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.
V'yikra
I. Conceit
1. 'Neither leavening nor honey shall you burn... As a first-fruit
offering you may use them, but they may not go upon the altar'
(V'yikra* 2.11-12)
'Leavening' and 'honey' are a remez* for conceit that 'burns' in a
person like a fire offering brought on the altar. It causes a
person's heart to wax and he desires to be a leader of people even
though he is not worthy of it. For this reason the verse says that
you shall not burn of it as a fire offering to HaShem*, i.e. to serve
HaShem with conceit.
'Only a first fruit offering', i.e. in the beginning, when one starts
to come close to the service of HaShem. Then one may serve with
'conceit' [in order to give him a push in that direction.] But after
he has begun, 'to the altar above one may not offer it [conceit] as a
pleasing offering to HaShem'. This is because HaShem has no pleasure
in those who are conceited or arrogant. As it says, 'An abomination
to Hashem are all those people with arrogant hearts.' [This is true]
even if he has only a little bit of conceit.
This idea can also be found with the Tzaddikim* who have been serving
HaShem for a long time. They serve HaShem with both 'conceit' and
'humility'. Before they approach to HaShem to do a great mitzvah, or
to learn Torah* or to pray they are on a level of being 'far' from
HaShem. [It is as if they are only now starting to serve Him.] At
that time it would not be possible for them to approach Hashem if
they didn't have a little 'conceit'. That is because the Yetzer
HaRah* comes and tells him that he is not worthy of this great
mitzvah or this type of service to HaShem [or to teach others the way
of serving HaShem.] Therefore he must 'raise his heart up in the
service of HaShem.'
This is what Chazal* say, 'Why was Adam created alone? In order to
say that for me the world was created.' If you have this in mind,
then wFrom: mshulman@ix.netcom.com(Moshe Shulman)
Subject: CHASSIDUS v. 1 # 11
To: mshulman@jer1.co.il
V'yikra
I. Conceit
1. 'Neither leavening nor honey shall you burn... As a first-fruit
offering you may use them, but they may not go upon the altar'
(V'yikra* 2.11-12)
'Leavening' and 'honey' are a remez* for conceit that 'burns' in a
person like a fire offering brought on the altar. It causes a
person's heart to wax and he desires to be a leader of people even
though he is not worthy of it. For this reason the verse says that
you shall not burn of it as a fire offering to HaShem*, i.e. to serve
HaShem with conceit.
'Only a first fruit offering', i.e. in the beginning, when one starts
to come close to the service of HaShem. Then one may serve with
'conceit' [in order to give him a push in that direction.] But after
he has begun, 'to the altar above one may not offer it [conceit] as a
pleasing offering to HaShem'. This is because HaShem has no pleasure
in those who are conceited or arrogant. As it says, 'An abomination
to Hashem are all those people with arrogant hearts.' [This is true]
even if he has only a little bit of conceit.
This idea can also be found with the Tzaddikim* who have been serving
HaShem for a long time. They serve HaShem with both 'conceit' and
'humility'. Before they approach to HaShem to do a great mitzvah, or
to learn Torah* or to pray they are on a level of being 'far' from
HaShem. [It is as if they are only now starting to serve Him.] At
that time it would not be possible for them to approach Hashem if
they didn't have a little 'conceit'. That is because the Yetzer
HaRah* comes and tells him that he is not worthy of this great
mitzvah or this type of service to HaShem [or to teach others the way
of serving HaShem.] Therefore he must 'raise his heart up in the
service of HaShem.'
This is what Chazal* say, 'Why was Adam created alone? In order to
say that for me the world was created.' If you have this in mind,
then w in the Torah or Chazal.] Then his
heart within him is gripped with fear and his soul feels broken in
pieces.
The wicked to whom doing a serious sin comes as easily to him as
doing a lighter one, should be like the Tzaddik to whom the smallest
of things is as if it were the most serious sin. And the Tzaddik's
soul mourns over them [as if they were the most serious offenses],
and he is filled with a great fear because of them. (p. 54 sefer
Noah Elimeilech teachings of the Rebbe Reb* Elimeilech of Lizensk)
* * *
3. 'When [Heb. asher] the prince [Heb. nasi] will sin and do one of
the mitzvos that HaShem commanded not to do, unintentionally, and he
is guilty.' (V'yikra 4.22)
Chazal say that the word 'when' [Heb. asher] in this verse has the
same meaning as the word 'praised' [Heb. asherei]. [They understand
the verse as saying 'praised is the generation where their prince
sins and brings an offering. We] need to understand why it first says
in this verse 'unintentionally' and then it says 'he is guilty' which
implies that he acted intentionally?
We can explain this verse as a remez to an idea that is well known.
The midah from 'conceit' is the source of all sins. Because of
'conceit' a person can come to violate every prohibition in the
Torah.
The Torah has many verses that teach us this. The verse says, 'Your
heart will rise up and you will forget HaShem your G-d.' Forgetting
HaShem is the cause of sins as it says, 'Be careful that you should
not forget HaShem your G-d and you will not observe His mitzvos.' [We
see that forgetting HaShem causes him to sin.] Chazal also say,
'Everyday his Yetzer* overpowers him. If HaShem would not help him,
he would not be able to overcome it.' However if he is conceited then
Chazal teach that HaShem says 'Me and him cannot abide in the same
place.' HaShem removes Himself from him, and he is left in the power
of his Yetzer HaRah which will overpower him, and do with him what it
wants.
The person who is overcome by 'conceit', HaShem humiliates and puts
him in the hands of his Yetzer HaRah. Then this person comes to do a
sin by error. If he repents HaShem will raise him up. However
if he does not repent, and he does not examine his actions to
understand why HaShem was not standing by his side, but HaShem
allowed him to come to an accidental sin, he will fall further. He
will then fall into a intentional sins.
This is the meaning of the word 'when' in this verse. 'When the
prince' i.e. when he holds himself great like a prince, and is
conceited, then he will come to sin. HaShem will cause him to do an
unintentional sin. And if he does not examine his actions then he
will fall further, and he will do an intentional sin. That is the
meaning of 'and he is guilty'. And if he will repent then HaShem will
raise him up [even if the sin was intentional.] (p. 221 sefer Orach
L'Chaim teachings of Rebbe* Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov.)
* * *
III. Countering the Yetzer HaRah
4. 'And he shall slaughter it on the Northern side of the Altar
before HaShem.' (V'yikra 1.11)
This verse is talking about the Yetzer HaRah. The Torah is telling us
how to slaughter it. The verse explains that there are three ways
[the Yetzer HaRah comes to a person]: 1. 'Side' refers to sexual
desires. 2. 'Altar' refers to desires for food. [The altar refers
to this] because the table is called an altar. 3. 'North' refers to
desires for money as the verse says 'From the north comes gold'.
This verse is teaching us that he should make himself holy in these
three things and he will be able to come 'before HaShem.' (p. 107
Vol. 1 sefer Ner Yisroel teachings of Rebbe Yisroel of Rizhin and his
children. This is from the holy Rizhiner.)
* * *
IV. Rebbe Yitzchok of Boyan
5. Rebbe Yitzchok of Boyan was the third son of Rebbe Avraham Yakov
of Sadigora, the son of the Holy Rebbe Yisroel of Rizhin. He was also
the son-in-law of Rebbe Yochanan of Rachmistrivka, the son of Rebbe
Mordechai of Chernoble. After his father died, he was Rebbe together
with his brother in Sadigora for a few years until he moved his
residence to Boyan, and founded the Chassidic dynasty that exists
until today. The present Boyaner Rebbe, who leads the many Boyaner
Chasidim all over the world, lives in Israel and is the son of Rebbe
Yitzchok's granddaughter. His yortzheit is the 16th of Adar (February
23 and March 25 this year)
*
Reb* Yosel Horenshtein told the following story: Once he was in
Sadigora during the summer months when the Boyaner Rebbe's father was
still alive. The Boyaner Rebbe was preparing to go to a vacation spot
where there were the baths [that many people used to go to for health
reasons.] After the morning prayers the carriage was waiting to take
the Boyaner Rebbe, but he was busy going around and taking leave from
his brothers and brothers-in-law. Reb Dovid Arntinburg noticed that
the Boyaner Rebbe's hat was not in it's proper place, but was pushed
up. He went to the Rebbe and said to him, 'The Rebbe's hat has moved
and it is not in it's normal place.' To which the Rebbe answered,
'How can I move my hat down since my father (the Sadigora Rebbe)
moved up my hat when I took leave of him, and he gave me a kiss on
the forehead.' (p. 96 vol. 6 sefer Ner Yisroel teachings from Rebbe
Yisroel of Rizhin and his descendants)
*
One time he (Reb Yosel) and his brother went in to the room of the
Boyaner Rebbe to ask his advice with regards to the new shul that
they had built in their town. They wanted to paint the shul, but
there were differences of opinions among the people praying there.
Some said they should paint it a single color and others said they
should paint it multiple colors. They wanted to hear what the Rebbe
had to say on this matter. The Rebbe answered them, 'You are asking
about painting? Maybe it should be painted that they shouldn't talk
during prayers.' (p. 100 vol. 6 sefer Ner Yisroel teachings from
Rebbe Yisroel of Rizhin and his descendants)
Zechisom Yugan Aleini v'Al Kol Yisroel
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Glossary:
Chazal: Hebrew initials for: Chochmenu Zichrona Levaracha (Our sages
of Blessed memory) Used to refer to Rabbis of the Talmud
HaShem: Noun used in place of G-d. Lit. The Name
midah(midos): A character trait, either good or bad.
Reb: A title added to a persons name as a sign of respect.
Rebbe: Leader of a Chassidic group or a teacher
Rebbe Reb: A title added to a few special Rebbes as a sign of their
higher spiritual stature.
remez: A method of Biblical interpretation based on finding hints
in the Torah for various concepts.
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
Tzaddik (Tzaddikim): lit. Righteous. Another name for a Chassidic
Rebbe.
V'yikra: Hebrew for the book of Leviticus
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
Zohar: Hebrew/Aramaic Rabbinical Kabbalistical work that is one of
the most important sources for Kabbalah, and was very influential
with Chasidim
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Copyright (c) 1997 by Moshe Shulman (mshulman@virtual.co.il)
All rights reserved.
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