Put your soul in it

Zion — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:30:06 +0000

Today, the seventh of Sivan, is the Hillulah, Death Anniversary of the Baal Shem Tov. One of the famous Rabbis in the last 450 years. His soul was so high and it is said that such a soul comes to the world only once in a thousand years.

It is also said that he came to the world to wake up the soul of all Israelites. His father merited such a son because he went out of his way to help a stranger on Shabbat.
A Kabbalaist ‘Maase Yechiel”, said that the Baal Shem Tov had the soul of Nefesh of Atziluth and the Holy Ari had his soul from Ruach of Atziluth. They both came to the world at the same period to create a bridge to the spiritual system that was lost because of the religiosity of people.

The existence of his and the Ari’s souls brought so much light to the world and Europe that, the whole world of that time came out of the dark ages. Art and science began to flourish in the world.

There are lots of information and stories about the Baal Shem Tov that you can easily find on the Internet but I wrote this piece to wake us all to the same consciousness that the Baal Shem Tov brought to the world. “Don’t just do it, put your soul and love in it”

The soul is our connection to the light. The deeper aspect of knowledge is connection. King David, whose death anniversary was yesterday, said in Psalms 3:6 “ בְּכָל-דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ וְהוּא, יְיַשֵּׁר אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ” “Know him in all your ways and he will direct your path”
We should connect our soul to the light with all our actions then we can enjoy the guidance and blessings.

Shabbat Zachor and the special reading.

Zion — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:31:39 +0000

On Shabbat before Purim in addition to the regular Torah reading we read a small paragraph from the end of parashat \”Ki Teitzeh\”. \”Zachor Et Asher Asa Lecha Amalek BaDerech Betzetchem MiMitzrayim\”, \”Remember what Amalek did to you on your way out of Egypt! (Deuteronomy 25)\”.

The day of Shabbat includes the whole coming week in itself. (Every day during the Morning Prayer, Shacharit, we say \”היום־יום־שלישי־בשבת־קודש\” “today is the third day of the Holy Shabbat”. We also announce the new moon on Shabbat. The short paragraph of Zachor gives us the ability to overcome doubts, (Amalek in Gimatria equal doubts) \”עמלק־=ספק\”, and have certainty in our connection to the Light. Purim is a celebration of certainty. Mordechai and Esther were thinking about G-d and not the people. Mordechai risked his life and the life of all Jews when he refused to bow to Haman Hagagi. Because of their certainty, they merited the miracle of overcoming Haman.

It is important to know that Haman was a descendent of Amalek. Shemuel the prophet ordered King Saul to kill Agag, the King of Amalek and all that belonged to him. King Saul failed by keeping some goods as offerings to G-d and he brought Agag as prisoner. Agag was killed by Shemuel but before that he had the opportunity to be with a woman and have a child who continued the line of Amalek all the way to Haman. Mordechai succeeded to destroy Haman and his ten sons (representing the 10 levels of negativity and that is why the reader of the megilah needs to read their names in one breath).

Zachor is also a reminder of the final redemption, when G-d promised to remove Amalek for ever and that means no negativity ever again. Rabbi Avraham Azulai, in the book \”Chessed L\’Avraham\” said that the final redemption is a state that is better than what the Garden of Eden was, before the sin. The reason for that is, before the sin, the Snake was there and had the potential to harm and eventually he did. In the final redemption, there will be no negativity. B\”H we will all merit seeing Mashiach and the final redemption, today, Amen.

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Put your soul in it

Shabbat Zachor and the special reading.