(from a speech I gave this weekend)

On one of the nights in Miami, we had people from all over the world in the Rav and Karen’s room. There is a story often told by students of the Bal Shem Tov that helps us to put things in perspective. It’s a powerful story and I think it can open our eyes in many ways.

On the last day of Pesach, all the students would have what is called the meal of the Bal Shem Tov. This meal occurred during Pesach. One of the grandsons of the Bal Shem Tov should tell this story every year.

I’ll read it in the original so we can awaken that Light and not simply the understanding. We know that in the time of the Bal Shem Tov there were two great souls, The Bal Shem Tov and Rabbi Or Chaim. We know that before the Bal Shem Tov became revealed as a righteous person, he spent a large part of his life as a concealed righteous person. Before his revelation to the world, he desired to be with this other great soul. He knew that if the two souls came together, they could bring the coming of Mashiach because they had two parts of the soul of King David. We know the final correction is brought upon by King David. One of them had Nefesh and the other Ruach. The Bal Shem Tov knew if those two great souls came together, they would bring about the revelation of the Mashiach.

So before the Bal Shem Tov was going to Israel to meet the Or Chaim, he asked his brother-in-law to ask if it was time yet. He asked him to find out if their two souls could meet. Is it time for the great revelation?

The answer he sent to the Bal Shem Tov was: The way you will know it is time to come meet me is if, in your meditation, you can see my face and my entire body is complete. If you don’t see my entire body, then it’s not time yet.

It’s a story with tremendous depth on many levels. As the Bal Shem Tov is trying to see the complete form, he sees the whole body, the feet, but he can’t see the ankles.

But the Bal Shem Tov did not get the message before he left to go on the trip to meet the Or Chaim, although he had asked his brother-in-law to find out, and the answer had been not to come if he couldn’t see the entire body. He did not get the answer in time and he left to meet the Or Chaim.

Of course, the negative side was doing everything it could to stop this meeting. The Bal Shem Tov was on the boat traveling toward Israel when a very large storm arose. The Bal Shem Tov realized he might not make it if he continued on his path. Maybe it wasn’t the right time to go. The second he made that decision, the storm receded. Then the negative side became so strong that it thought it could finish off the Bal Shem Tov. After the storm subsided, the boat docked and everybody left the boat.

The Bal Shem Tov was left by himself with his daughter and with one of his students, the scribe. Negative people came on the boat, tied him up and started beating him. They were about to kill him.

And the Bal Shem Tov fell to such a level that he forget everything. He forgot all that he had learned, all the wisdom he had ever received.

Then the student, the scribe that was with him, said, “Can you do something to help us? We are about to be killed.” Before this, the Bal Shem Tov could do miracles, and now the student was asking for help.

The Bal Shem Tov said, “I don’t remember anything.” He asked his student, “Do you remember anything that can help us out?” The student said, “I don’t remember anything, either. All I can remember is how to say the alef bet – alef, bet, gimel, dalet.” The Bal Shem Tov said, “I don’t even remember the alef bet. You say it. Say each letter and I’ll repeat it after you.” So the Bal Shem Tov repeated each letter after the scribe.

Through the saying of the alef bet, the Bal Shem Tov received all his wisdom and power and energy back. He created a miracle and they were saved.

There is so much within the story we cannot possibly go into all of it. but there is one more thing I want to share. Why didn’t the Bal Shem Tov see the ankles of the Or Chaim?

We know that all of humanity is in the form of man. We are now at the ankles, then lowest part. All our souls today are of the lowest parts. When our souls are corrected, then it is the end of the correction.

The Bal Shem Tov knew there was a very good chance that through his decision to help our souls he might put himself in danger, but he was ready to do that. That’s why he forgot everything. When he made the decision to throw himself all the way down to the lowest level, he forgot everything.

He threw himself down to the lowest of the souls, to those who don’t even know the alef bet. Through throwing himself into that lowest of levels, he was able to assist in their elevation.

The reason this story is always told at this time of year is because it actually happened at this time of year. When you see things in the history about the correction of the world, it helps us to understand how to do things in a stronger, deeper, more intense way.

Shabbat shalom.