Dear Alumni Sheyichyu!
Sholom U’Brocho!
פורים שמח!!!
A Freilichen Purim!! And be mamshich throughout the year ora vesimcha vesasson veyikar in the literal sense as well as with all of the interpretations of Chazal!!!
Mazeltov to Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Munitz on the birth of their son. Mazeltov to Rabbi and Mrs. Betzalel Bassman on the birth of their son. Mazeltov to Rabbi and Mrs. Dovid Greenwald on the birth of their daughter. May they bring him up lTOveCHuMAA”T mitoch harchovo, and to be true chayolim/os! (If anyone is aware of any mazeltov’s that I omitted please let me know).
Thank you as always for the feedback, it is much appreciated.
The following story – like many stories, and especially stories of the Baal Shem Tov – I have read numerous times with various versions, but the general point is, for the most part, the same:
The holy Baal Shem Tov was once travelling. Along the way, he found his way obstructed by a river. Now, for the Baal Shem Tov, a river is no cause for concern. He did not even find it necessary to split the waters of the river. He just continued walking on the water, and, thus, crossed the river.
[During one farbrengen, the Rebbe demanded very passionately a certain course of action from chassidim. Following the farbrengen, Rabbi Groner was by the Rebbe, and the Rebbe asked him what was being done regarding what was demanded by the farbrengen. Rabbi Groner informed the Rebbe that chassidim took it very seriously, but had questions regarding the specific direction they should take, and were, therefore, awaiting further clarification from the Rebbe. The Rebbe expressed strong displeasure about this. “This was the problem by kriyas yam suf, the Yidden had questions and calculations. If they wouldn’t analyze so much, and just trust in Hashem and go, they could have walked on the water, and wouldn’t have required the wholeness of kriyas yam suf!”].
There was a person who was accompanying the Baal Shem Tov, who was serving him on the trip. When he saw what the Baal Shem Tov did, he tried to follow suit. Unfortunately, walking on water is a feat that requires special talents and special training etc., and the helper was just not up to it. He ended up in the water, and drowned r”l.
When the Baal Shem Tov saw what happened to his loyal helper, he was extremely upset, and he decreed that the river, which had brought about this tragedy, should dry up. The angel (in charge) of the river, however, objected, claiming that the river was merely performing its natural duty, and it was inevitable that a human being attempting to walk over water would not survive. In the Heavenly court the decision was that the Baal Shem Tov’s ruling would have to be obeyed. However, because the objection of the river was legitimate, there would be a stipulation that if any descendant of the BeSHT would ever be found in the site of the former river, the river would have the right to resume flowing (and ch”v drown that individual).
The Baal Shem Tov left strict instructions to all of his descendants to avoid that area under any circumstances.
Years went by, the holy Baal Shem Tov passed on, and his children were careful with his directives. Once, R’ Tzvi, the son of the BeSHT, was travelling. Lost in thought, he failed to pay attention to his whereabouts, and, unwittingly, was transported to the site where the river had been. In accordance with the ruling, the river suddenly reappeared, and R’ Tzvi was in grave danger. As he felt his end near, and his strength waning, he noticed lights in the water not far off. With his last strength, he struggled towards the lights, and he felt himself being pulled out of the water.
That night, the holy Baal Shem Tov appeared to his son in a dream, and told him the following: “My dear son, know, that I have descended from up high, when I saw the danger that you were in, in order to save your life. However, I didn’t realize how much more coarse and impure the world had become since my demise, and what intense spiritual pain I would experience by returning to it, for even this short time. Therefore, I must warn you to be careful in the future, because, should this situation repeat itself, I would not be able to bring myself to endure the anguish of experiencing olam hazeh again, and I would have to leave you to your fate!”
