Showing posts with label KESER SHEM TOV. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label KESER SHEM TOV. Show all posts

    Thursday, 4 February 2010

    KESER SHEM TOV - Yitro

    Author: Aryeh | Posted at: Thursday, February 04, 2010 | Filed Under: , , , , , , , , , |

    Anthology of the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov


    Kst-72

    The Baal Shem Tov taught:1

    Regarding thoughts, there are many different types of thoughts, some good, some evil. But even within falsehood there is truth, for the numerical value of falsehood SheKeR is 600, which is inclusive of truth EmeT the numerical value of which is 441.2

    1Ben Porath Yoseph 126c.

    2This teaching is found in the quoted source immediately after the teaching of #71, and continues the same idea. All evil and falsehood conceals within it the good and the true, as alluded to by the numerical values the numerical value of evil (280) is also greater than of good (17), the large difference perhaps implying that good is frequently extremely hidden within evil, whereas falsehood must contain a large amount of truth in order for it to be accepted.

    Translation and commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett.

    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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    Friday, 29 January 2010

    KESER SHEM TOV - Bashalach

    Author: Aryeh | Posted at: Friday, January 29, 2010 | Filed Under: , , , , , , , , , |

    Anthology of the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov


    Kst - 71

    The Baal Shem Tov taught:1

    When one feels that one's service of G-d is not going well, one should acknowledge that the appropriate verse at this time is, "I [G-d] have sworn in My wrath/Aph [that they will not enter My peaceful Sanctuary]."2

    For even during a period of Divine wrath - Aph - one must realize that this is only a manifestation of the eight lower Sephirot 1 below Binah, 4 and that even in the Aph - the Phe - is hidden the letter Aleph, representing the Aluph/Leader of the World. In this way, one sweetens 5 the Aph, the Divine wrath.

    1 Ben Porat Yoseph 126c.

    2Psalms 95:11.

    3The letters aph inverted are the Hebrew letter Phe, which is numerically equivalent to 80, a integer of 8, representing the eight lower Sephirot, each of which is a complete holographic system of the ten Sephirot, as is known.

    4Binah is the lower of the two upper Sephirot connected with knowledge and understanding, while in comparison, the eight lower Sephiroth as a whole are connected with a lack of understanding and with constrictions, which give rise to such periods of Divine wrath. The implication here is that one must bring this higher understanding -this experiential reality - into one's period of constricted consciousness.

    5The use of the metaphor, "sweetening" the judgments, used so extensively in Chassidic texts, alludes that what is "done" does not change the essence of the Aph, but only makes it palatable to us, just as sweetener makes food palatable. This fits in with the idea of the previous two teachings (#69 and #70), that all evil is only from our perspective, and we transform evil by transforming our awareness, and recognizing it as concealed Divine love.

    Translation and commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett.

    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

    Share this post!

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    About

         Yisrael Ben Eliezer, later known as The Baal Shem Tov (The Master of the Good Name), was born on the 18th of Elul 5458 (August 27, 1698) to Rabbi Eliezer and his wife Sarah. They lived in the small village Okup on the Russian Polish border. Both Rabbi Eliezer and Sarah were already very old when their first child, little Srulik (Israel) was born.

         The days passed quickly and when Srulik was only five years old, his father Rabbi Eliezer died. The last words his father said to him were "Israel my son, you have a very holy soul, don't fear anything but G-d". Soon thereafter, his mother Sarah also died.

         Young Israel, now an orphan, was adopted by the local community and educated as was common in Jewish communities at that time. That is, he probably learned to read Hebrew by four, to translate the bible from the original at five, and began Talmud at about eight. By the time he entered his teens, he was probably fluent in both Bible and Talmud.

         The tradition is that young Israel was different from other children. He would often go into fields and woods and mountains, spending many hours alone, speaking to G-d. Not having parents, it's not surprising he would go into nature to seek out his Father in Heaven. At an early age he was aware of the presence of G-d in all aspects of life.

         Rabbi Israel first revealed himself to the world on Lag BaOmer, 5585 (May 22, 1734). Then Rabbi Israel moved to Talust and became famous as a holy man. Next he moved to Medzibusch in Western Ukraine for the remainder of his life.

         In Medzibusch, his fame spread and students attached themselves to him. Not only were ordinary people attracted to him, but some of the greatest Rabbinical luminaries also joined with him.

         Although very few documents written by Rabbi Israel still exist, many stories and teachings have been passed down to the present time.

         He became known as the Baal Shem Tov - the Master of the Good Name.

         As Rabbi Israel's fame spread, so did an opposition (Misnagdim) begin to grow.

         Being a living legend, the Baal Shem Tov spent most of his time in worship, serving G-d, teaching his disciples, and giving blessings to the thousands that came to see him.

         The Baal Shem Tov passed away on Shavuos, 5520 (May 23, 1760) having founded the Chassidic movement that lives on today.

    Please share this with another so that the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov become publicized and revealed to the world.

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