baal shem tov stories – Melava Malka Stories

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.

The life of Rabbi Menachem Nochum Twersky

Reb Menachem Nochum* was orphaned from his father and mother at a young age. He had a traumatic childhood and continued to suffer many hardships throughout his life.

The Humbling of Avigdor

Some 300 years ago, there lived an affluent man named Avigdor. He brought a large sum of money to Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, to be distributed to the poor on his behalf.

The Baal Shem Tov with Little Shaul Margolis

To know the true meaning of Purim joy, one had to go to Medzhibozh and spend Purim in the company of the saintly Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. Many were the lucky ones who did. So great was the crowd that there was not much left of the Purim feast in the way of food or drink to go around.
But there was much to drink of the endless fountain of Torah which flowed from the lips of the Baal Shem Tov. It was an experience which forever remained engraved on their minds and hearts.

The Matriarch of Hebron in the late 1800’s

A ray of light and hope dawned after 53 wrenching and arduous days. The exhausted family welcomed the little baby girl into her auspicious lineage and their challenging world.

Reb Meir of Premishlan’ Mikvah Adventures

During the winter of 5663 (1903), when I accompanied my father for a couple of months during which time he spent consulting medical specialists in Vienna, he would sometimes go out in the evening to visit the shtiblach (small houses of prayer and study) of the local Polish Jews—to be among Chassidim, to hear a story from their mouths, to listen to a Chassidic saying, and to observe their fine conduct and refined character.

The Baal Shem Tov’s Vision

Once, during his travels, the Baal Shem Tov* stayed at the inn of one of his followers in a village near the city of Brody. The innkeeper, wishing to honor his distinguished guest and those accompanying him, prepared a huge feast on their behalf and accorded them all the respect due them. As the Baal Shem Tov took leave of his gracious host he said to him, “Ask of me what you wish.”

Tzaddikim Are Greater In Their Death Than In Their Lifetime

An upright young man once set out from his home in Vilkomir to buy up merchandise in Niezhin. Though not a chassid himself, he was on very friendly terms with a celebrated chassid by the name of Reb Yaakov Kaidaner*.

Who was Reb Yehoshua Elazar?

After his father, Reb Nochum (the first Chernobyler rebbe) passed away, he would often visit his son, Reb Motele. His father’s Neshama (soul) came from Gan Eden to visit him. Then for a while his father did not show up, for quite a long time. Reb Motele was pained by this. He missed his father and his father not showing up.

The Broken Hearted Shofar Blowing

One year, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov said to Rabbi Ze’ev Kitzes, one of his senior disciples: “I would like to ask you to blow the shofar for us this Rosh Hashanah.