Daled Amos (Free subscription) | 06/18/2008
At least on the issue of Hashgacha Pratis--Divine Providence--and Free Will. Dixie Yid has written an in-depth post giving an overview of how Chazal viewed the issue and along the way resolves an apparent contradiction in the Rambam. Check it out. Technorati Tag: Judaism and Torah.
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 06/04/2008
The Sudilkover Rebbe noted that on Shavuos in 1939 [May 24, 1939] the Communists permanently closed down and locked the Baal Shem Tov's shul in Mezhibuz. This occurred exactly 279 years to the day after the Baal Shem Tov passed away. Interestingly, the Rebbe explained that 279 is the gematria of ויסגר ("and it will be closed"). On Shavuos in 1942 [May 22, 1942], the Nazis along with help...
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 07/07/2008
דער בעש"ט זאגט: אז מ'באגעגענט וואסער זאל מען זאגן אז דער בעש"ט זאגט, אז דאס איז א סימן ברכה "When encountering water one should say that the Baal Shem Tov says that it is a sign of blessing."
Resources for Life.com (Free subscription) | 06/22/2008
... spiritual leaders and activists. Among them are the following (listed in random order): The Baal Shem Tov - The Founder of Hasidic Judaism Morihei Ueshiba - The Founder of Aikido (see photo above right) Buddha “ Gandhi ” (Mohandas K. Gandhi) His Holiness The Dalai Lama Mother Theresa Nelson Mandela Saint Francis of Assisi Muhammad Lao Tzu and Zhuangzi Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X Spike...
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 06/13/2008
(Picture by J. Bollinger) There is a minhag instituted by the Baal Shem Tov to recite Tehillim 107 every Erev Shabbos. Knowing that this chapter details the four categories of people whose lives were saved from death, a person may ask what connection do we have to the person released from imprisonment, the person who overcame a terrible sickness, the person who survived a journey through the...
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 06/13/2008
The yetzer hara thus entices you not to study whatever would bring you to fear of Heaven, such as devotional subjects, or Shulchan Aruch from which you would know the law properly. He entices you to study constantly nothing but the Talmud with all the commentaries. (Baal Shem Tov)
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 06/06/2008
If the Jewish people would sanctify themselves with Torah and mitzvos, they would continually hear the voice of Hashem speaking as from Mount Sinai. (Baal Shem Tov)
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 05/26/2008
... of Karlin by writing that all of the Rebbes had different paths within the larger path of the Baal Shem Tov and the Magid, yet they all wound up at the same destination. Each one found particular nekudos through which he thought was the best way to reach the intended destination in avodas Hashem. I think this is important vis a vis the previous discussions as to whether there is one authoritative...
www.770EasternParkway.com (Free subscription) | 05/23/2008
... well as portals of engagement," noted Schmidt, who also plays guitar for a group called the Baal Shem Tov Band. In 1993, Schmidt started the Jewish Heritage Programs in order to facilitate peer-to-peer programs that would focus on Jewish identity. Begun at the University of Pennsylvania, it now holds events throughout Philadelphia, as well as in New York and Florida. Specifically, Schmidt...
Heichal HaNegina (Free subscription) | 05/21/2008
Tonight and tomorrow is the 17th of Iyar, and the Yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov’s grandson, Rebbe Moshe Chaim Efraim of Sudylkov , known for his sefer , the Degel Machaneh Efraim . [The full text of the sefer can be found here , in PDF format.] Be sure to read my previous posts, if you haven't already: Rebbe Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudylkov - A Simple Jew LEV HA'OMER - REDEMPTION THROUGH SONG!...
www.770EasternParkway.com (Free subscription) | 05/20/2008
May 19, 2008 Despite the severity of their dress—black from skullcap to shoes for men, ankle-length skirts and head scarves for women—the Hasidim are not a somber people. The founder of the movement, the Baal Shem Tov, taught that God wants his creatures to approach him with enthusiasm and joy. His followers (Hasidim means "the pious") put singing and dancing at the core of their ultra-Orthodox...
Vos Iz Neais (Free subscription) | 05/19/2008
Chicago, IL - Despite the severity of their dress—black from skullcap to shoes for men, ankle-length skirts and head scarves for women—the Hasidim are not a somber people. The founder of the movement, the Baal Shem Tov, taught that God wants his creatures to approach him with enthusiasm and joy. His followers (Hasidim means “the [...]
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 05/19/2008
A Simple Jew asks: I have recently discovered that it is impossible for me to adhere to the Baal Shem Tov's teaching, quoted in Degel Machaneh Ephraim, to imbue my learning with the One without ensuring that I have Meshivas Nafesh or another sefer from Rebbe Nachman along with me. As soon as I feel that I trudging through abstruse material , I put aside the sefer and then open up another one...
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 05/18/2008
Branches Of The Chassidic Menorah "At first glance, the path and teachings of Chassidus taught by the Rebbeim of Vohlynia-Poland-Galicia seem closer to the path and teachings of the Baal Shem Tov's Chassidus than the teachings of Chabad. This applies especially because of the emphasis [placed by Polish chassidim] on miracle-working... ...Now the chassidim of Vohlynia-Poland-Galicia were in the...
A Simple Jew (Free subscription) | 05/16/2008
... has always claimed, that their Chassidus is the real authentic continuation in the chain of Baal Shem Tov - Maggid - Ba'al HaTanya, etc. (Don't be surprised every other group claims something similar, for example in the introduction to Bais Yakkov Radzin it says the same idea switching the Rebbe Reb Melech for the Baal HaTanya and keeping it going through the Chozeh to the Yid HaKodesh to...
