Today Chai (18th of) Elul is the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement. There are so many beautifully inspiring stories of the Baal Shem Tov (and here little Bluma interjected that she knows a bunch of them from bedtime stories) but today I’d like to highlight one specific story that’s printed in the back of the Chabad edition of Tehillim, the Book of Psalms. The story was written by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880-1950), the 6th Chabad Rebbe.
Here’s the gist of the story (for a fuller version see: http://m.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/422096/jewish/The-Singing-Heart.htm)
The Baal Shem Tov was especially fond of simple sincere Jews. He reached out to them, valued them and extolled their virtues – to the chagrin of the leading rabbinical elite of his time. Due to economic hardships and other conditions, most Jews could not afford an education beyond basic reading and writing. Jews were literate, they could read – but many could not understand and were not learned, as they left school early on to join their father’s craft or professions. Even the Baal Shem Tov’s own disciples were not initially fond of this, and it took them some time and education to come around to it.
One Shabbos, the Baal Shem Tov showed exceptional affection and respect to visiting uneducated simple folks. His students had some trouble appreciating it. At the second Sabbath meal, when the guests were in an adjoining room, the Baal Shem Tov had his disciples join hands, close their eyes and sing meaningful melodies. At a certain point he asked them to listen closely, and what they heard was the voices of the simple Jews in the adjacent room, reciting Psalms, interjecting with heartfelt Yiddish words and expressions – as these words would be heard in Heaven. Those disciples would never view simple Jews the same!
Now, many historians will agree that the Baal Shem Tov was a pioneer, a revolutionary who transformed Jewish life. They all speak of his uplifting the spirits and morale of the uneducated Jewish masses. But few recognize his philosophical and visionary side. He was not only a pragmatist. It wasn’t only about being nice and helping people who were down. The Baal Shem Tov was more than just a friendly, populist type. He saw people differently. His perspective changed how he looked at people. As in the above story: He didn’t just instruct his student to be nice and decent to the simple folks. He helped his students hear the words of these simple Jews in a totally different light. New headspace, new perspective, a whole new understanding. Don’t just do it differently, think differently!