mezuzah.net for more information.
Tzvi Meir is always available for questions and to support your work in this area.
Tzvi Meir Cohn (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney)
21625 Chagrin Blvd. #220
Beachwood, Ohio 44122
800-613-0955
bst_times@baalshemtov.com
www.baalshemtov.com
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