Just over 300 years ago, on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Elul, which is Monday, is the birthday of the holy Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov. In the course of his 62 years of earthly life he revolutionized the way we see ourselves, our world, and our place in it.
The following are some of his teachings:1. Everything is by Divine Providence. If a leaf is turned over by a breeze, it is only because this has been specifically ordained by G-d to serve a particular function within the purpose of creation.
2. Every single thing that a person sees or hears, is an instruction to him in his conduct in the service of G-d.
3. "Love your fellow as yourself" is an interpretation of and commentary on "Love the L-rd, your G-d" . He who loves a fellow Jew loves G-d, because the Jew has within himself a "part of G-d Above".
4. G-d's love of each and every Jew is infinitely greater than the love of elderly parents to their only child born to them in their later years.
5. G-d loves all Jews without distinction; the greatest Torah genius and scholar and the most simple Jew are loved equally by G-d.
6. One must have total self-sacrifice and dedication for love of one's fellow, even towards a Jew whom one has never seen.
7. A soul may descend to this world and live seventy or eighty years just in order to do a Jew a material favor, and certainly a spiritual one.
No comments:
Post a Comment