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Translated and freely adapted from Sichat
HaShavua #176
Two weeks before Rosh Hashanah in 1734, on his 36th birthday,
Rabbi Yisrael, the Baal Shem Tov, was revealed as an extraordinarily holy
person and the leader of the fledgling Chasidic movement. Before that, he
devoted himself to keeping his special qualities well hidden from the public
eye. He dressed, spoke and carried himself like every other simple uneducated
poor Jew in the Ukraine. To support himself, he worked as a plain laborer. His
intense prayers, his meditation, and his deep Torah study were all carried out
in secret. In conversation with other Jews, he would often encourage them with
teachings and stories from the Midrash and Talmud that stressed the value of
serving G-d simply but wholeheartedly. He strove to nourish in them a love for
G-d, for Torah, and for the entire Jewish people. But when he did so, it was
always in the language and idiom of the common people. No one suspected him of
being more than he appeared. Only his wife knew his capabilities.
Sometimes it happened that he would be forced to utilize his
extraordinary powers to save Jews or even whole communities in distress.
Whenever he did so, as soon as the time of need ended, he would immediately move
to a new and distant location where nobody knew him. One of these occasions took
place on Lag B' Omer.
In those days, Jewish communities in Eastern Europe were often
subject to attack by wild bands of violent Cossacks and other such coarse
anti-Semites. They would beat Jewish men, sometimes even fatally, rape the women
and plunder or destroy whatever Jewish property they could get their hands on.
Once, the town that the Baal Shem Tov was living in received word that such a
gang of evil marauders was headed their way. The entire Jewish community decided
to abandon their homes and hide in the hills for a few days, until the invading
Cossacks would calm down and leave. The Baal Shem Tov accompanied them. The
people took refuge in the numerous caves that dotted the rugged terrain.  | | " It was the holy day of Lag b'Omer...." | | |
From their lookout places they could see that the Cossack horde
had arrived. Unable to find any Jews to physically assault, they vented their
anger and frustration on Jewish property. They broke into the warehouse of wine,
drank themselves into a state of crazed drunkenness, smashed the rest of the
barrels and set fire to the building. From their lookout, the Jews all trembled
in fear that the cruel Cossacks would decide to search the hills and their
hiding places would be discovered.
A few days went by. The invaders stacked piles of booty looted
from Jewish homes and stores. The Jews were still terrified of being discovered.
How startled they were to see that the nondescript "Yisroelik" (a
nickname for "Israel", the Baal Shem Tov's name) was assembling groups of their
children outside of the caves, in broad daylight!
They protested, whereupon the Baal Shem Tov explained to them
that it was the holy day of Lag B'Omer, a day to be outside in the
fields, joyously celebrating the day of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. He assured them
that not only would they not be endangered, but that the merit of their Lag
b'Omer observance would help to protect and rescue the entire community.
Somehow his enthusiasm and conviction affected the nervous
parents, and they gave their permission. The Baal Shem Tov went from cave to
cave and gathered nearly all the children. | | " All his movements reflected ecstasy in the Divine, as he danced with the circle of children...." | | |
While many of the adults were still mulling over this startling
turn of events, the Baal Shem Tov launched a mini parade. The children marched
along singing happily, as they followed their new charismatic leader. At first,
they were a bit afraid and sang only in whispers and low voices, but in just a
short time their fear melted away as they raised their voices to join in the
infectiously cheerful tunes of the day honoring Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.
The parents gazed after their children with nervous affection,
but their attention soon whipped to the Baal Shem Tov. It was as if he was a
person they had never seen before. His face flamed with rapture as he sang, and
all his movements reflected ecstasy in the Divine, as he danced with the circle
of children. The simple Yisroelik that they knew had been transformed in
their eyes to the holiest of men. His voice combined with those of the pure
innocent children to produce singing that seemed to be no less awesome than that
of the angels in Heaven. | | " Suddenly, they saw the Cossack gang rush from the village and scatter in every direction...." | | |
The parade and the singing continued for a long time.
Afterwards, the Baal Shem Tov led the children to a small plateau, sat them on
the grass, and distributed to each of them deserts that he had brought with him.
He made sure that each child pronounced loudly the correct blessing for the food
that he received. Then, after they had eaten, he told them riveting stories from
the Talmud and the Midrash about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and about Rabbi Akiva.
The children listened attentively and felt the powerful love the Baal Shem Tov
had for each of them, responding with great affection.
The parents and the other adults from the village remained very
worried. How could Yisroelik stay so long in the open with their
children? Their frightened glances switched rapidly back and forth from the
smoke and fury in the village below to the rows of children seated in front of
the Baal Shem Tov. They whispered prayers that all should end well and that
everyone would be safe.
Suddenly, they saw the Cossack gang rush from the village and
scatter in every direction, running with all their might. They left so suddenly
that they didn't stop to take anything with them, abandoning their massive
plunder. At first the Jews were afraid that the crazed invaders were searching
for them again, but the speed with which the enemy disappeared from the vicinity
soon calmed their fear. Soon after, all the Jews returned to their village. The
danger was over!
Eventually, they were able to clarify what had happened. Somehow
the hooligans had found out - or thought they had found out - that a troop of
government soldiers was rapidly approaching in their direction. Frightened, they
had fled for their lives, abandoning everything that might slow down their
flight.
The Jews returned to their homes with happy strides, amazed by
the miracle that had taken place for them. They knew without doubt that the
miracle occurred in the merit of their children's joyous celebration in honor of
the great sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on his day of joy, Lag B'Omer, with the
heretofore hidden mystic, the Baal Shem Tov - who had already disappeared to
another location.
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