Weekly Chasidic Story #912 (s5775-35 / 1 Sivan5775)

Transmission through Towels

The Baal Shem Tov had passed away, and most of his disciples were drawn to the Maggid of Mezritch as his successor. Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Polnauer, the Baal HaToldos, found this puzzling.

Connection: Seasonal The festival of Shavuot, as well as being the yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov, was also the date, one year later, of the official transference of the mantle of leadership of the Chasidic movement to the Maggid of Mezritch.

Transmission through Towels

The Baal Shem Tov had passed away, and most of his disciples were drawn to the Maggid of Mezritch as his successor. Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Polnauer found this puzzling; the Maggid studied with the Baal Shem Tov five short years, while he-the author of the first book of Chasidic teachings: Toldos Yaakov Yosef -was a long-time leading disciple! How could they choose the Maggid instead of himself? He decided to make the journey to Mezritch to seek the answer.

The Maggid happily arranged a festive repast in honor of his guest, and after warm heartfelt greetings, the two secluded themselves in the Maggid's study. The talmidim, meanwhile, not willing to miss a conversation between tzadikim, strained to eavesdrop. "In what way are you superior to me?" they heard the Toldos ask their mentor, "What did you receive from the Baal Shem Tov that I didn't?" Yet, it was evident to the Toldos that the Maggid had been the beneficiary of sublime Divine secrets, and now he requested that his host share them.

"Did you comprehend all the paths of the Baal Shem Tov?" asked the Maggid.

"I believe there was nothing hidden from my eyes," replied the Toldos.

"Do you know what purpose the two towels hanging in the Baal Shem Tov's room served, and why one of them was sewn at both ends?" The Toldos admitted he had never noticed, and requested an explanation.

He had always longed to understand the reason, the Maggid recounted, and after much thought it occurred to him that the matter was connected to the hours that the Baal Shem Tov was secluded in his room erev Shabbat after immersion in the mikveh until Kabbalat Shabbat. It was in those hours that the room was thoroughly sealed. Even the windows were covered; no one knew what went on inside.

The Maggid on one occasion resolved to conceal himself in the room in those hours, before the Baal Shem Tov entered. In the moment when the attendant finished cleaning the room in honor of Shabbat and went outside to empty the wastebasket, the Maggid slipped inside and hid. The attendant returned and, unaware, locked the door as he left.

When the Baal Shem Tov returned from the mikveh, he went immediately to the towels. He took hold of the towel sewn at both ends, then-suddenly-drew back. He gazed intently in all directions as though searching for something. Again, he grasped the towel, and immediately called out: "Who's hiding in the room?"

"Deeply humbled, I came out of my hiding place," the Maggid recalled, "I pleaded with the Baal Shem Tov to forgive me, and turned to leave the room.

"'At this time,' the Baal Shem Tov said, 'it's no longer possible to leave the room. It's in a state of readiness; the door cannot be opened. But tell me: have you immersed already in the mikveh?' I replied 'Yes,' whereupon the Baal Shem whispered in my ears a particular kavanah to concentrate on. He instructed me to hold the towel, and [then he entered an intense meditative state. After a brief while, I heard him mutter, 'Shver! Shver! ('Difficult. Heavy' in Yiddish)],* but soon thereafter we soared together through celestial chambers. More than this, I'm not permitted to reveal."

[For an approach to the crowning of the Maggid from a different perspective, see last year's story (#862).

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Source: Adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of Tuvia Natkin for "Kfar Chabad Magazine - English," as translated from Migdal Oz.

* Editor's note: The insert in square brackets near the end is mine. That's the way I heard it from my master of Chasidic stories, Rabbi Akiva Greenberg, ò'ä

Biographical notes:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer [of blessed memory: 18 Elul 5458- 6 Sivan 5520 (Aug. 1698 - May 1760 C.E.)], the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"-often referred to as "the Besht" for short], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed his identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 5494 (1734 C.E.), and made the until-then underground Chasidic movement public. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.

Rabbi Dov Ber [of blessed memory: c.5460 - 19 Kislev 5533 (c.1700- Dec. 1772 C.E.)], the son of Avraham and Chava, known as the Maggid of Mezritch, succeeded his master, the Baal Shem Tov, as the head of the Chasidic movement. Most of the leading chasidic dynasties stem from his disciples and his descendents. The classic anthologies of his teachings are Likutei Amarim and Torah Ohr (combined by Kehas Publishing as Maggid Devorav l'Yaakov), and Ohr HaEmmes.

Rabbi Yaakov Yosef HaKohain of Polnoye [5470 - 24 Tishrei 5542** (1710 - Oct. 1781 C.E.)] was one of the earliest and closest rabbinical disciples of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the first to author a book of Chassidic teachings, called Toldos Yaakov Yosef, which had a revolutionary effect immediately upon publication. Subsequently, he published other chasidic classics.
** Not certain, Some say 5544 (1783) and some say 5551 (1790)

Connection: The festival of Shavuot, as well as being the yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov, was also the date, one year later, of the official transference of the mantle of leadership of the Chasidic movement to the Maggid of Mezritch.

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Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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