Tuesday, February 13, 2007

And it is sufficient in our faith as well

From the old tales of the Balem Shem Tov and the Hasidic rabbis:

When the great Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov saw misfortune threatening the Jews it was his custom to go into a certain part of the forest to meditate. There he would light a fire, say a prayer, and the miracle would be accomplished and the misfortune averted.

Later, when his disciple, the celebrated Magid of Mezritch, had occasion, for the same reason, to say the prayer, he would go to the same place in the forest and say: "Master of the Universe, listen! I do not know how to light the fire, but I am still able to say the prayer." And again, the miracle would be accomplished.

Still later, Rabbi Moshe-Leib of Sasov, in order to save his people once more, would go into the forest and say: "I do not know how to light the fire, I do not know the prayer, but I know the place and this must be sufficient."

Then it fell to Rabbi Israel of Rizhyn to overcome misfortune. Sitting in his armchair, his head in his hands, he spoke to The Holy One: "I am unable to light the fire and I do not know the prayer; I cannot even find the place in the forest. All I can do is to tell the story, and this must be sufficient." And it was sufficient.

2 comments:

  1. Our God Is and Awesome God
    He reigns from Heaven Above
    With Wisdom, Power, and Love,
    Our God Is and Awesome God!

    ReplyDelete
  2. *Our God Is AN Awesome God!

    How did I manage that...twice??

    ReplyDelete