| Stories of Baal Shem Tov: Bo |
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| Written by Bentzion of Medziboz |
 During the time of the Baal Shem Tov, a tobacco pipe was one of man's most important possessions. In those days, the Jewish people were so poor, they barely had enough food to
feed their families. So when a man would come to visit a friend, the host could at least afford to offer his guest a pinch of pipe tobacco and a cup of tea. The Baal Shem Tov had a very special tobacco pipe. It was said that his pipe was so long that he could rest the pipe stem on the back end of the wagon while sitting on the seat and smoking. And then there was the time that the Baal Shem Tov was traveling in his wagon with several of his followers and his wagon driver, Alexei, at the reins. They were smoking their pipes and discussing a concept of Torah. Suddenly, three soldiers of a local of governor approached them on horseback. When the soldiers got close to the wagon, they pulled out their swords and planned to steal some money from the Jews in the wagon. "Listen up, we are the soldiers for the Governor and we demand twenty ruples for the right to travel on the Governor's road," the commander of the soldiers said with a snarl. "We're sorry," answered Alexei, "but the Rabbi and his students don't have any money." Just then, the soldiers noticed the Baal Shem Tov's pipe. "In that case we'll take this," said the commander, as he leaned down from his horse and snatched the pipe out of the Baal Shem Tov's hand. With that, they galloped off, holding the pipe in the air as if it were a sword. No one in the wagon spoke. The students just sat, still feeling the fear from the encounter with the soldiers. The Baal Shem Tov seemed to be far off in a deep meditative state. As for Alexei, he reached under his seat and took a little nip from a bottle of whiskey he always kept there. About an hour passed. The Baal Shem Tov looked around and said to Alexei, "Unhitch the horse from the wagon so that you can ride it. Then go (Bo) down the road in the direction that the soldiers went. When you finally catch up with them, take back the pipe and bring it back to me." "But Rabbi, they aren't going to give me that pipe and they are armed!" said Alexei with a lot of concern in his voice. "Don't worry," said the Baal Shem, "you'll be able to take it." As Alexei rode of in the direction that the soldiers went, he wondered, "I sure hope the Master is right." After riding for about an hour, Alexei saw the three soldiers sitting on their horses. He slowly approached them wondering how he was going to retrieve the pipe. But as he got closer, he saw that the three men were all sound asleep on their horses. Then he saw the Baal Shem Tov's pipe secured to the saddle of the commander of the soldiers. Alexei rode up as quietly as he could and snatched the pipe from the saddle. Then, he rode away as fast as he could. When he returned to the Baal Shem Tov he was nearly out of breath. "Well Alexei, what happened? Did you get the pipe?" asked the Baal Shem Tov. Alexei handed him the pipe and said, "Rabbi, you won't believe what happened. They were all sound asleep on their horses." "Oh Alexei, you know I'm a man of faith, I do believe that happened!" the Baal Shem Tov said with a warm smile and little chuckle in his voice. Now harness the horse to the wagon, take a L'chaim and we'll be off." And so it was. Freely adapted by Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney) from a story in Shivchei HaBesht 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 Join a class on the Perekim from the Kesser Shem Tov: Shabbos morning 9am in the Shteibel Minyan Beis Medresh 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 Help Bring Moshiach Right NOW! 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/ 
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