The holy Baal Shem Tov was walking down the street with his grandson, Rabbi Baruch, when he was a child. On their way, they encountered a nobleman who was acquainted with the Baal Shem Tov. The nobleman began to lament that his entire body, from his feet to his head, was covered in sores and pains, and he could find no cure for his suffering.
The holy Baal Shem Tov responded that he saw no remedy for the nobleman’s wounds, and that his only cure was to restrain himself from his desires. However, the nobleman could not accept these words—how could such a demand be made of a person? Was it possible to tell someone who wished to fulfill his desires that he must refrain from them? Was he not like a person missing a limb without the fulfillment of his cravings? Then he asked the Baal Shem Tov, “Can you do this?”
The Baal Shem Tov answered: “I was born to elderly parents, so I am not so drawn to material desires. And as for the few desires I do have, a person can still overcome them.” After they parted from the nobleman, the grandson, Baruchel, asked his great grandfather: “Saba, why didn’t you tell the goy that you are a Jew, and that a Jew can restrain himself from fulfilling his desires?” The Baal Shem Tov replied: “What does a goy understand of the lofty value of a Jew?!”
HaKadosh Baruch Hu told Moses when bringing the plagues upon Egypt that their purpose was ’’ה אני כי מצרים וידעו‘ - ‘And Egypt shall know that I am Hashem’(7:5). But when speaking about the children of Israel, He said, ’אלקיכם ’ה אני כי וידעתם - ‘And you shall know that I am Hashem, your G-d’(6:7). We must understand the difference between what the nations must know and what every Jew must know.
The Gemara states (Yevamos 61a): “You are called ‘Adam,’ but the nations of the world are not called ‘Adam.’ Why? Because the word ‘Adam’ consists of ‘Aleph’ and ‘Dam’ (דם-א). Blood (דם) is what sustains all living creatures, and their desires are dictated by the nature of their blood, which is why they cannot overcome their cravings and desires. However, man‘s superiority over animals lies in the letter ‘Aleph’ (א), which represents wisdom and intellect received from the Master of the World. He, Yisbarach, does not want us to engage in worldly pleasures. When a person overcomes his desires, he merges the ‘Aleph’ with ‘Dam’ and becomes Adam—a true human. This quality does not exist in the nations, who cannot overcome their desires and are therefore like other creatures. But ‘You are called Adam.’ Thus, every time a Jew conquers his desires, he becomes even more of an ‘Adam.’ And since only an ‘Adam’ can subordinate his will to the will of the Creator, it is stated regarding the Jewish people: ‘And you shall know that I am Hashem, your G-d.’
Tiv HaTorah – Va’eira
