Why the Besht Laughed

Serve G-d with Joy was one of the cardinal principles of the Besht*. Yet to see the Besht laugh three times at the Friday night Shabbat meal was truly a novel experience as witnessed by the students of the Baal Shem Tov.

Wondering what the meaning of this was, the disciples of the Besht decided to ask Reb Volf Kitzes, one of the primary beloved disciples, to approach the Besht on motzoei Shabbat (following Shabbat at night) and find out what was the meaning of the Besht laughing three times.

After Shabbat, Reb Volf entered the Besht’s study and asked him what the reason for his laughing three times during the meal was. The Besht said, “Come with me together with the students on a trip.” Together they left Mezbush and travelled all night. As the day approached, they found themselves in the city of Koznitz. The Besht told the wagon driver to halt in front of the home of the parnes chodesh, the present leader of the community. Here they prayed the morning service and had a bite to eat. Then the Besht asked his host to call Shabsi the bookbinder and tell him that the Besht would like to see him and his wife.

The parness was very surprised that the Besht wanted to see Shabsi. For sure he was known to be G-d fearing, yet he was a simple person, not learned or remarkable in any way. Of course, he went to call them as the Besht requested.

Shabsi and his wife, too, had no idea why the holy Besht would want to speak to them.

How old Shabsi was, was hard to tell. Poverty aged him and as he stood there with great humility, he wondered why he was there.

“Please tell us what happened to you this past Friday,” the Besht began. “Tell us how you spent the day. Don’t worry. Just tell it as it was and don’t leave anything out.”

Reb Shabsi began, “I am a simple man. All my life I tried to earn my livelihood from the sweat of my own hands and not be dependent on others. When I was younger, I earned enough to live in comfort; but now that I am older, I am not as strong as I once was, I barely make enough for the bare minimum. I put aside a few kopeks each day so that I can give my wife some money close to Shabbat to go to the market and purchase what we need for Shabbat. This past week was the most difficult week, and I did not earn anything at all. When Friday came, I did not have any money to give my wife to purchase provisions for Shabbat.

Friday my custom was always to stop whatever I was doing by midday and go to the synagogue to prepare myself for the holy Shabbat. This Friday I decided to do the same. Before leaving the house, I warned my wife that she should not borrow from the neighbors. Throughout my life I never depended on tzedakah but only on Hashem to provide for us, and this week too we will rely on Hashem. Better to go hungry than to rely on man, I told her. My wife promised me.

I went to synagogue and read Shir Hashirim, remained to do the evening Shabbat prayers. I remained in the synagogue till everyone left, and waited further till I was certain the townspeople were home. I did not want to have to explain why there wasn’t any candlelight in my home. Slowly I made it back to our house. As I neared our home, how surprised I was to see the house lit up and candles on the table.

I saw that my house was illuminated. Instead of feeling happy my heart sank. My poor wife must not have been able to withstand the test, I thought. In my mind I decided not to ruin the Shabbat peace in the home by saying to her, why didn’t you keep your promise?

I entered the house and to my utter astonishment I saw the table filled with all sorts of Shabbat delicacies. My wife beamed at me. I didn’t have the heart to rebuke her.

I made kiddush and washed my hands before reciting the blessing hamotzi on the challot. I ate in silence the fish course, trying to enjoy the Shabbat spirit.

After the fish course, I could not hold myself back and said to my wife, ‘I guess you could not hold yourself back from….’ She interrupted me and said,

‘Do you remember Shabsi the lovely dress I wore when we got married?’ She then went on to tell me, ‘I decided to do something for Shabbat and give the house a thorough cleaning. It was the least I could do in honor of the Shabbat. I cleaned the whole house meticulously.

I even cleaned out our closet and there I found the dress which had silver buttons on it. I took them to the pawnshop and with the money bought what we needed for Shabbat with money to spare for next Shabbat also.’

Shabsi continued to tell the Besht, “As I listened to my wife’s story I was filled with joy! I jumped up from my seat and we both began dancing around the table, singing and dancing in great joy that Hashem provided for us such a beautiful Shabbat. I couldn’t help myself. We went back to the table and once again after the delicious soup I was again filled with a delightful gratitude to G-d, and we danced around the table thanking Hashem for such a beautiful Shabbat. And again, after the dessert we danced and danced in gratitude to G-d for His kindness.”

Shabsi then turned to the Besht and beseechingly said, “Please Rebbe if we did something wrong, tell me and show me a way to repent.”

The Besht reassured Reb Shabsi and told him and his wife, “Not only did you do nothing wrong, but when you rejoiced down here, the angels in Heaven also rejoiced with you. They sang and danced when you sang and danced, and they laughed when you laughed. Seeing the great joy Above, I too rejoiced as well.

Turning to Shabsi’s wife, the Besht said to them, Because of what you did, Hashem will bless both of you. You have the choice to spend the rest of your days in luxury and ease or to have a child in your old age who will light up the world.”

“Luxury,” she said without hesitation, “who needs it. We are already old, and Hashem has not seen fit to bless us with children. To have a child would be the greatest blessing.”

The Besht promised them that by next year they would have a son who would do credit to them in the World to Come. Please let me know when your son is born and I will come and be the sandek.

A year later, a son was born to the couple. The Besht came as he said he would. He suggested to name the child Yisrael.

Little Yisrael grew up to be the holy Reb Yisrael of Koznitz!*

Transcribed from the audio: 300 Stories of the Baal Shem Tov by Rabbi Sholom B. Wineberg available on Chabad.org or jewishaudio.org (from sie.com). Story title: Why the Besht laughed three times.

*Besht – Rebbe Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, 1698 – 1760. The Besht (short for Baal Shem Tov) was a leader of Jewry following a difficult period in Jewish history known as Kezeirot Tach vTat. The Besht revived the Jewish spirit and revolutionized Jewish thought with love for a fellow Jew and joy in celebrating Judaism. He breathed new life into a swooning nation. The effects of his teachings continue to be felt today. He remains a unique personality in Jewish history. His teachings touched the entire Jewish nation, both the scholarly and the simple Jew alike. For more on the Besht, please see, Chabad.org.

*Reb Yisrael of Koznitz, also known as the Maggid of Koznitz, 1737-1814, born to his parents R’ Shabsi the bookbinder and his righteous wife and grew up to become a Tzadik (righteous person) and miracle worker. He is the founder of the Koznitz Chassidic dynasty.

Reb Yisrael was a student of the Maggid of Mezritch (successor to the Besht) and Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk. He was a brilliant Torah scholar in both the revealed and esoteric parts of Torah, and with great love for a fellow Jew, brought healing to his brethren and blessed many childless couples to have children. His manner of service to G-d was to dance vigorously with sheer ecstasy during prayer and Chassidic gatherings. His written works include: Avodat Yisrael on the Torah portions, Bet Yisrael on the Talmud, Nezer Yisrael and Or Yisrael on the Zohar and Tehillot Yisrael on Tehillim (Psalms). His son Reb Moshe Elyakim succeeded him as Rebbe of Koznitz.