CHASSIDUS BS'D
DERECH HaBAAL SHEM TOV
Ahavas HaShem, Ahavas Yisroel, Ahavas HaTorah
THE WAY OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV
Love of G-d, Love of fellow Jews, Love of the Torah
Note: A '*' next to a word indicates that it is translated/explained
in the glossary at the end. Three '*' (* * *) in the text indicates a
break between two sections. A single '*' (*) indicates a separation
between different teachings on the same subject. Anything found
between '[' and ']' are my comments and do not appear in the source
material. Everything else is from the original as is cited at the end
of the article.
Matos-Maasai
I. Helping one's fellow
1. 'Your servants have taken a count of the men of war under our
command and not one of them is missing.' (Bamidbar* 31.49)
It is well known [the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov that] the Torah*
is eternal [and it has lessons for all times. The lesson here is]
that every one should help his fellow so that he can stand up against
his Yetzer HaRah*. He should also help his fellow so he will be able
to do mitzvos*. Even if the person himself cannot do the mitzvah he
will be raised up [spiritually] by his fellow's doing the mitzvah.
[Because he has helped him to do it he has a part in those mitzvos
and is then raised up spiritually by them.]
(Note: This is because of the principle of 'areivos.' [Hebrew for
mixed, meaning that every Jew is connected together with his fellow
Jew.] Because of that principle every Jew is raised up by the mitzvos
of his fellow Jew. With Moshe it was like this, since his soul
included all of the 600,000 souls of the Jewish people. Therefore,
through his service of HaShem* all of the Jewish people were raised
up spiritually, so that everyone of them could be a help to his
fellow Jew. It could also be said that by being attached to a
Tzaddik* he will be able to help his friend to do mitzvos. [Which is
what we have seen with regards to Moshe, who was the Tzaddik of his
generation.])
This is the meaning of the verse:
'Your servants.' [Heb. avdechah] This means your service [{Heb.
avdos} of HaShem.]
'Have taken a count [Heb. nasu] of the men of war.' This refers to
the war with the Yetzer HaRah. [There is a constant war with the
Yetzer HaRah, which is trying to keep him from doing mitzvos.] Each
one raises up [Heb. nasu] his fellow, to help his friend to do his
mitzvah.
'And not one of them is missing.' Not a single person is missing
[because there is] another who is helping him. [Every Jew is raised
up by either his fellow or by his attachment to the Tzaddik] (p. 67
sefer Razin D'Oraysa teachings of Rebbe* Velvel of Zabriz.)
* * *
II. Conceit
2. 'This shall be for you the border in the north, from the great sea
you shall turn to Mount Hor, and from Mount Hor you shall turn until
you approach Chamas, the outskirts of the border shall be Tzidadah.'
(Bamidbar 34.7-8)
This verse of the Torah is teaching us musar* [in how to serve
HaShem.] Chazal tell us that the Yetzer HaRah has seven names. [One
of them was given by the prophet] Yoel [who] called it 'Tzufoni'. As
it says, 'You should keep away from the Tzufoni.' [It is called this]
because it is hidden [Heb. Tzufon] and buried within the heart of a
person.
The way of the Yetzer HaRah is that when he sees a person who
strengthens himself with the fear of HaShem, and it is not possible
to make him sin, he causes this person to think that he is a great
Tzaddik, who is strong in his fear of G-d. Since this person has
fallen into conceit it is easy for the Yetzer HaRah to get him to do
things that are forbidden by the Torah.
Chazal* teach in the Talmud* Kiddushin* (30) 'A person's Yetzer tries
to overcome him every day, and it tries to kill him, as it says "The
wicked waits for the Tzaddik in order to kill him." If it were not
for the help of HaShem, he would not be able to overcome it. As the
verse says, "G-d does not leave me over in his hands."'
However the person who falls into conceit does not have this help
from HaShem. As we learn from Sotah* (5) [with regards to the one who
is conceited, HaShem says,] 'Me and him cannot dwell together in one
place. [As the verse says, ] "It is an abomination to HaShem all
those whose hearts are filled with conceit."' [Since HaShem is not
there to help him] he will come to do all those things forbidden in
the Torah through the wiles of the Yetzer HaRah.
This is the meaning of the verse:
'This shall be for you the border in the north.' This is the border
of the Yetzer HaRah. [This is what will separate you from the
clutches of the Yetzer HaRah, which is hidden in you.]
'From the great sea.' It is well known that the sea is a remez for
the fear of G-d. [As Chazal teach that the color of the sea is like
that of heaven... which is like that of the throne of Glory.] That is
the meaning of 'from the great sea.' These are the people who are
great in their fear of HaShem. [Fear of HaSHem is the border.]
'You shall turn to Mount Hor.' This means that he is caused to feel
conceited. [This is a remez to conceit] because this mountain, [Mount
Hor,] is higher then the mountains around it. [The meaning being
that] he thinks that he is greater then those around him.
'And from Mount Hor you shall turn until you approach Chamas.' This
is according to the words of Chazal in Sotah (4), that the one who is
conceited is as if he is a heretic. Certainly he will come to do all
kinds of sins that the Torah forbids. This is the meaning of 'And
from Mount Hor you shall turn until you approach Chamas.' The one who
is conceited, and is called 'Mount Hor' will come to do all kinds of
sins. HaShem will hate him, 'because it is an abomination to HaShem
all those whose hearts are filled with conceit.'
'The outskirts of the border shall be Tzidadah.' The one who is
conceited is hated by people as is stated in the Tosephos Yom Tov*,
on Pirkei Avos* (Mishnah* 21 of chapter 4), 'There is no person more
hated by people then the one who runs after honor.' Since he is hated
by people, he has arguments with them all the time. And he asks those
on each side [Heb. l'Tzadadim] that they should support him. That is
the meaning of 'The outskirts of the border shall be Tzidadah.' He
asks those on each side [of the argument] to support him. (p. 339
sefer Orach L'Chaim teachings of Rebbe Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov.)
* * *
III. Traveling through life.
3. "These are the travels of the children of Israel" (Bamidbar 33:1)
It would appear that the Inyan* of the travels of the children of
Israel can be understood by what is said in many seforim* that each
person is called a 'traveler'. Because he travels each day from one
level [of service of HaShem] to another.
I heard from Mori* the Holy Rabbi of Peshischa ZT'L*: It is not
possible for any Jew to stay on one level [in his service to HaShem].
If he does not improve his midos* and deeds today over what was
yesterday it is certain that this day was of a poor quality and he is
on a lower level [in his service of HaShem] then on the day before
it. This is because a Jewish person is always moving either in a good
direction or a bad direction. This is the sod* of the travels of the
children of Israel.
The verses are coming to inform us and to teach us the way that we
should go in these travels. 'These are the travels of the children of
Israel.' This is the way that a Jew should travel through his life.]
'Who went out of the land of Egypt.' Before attaining any level [in
the service of HaShem] he is required to 'turn away from evil', which
is the bechina* of the 'Exodus from Egypt.' [Egypt refers to] the
source of uncleanliness and bad midos. And then he attains the level
of 'doing good,' to travel from one level to another level until the
level of 'You shall be Holy'. [i.e. entering the Holy Land - Israel]
(p. 158 Kedushas HaYehudi a collection of the teachings of the Yid
HaKodesh [the Holy Jew] Rebbe Yakov Yitzchok of Peshischa)
* * *
IV. Tshuva*
4. 'The land shall be conquered before HaShem and then you shall
return.' (Bamidbar 32.22)
It appears to me that there is a remez* in this verse. It is well
known that when a person sins (G-d forbid) he gets caught up in his
sins [and it is very hard for him to separate from them.] The cure
for this is that he should do tshuva sincerely before HaShem, and
then he should try to correct those sins he has done [in the past.]
[After that] he needs to strengthen himself greatly so that he should
not return, once again, to his foolish ways. [If he would return to
them] he would be like a dog who returns to its own vomit. He has to
hold himself fast [to the path he has taken] and not turn [away from
this path] so that he should not return to his past evil ways.
The truth is that to do this he needs help from Above. [It is not
totally within his power to reach this level.] This is the meaning of
the verse, 'HaShem your G-d will bring back your captivity.' [Heb.
shevisecha] The meaning is that HaShem will help you, and strengthen
you in order that your teshuva will be acceptable and you will not
fall from the level you have obtained.
This is the level of 'return to me and I will return to you.' HaShem,
because of His great mercy, strengthens the hand of the Baal Tshuva*.
Chazal teach [with regards to this], 'Open for Me like the eye of a
needle.' [First you should try a little on your part to do tshuva.]
'and I will open for you like the opening of the temple courtyard.'
[Then HaShem will help him and give him the strength to continue.]
This is because first he does tshuva [returning] to HaShem. Then
HaShem has mercy on him from His Holy Dwelling place and inspires him
to strengthen himself in the service of HaShem.
In order to merit to all of this he must overcome his physical nature
[and not be tied to it.] It should not become like a wall, that is
thick and stands before him, separating HaShem from the Baal Tshuva.
[If he will overcome his physical desires] HaShem will help him.
[This is because HaShem is the one who will] 'open the gates to those
who knock on them to do tshuva'.
With this we can now explain the verse:
'The land [Heb. HaAretz] shall be conquered before HaShem.' This
means he shall conquer his physical nature, [Heb. Artziyus] and
overcome them. This [refers to the time] before HaShem has helped him
with doing tshuva.
'And then you shall return.' This refers to after your tshuva when
you are rising higher and higher in the service of HaShem. However
the one who does not do this. [i.e. overcome his physical nature]
Even if he does tshuva sincerely, and it appears to him that his
tshuva was on a very high level. He will still fall from the level he
attains. All this is because he has not overcome his physical
desires.
This is the meaning of the verse, 'they traveled from the Sinai
Desert and they rested in Kivros HaTaiva. [Lit. the burying of
desires.] Even though in the desert of Sinai they merited to rise to
very high levels. They received the Torah, and heard HaShem's voice.
Even with this they brought themselves to bury their desires. (p.
214 sefer Tepheres Shlomoh teachings of Rebbe Shlomoh of Radomsk.)
* * *
V. Serving HaShem
5. "And Moshe said to the heads of the tribes of the children of
Israel saying, This is the thing that HaShem has commanded."
(Bamidbar 26.2)
[This verse deals with the laws of oaths.] Our Holy Rabbi, the Admor*
of Vorki ZT'L explained [with regards to this verse] that from the
words spoken by a person [i.e. his oath] we make a commandment of
HaShem. This means that if a person says 'I will do this', these
words become a command of HaShem that he is required to fulfil as if
it were any other commandment in the Holy Torah. From this we see how
important the words of a person are in the eyes of HaShem.
Perhaps we can explain this verse according to what has been
explained: there is a general principle [in the service of HaShem]
that a person should not do anything until after he has thought about
it. He should consider before Whom he stands and before Whom he must
stand in the future to make a reckoning of every single thing he has
done. He should consider before everything that he does if this
action will cause pleasure for the Creator, and if it is the will of
our G-d. If it is, only then should he think, or say, or do the thing
he had in mind. This is the meaning of the verse 'You shall go after
HaShem your G-d' (Devorim* 13.5). You should only go or say or do
'after HaShem you G-d.' You should first consider your Creator and
then [after you have considered HaShem] go and do the things you have
to do.
Perhaps this is hinted at in the verse: "And Moshe said to the heads
of the tribes of the children of Israel saying." [The word 'saying'
implies that] you should teach to the children of Israel.
"This is the thing that HaShem has commanded." You should consider
with your intellect before you say, or think, or do anything if this
is what 'HaShem has commanded.' [You should consider] if this will
bring pleasure to the Creator. Then you should do or say it. And if
not, then you shouldn't do or say it.
This idea is what it says in Shulchan Aruch* Orach Chaim* section
231, 'The sages said that all your actions should be for the sake of
Heaven, even those things that are not commandments, like eating or
sitting or standing, or intimate relations or speaking, or any of
your physical needs.' They should all be done as a service for the
Creator, or as something to cause you to be able to serve HaShem.
Even if you are hungry and thirsty, if you eat for your own enjoyment
this is not praiseworthy, but you should have in mind that you are
eating and drinking in order to have the strength to be able to serve
HaShem.
This is the meaning of what it says in Pirkei Avos (2.1) 'Understand
what is above you'. Even those things that you are doing because of
a physical need should be done for the service of HaShem. [They
should be done with the understanding that they are being done]
before the one who is above you.
This is what the verse says [after this] 'If a man makes an oath to
HaShem'. [Meaning] that he should be separated [from his desires] and
attached to HaShem.
He will only do that which will bring pleasure for HaShem. As is
written in a later verse, 'to forbid for himself.' That he should not
have in mind to do things only for himself, but that there should
come from his actions pleasure for HaShem. (p. 115 Teferes Shmuel Vol
2, teachings of Rebbe Shmuel Tzvi of Alexander ZT'l)
Zechisom Yugan Aleini v'Al Kol Yisroel
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Glossary:
Admor: Hebrew initials for: Adonenu Morenu VeRabenu (Our master, Our
teacher our Rabbi). This is a title commonly used with Chassidic
Rebbes. Admor of Ger, Admor of Satmer etc.
Baal Tshuva (Baalei Tshuva): Hebrew for someone who is a repentant
sinner.
Bamidbar: Fourth book of the Torah. Called in English Numbers
bechina(bechinos): a subdivision of an *Inyan. Every Inyan has many
bechinos.
Chazal: Hebrew initials for: Chochmenu Zichrona Levaracha (Our sages
of Blessed memory) Used to refer to Rabbis of the Talmud
Devorim: Fifth book of the Torah. Called in English 'Deuteronomy'.
HaShem: Noun used in place of G-d. Lit. The Name
Inyan: A spiritual concept or idea. A general idea as opposed to
specifics. The specifics would be *bechinos.
Kiddushin: tractate of the talmud
midah(midos): A character trait, either good or bad.
Mishnah: An ancient Jewish work made of specific laws.
mitzvah(mitzvos): One of the commandments of the Torah.
Mori: Hebrew for my teacher.
musar: Hebrew for moral instruction.
Orach Chaim: One of 4 sections of the Shulchan Aruch. This deals with
the laws that apply to each person on a daily basis, throughout
the year.
Pirkei Avos: A Tractate of the Mishnah
Rebbe: Leader of a Chassidic group or a teacher
remez: A method of Biblical interpretation based on finding hints
in the Torah for various concepts.
sefer(seforim): A Jewish religious book.
Shulchan Aruch: 15th/16th century book of Jewish law
sod: A method of Biblical interpretation based on describing secret
teachings in the Torah.
Sotah: A tractate of the Talmud
Talmud: An ancient work of Jewish law.
Torah: a. First 5 books of the Jewish Bible
b. Also refers to the whole of Jewish law
c. also common term for a chassidic teaching
Tosephos Yom Tov: Commentary on the Mishnah
Tshuva: Hebrew word for repentance
Tzaddik (Tzaddikim): lit. Righteous. Another name for a Chassidic
Rebbe.
Yetzer: lit. Inclination. It is Jewish belief that every Jew has both
an evil and good inclination within him, that are at 'war' to see
which of them the person will follow.
Yetzer HaRah: Heb. Evil Inclination.
Yetzer Tov: Heb. Good Inclination
ZT'L: Hebrew initials of the words: Zechor Tzaddik LeVaracha (The
memory of a Tzaddik - Righteous person is a blessing.)
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Copyright (c) 1997 by Moshe Shulman (mshulman@pobox.com)
All rights reserved.
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