| Stories of the Baal Shem Tov: Miketz |
 |
 |
| Written by Bentzion of Medziboz |
 "Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since G.d has informed you about all this, there can be no one with as much insight and wisdom as you. You shall be in charge of my government." (Bereishis 41:39-40) About 350 years ago, in the small village of Okup by the Carpathian Mountains, there lived Rabbi Eliezer and his wife Rebbetzyn Sarah. The Rabbi and his wife were very old and childless and they devoted their lives to helping poor people. In those days, life was very hard for Jewish people. There were many government decrees that prevented them from owning land, entering into certain professions, and even living in many places. After an uprising of the Cossacks, when hundreds of thousands of Jews were massacred, the Jewish people were left in a desperate state, never knowing when they would be attacked and even killed. Rabbi Eliezer frequently said, "Do not despair because G.d is everywhere." Rabbi Eliezer prayed over and over to the Holy One Blessed Be He, "L.rd of the Universe, please send someone that can uplift the Jewish people." Rabbi Eliezer's prayers finally pierced though the heavens and reached G.d. He ordered a very, very special soul from among the chamber of souls to be sent into the world to guide the Jewish People. This soul was so special that its light shone across the heavens. The parents were to be Rabbi Eliezer and Rebbetzyn Sarah, even though they were old and long past their childbearing ages. The prayers and preparation of this special soul did not go unnoticed by the angel named the Satan. The Satan is the angel appointed by G.d to erect obstacles before people so that they have an opportunity to overcome their challenges and build their character. The Satan came running before G.d and complained. "Yes, it is true that Rebbetzyn Sarah, Rabbi Eliezer's wife is a Saint and worthy of a child with such a soul. But Rabbi Eliezer has never been properly tested, such as with the test of a life of poverty." G.d agreed. The very next day, Rabbi Eliezer was accosted by robbers. They tied him up, covered his eyes and threw him into the back of a wagon. For days they traveled. Finally, they arrived at a seaport where he was sold to slave traders. They took Rabbi Israel by sailing ship to a faraway land where no Jews lived. There he was sold as a slave. Rabbi Eliezer thought "My G.d, I could be a slave for the rest of my life." But soon after he started to feel bad, he began thinking, "Just as I've taught others, I'm not going to despair. G.d is everywhere." And so he served his master faithfully and soon was appointed as overseer over the master's house. It was clear in Heaven that Rabbi Eliezer had passed the test. Preparation of the special soul for birth into the world continued. The Satan appeared again before the throne of G.d. "Holy One, it is true that Rabbi Eliezer passed the test of being poor, but the test of great wealth is much harder. He must also pass this test to warrant such a soul." G.d again agreed. The very next day Rabbi Eliezer was given as a slave to the Viceroy of the King. The Viceroy immediately took a liking to Rabbi Eliezer and gave him a private room to live. His only duty was to welcome the Viceroy when he returned home and to wash his feet as was the custom for great people in that country. Soon, the Viceroy realized that not only was Rabbi Eliezer a faithful servant but also an attentive listener. Everyday the Viceroy would come home from serving the King and unburden himself to Rabbi Eliezer. Up until now, our story has described how Rabbi Eliezer passed the test of poverty, and the Satan convinced G.d to have Rabbi Eliezer subjected to the test of great wealth. So Rabbi Eliezer became a slave to the Viceroy of the King. The Viceroy, realizing that Rabbi Eliezer was a faithful servant and a wonderful listener, would return home everyday and tell Rabbi Eliezer all that went on in the King's court. Shortly thereafter, the King became involved in a great war and his army was being defeated. The King blamed the Viceroy because the army was following the plans the Viceroy had supported. Finally, in a fit of rage, the King told the Viceroy, "You had better come up with a new battle plan by tomorrow or else. Now get out of here." When the Viceroy returned home, he was afraid for his life. Rabbi Eliezer saw that he was deeply troubled. "My master, why are you so troubled?" But the Viceroy was speechless because of his fear. Finally, after constant coaxing, he told Rabbi Eliezer what just happened with the King. "Don't worry," said Rabbi Eliezer in a reassuring way, "I'll fast for the rest of the day and then pray to G.d for help." But the Viceroy remained deeply worried and couldn't stop wringing his hands. That night Rabbi Eliezer asked a dream question (a written question placed next to the questioner's head where they sleep). "Dear G.d, what should the King's army do to defeat the enemy army." While he slept, an elaborate battle plan of how to defeat the enemy's army was revealed to him. The next morning, as soon as the Viceroy was awake, Rabbi Eliezer went to him. "Master, master, last night I had a dream of how the King's army can defeat the enemies." Then he described the whole battle plan to his master. All the Viceroy could say was, "That's brilliant, just brilliant." Immediately, the Viceroy rushed to the King. "Your Majesty, I have a plan for defeating our enemies." As soon as he told the King the whole battle plan, the King was extremely impressed, "My dear Viceroy, I commend you. It's a stroke of genius." So the King ordered his generals to immediately proceed with the battle plan and the enemy army was quickly defeated. The King was thrilled but he couldn't believe that his Viceroy could come up with such a plan. "My dear Viceroy, I honestly can't believe that you could devise such an intricate, brilliant battle plan." After some prodding, the Viceroy told the King that the battle plan came from his slave Rabbi Eliezer. The King immediately called for Rabbi Eliezer and elevated him to the position of his closest advisor. As time passed, the King offered Rabbi Eliezer whatever was in his kingdom. But Rabbi Eliezer did not indulge himself in any of the wonderful opportunities and pleasures that were presented to him because of his new status. Throughout the time he served as the King's close advisor, he never strayed from his thought, "I'm not going to despair, G.d is everywhere." Soon Rabbi Eliezer was even offered married to the daughter of the Viceroy. Although he protested the marriage, he was forced to marry her. Rabbi Eliezer refused to live with her as a wife because he was still married to Sarah and planned to return to her. When his new wife repeatedly asked him what was wrong, he finally told her that he was already married and she agreed to help him return to his home. Now that Rabbi Eliezer passed the test of great wealth, the final preparation for the birth of the soul began. For one last time, the Satan rushed to the throne of the Holy One Blessed Be He. "Holy One, it is true that Rabbi Eliezer passed the test of riches and power but the greatest test of loving a fellow Jew that openly rebels against the ways of the Torah has yet to be passed. Again, G.d consented and the Satan arranged the greatest test of all. This time, Elijah the Prophet who was also present, begged G.d to allow him to administer the test. To this, G.d also agreed. Soon, the King summoned Rabbi Eliezer. "My dearest counselor, I owe my kingdom to you and I would give you anything in my power. Yet I see you are unhappy because you want to return to your home. Your new wife also agrees to this. So please take this great treasure and return to your home as you desire." Rabbi Eliezer immediately returned to his home and wife Sarah. When Sarah saw him, she could hardly believe her eyes. "My G.d what happened. Where have you been?" "It's a long story!" answered Rabbi Eliezer. In another story, Rabbi Eliezer and Rebbetzyn Sarah pass an even greater test and are blessed with a cherished son named Yisrael. Later, Yisrael attained renown as Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name). And so it was. Freely adapted by Howard M. Cohn ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) from SHIVCHEI HA-BESHT as translated in IN PRAISE OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV by Ben Amos and Mintz and reprinted with the kind permission of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation. Please visit www.baalshemtov.com Also, write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to receive the Stories of the Baal Shem Tov in your email inbox, visit and join a discussion group on the stories of the Baal Shem Tov at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stories_of_the_Baal_Shem_Tov/ Publicize the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov to Bring Moshiach NOW! Bentzion Meltzer 954.242.9208 www.besht-yomi.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it http://groups.google.com/group/teachings_of_the_besht?hl=en http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stories_of_the_Baal_Shem_Tov/ 
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email this
Comments (0)
 Write comment
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Latest News
- Life Lessons-Yitro-The Benefit of the Illness
- iAwaken-Yitro-The Third Principle
- R' Shlomo-Yitro-Changing Deeper and Deeper
- The Profundities of Torah-Yitro-Opiate of the Elite
- The Profundities of Torah-Yitro-Taking A New Identity
- Zeev HaTorah-Yitro-The Seven Mitzvos of Kovod HaTorah
- The Torah Connection-Yitro-Stockholm Syndrome Revisited
- The Torah Connection-Yitro-Impulsive Nation
- Beyond Twelve Gates-Yisro II
- Targum shel Yonoson-Yisro-Inspired by a Cow
Subscribe
