Podcasts about bal shem tov

Bal Shem Tov teaches us about how Hashem acquires us

The Bal Shem Tov tells us that on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah, Hashem blesses the Jewish people, and with that power, they bless the rest of the year. The blessing that He gives is in this week's parsha “Nezavim” -that you are standing strong and firm. He gives us the strength, the firmness and unwavering power of the Creator, and with this power, we have the strength to constantly move and grow and evolve throughout the year- “Vayelech”.We see these two ideas of strength and constantly evolving running throughout our service of Hashem-whether it's Torah, which consists of a written Torah that doesn't change and then there is the oral Torah that's constantly changing. We see this with davening where everybody recites the same thing, yet it's all about the heart-each to his/ her own. Then regarding mitzvahs, where everybody has the same mitzvah, yet there is the approach of individually beautifying the mitzvah. לקו״ש כט

The Chazal tell us that nothing in this world was created randomly, and that everything in this world, is created for a reason and a purpose. Based on this, the Bal Shem Tov says that everything we hear and see in this world is there to help us serve Hashem. The Parsha says if you see another Jew in trouble and you could help him you must. The lesson is the very fact that you see another Jew in trouble, whether it's physically or spiritually is proof that you can help him, otherwise why would Hashem show you this situation? It must be because you have the power and capabilities to help, and therefore you must. לקו״ש לב

Matan loves the letters of the Hebrew alephbet but its obvious to his teachers that he will never be able to form them into words or lead the prayers. Based on a tale of the holy Bal Shem Tov, this story ends with a miraculous revelation that even Matan has something to teach the congregation.

This is the last episode of a four-part series featuring the text and subtext of some excerpts from my memoir, “Wilt, Ike and Me.” The last two episodes dealt with two of my earliest conceptual encounters with aging and death. This next episode looks at them as well, but from a significantly different perspective.   *    *    *   In December of 1974, my father's father, Zayde, finally passed away. He was eighty-four, a ripe old age for the time. He had lived alone since my grandmother had died a few years earlier. He cooked his own food and was in great health - never hospitalized or even sick. And every day, he would walk the two miles to his Orthodox synagogue, where he would pray, do a few chores, and tutor some bar mitzvah boys. We had always been close and of course, we got closer after my father died. But one day in 1972, unexpectedly it went to a deeper level. We were watching a NASA moon landing on TV and he said it was a fake, and that they were really doing it in a TV studio. When I asked him why he felt that way, he told me about a prayer they used to say in the old country on the full moon. Apparently, the ancient prayer got dropped and never made it over here. Then he recited it - “The moon is so far away from the Earth. And in the same way, God's perfection is far away from man. But one day man will touch the moon, and when he does, know that the days of the kingdom of heaven on Earth have begun.” I had never heard that prayer before and even though it intrigued me, I didn't say anything. I had actually been keeping something from him and didn't want to discuss anything to do with God or religion.   During my recent college years, I had gotten a strong dose of the hippie lifestyle, along with some of its some mind-altering components. As comedian Robin Williams once said, “If you can remember the sixties, you weren't really there.” Well, I really was, and it really changed me. Recently, I had started practicing a form of meditation which was having a profound effect on me as well. I was simply outgrowing a lot of my childhood concepts. But I didn't want to talk to my grandfather about any of it. He was an old man and had been through enough Tsuris in his life. (Yiddish for trouble), and he didn't need any more. I was certain that my expanding point of view would only upset him, so I stayed away from it.  “So, you see,” he said, pointing to the lunar surface on the TV screen, “This isn't real. It can't be. If they were really on the moon, the Kingdom of Heaven would on its way.” “Actually, Zayde,” I heard myself say, “it is real.” “What?” he asked, like he hadn't heard me right.   “Yes. It is real. All the prophecies are coming true and the whole planet is moving into a higher state. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” I couldn't believe those words had come out of my mouth.  I hadn't planned to say anything to him, but my tongue had been faster than my mind. The truth is though, that's the way I really felt. I had spent four turbulent years in college in Washington DC, front and center at the demolition of the American status-quo. It felt like my generation had been on the vanguard of a revolution that had transformed the world. For baby boomers, since Woodstock, the old order of “might-makes-right” was crumbling, and a new awareness was arising. The stirring message was everywhere - in the music and the movies, on TV and the stage. It really did seem like the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, as they said in the musical “Hair.” Millions of us believed it, and the high times were global.  Still, I hadn't meant to say anything to him. He came from another era, a distant time and place. He had been a Yeshiva student, and as a part-time cantor, was a full-time, orthodox Jew. “What?” he shot back at me sharply, “What did you say?” I thought he sounded angry and scrambled around in my mind to find a way out. But as I looked at him, I realized he wasn't angry; he was hungry. And alive with curiosity. From that moment on, and for the rest of his life, all we ever talked about was higher consciousness. He was like a sponge and wanted to know everything I knew. The more I learned, the more he wanted to know. And he had no conflict at all with what I was doing, which completely amazed me.  He just wanted as much knowledge about God and the higher realms that he could gather. He didn't care where it came from.  I once asked him about it and he said, “Your religion's like a car. You drive it to get somewhere, and when you get there, you get out. It's the same thing with religion. It's supposed to get you to God. And when you do get to God, you leave everything else behind and go straight to him. Never forget that, Davy. Go straight to him.” As time went by, he was getting more and more otherworldly and I started visiting him every few days. He was always happy and cheerful, but the end was clearly in sight. “Hi, Zayde,” I said when I walked in on one of those last days. “What are you doing?” I was referring to the fact that he was walking toward the dining room. “Oh, I'm just waiting now,” he said. “That's all I'm really doing. Just waiting.” “What?” I asked. “Just waiting. You know, I'm just waiting for him to take me.” He raised his eyes up, toward the ceiling. “I really don't know why he hasn't yet. Most of my people are gone, and there's not much left for me to do here anymore. So, I'm just waiting for him to take me.” He sounded like a passenger sitting in a bus terminal, whose bus had been delayed. He didn't mind. He knew it was coming sooner or later. And he was happy to be finally going home.   *    *    *   The last time I saw him, he was sitting at his dining-room table, about to eat lunch. He began every meal with a small glass of schnapps. He had one on his plate and downed it like water. He started eating, but soon, after just a few bites, he fell sound asleep. His head was resting on his chest, and I wasn't sure if he was still breathing. He had a faint smile on his face, like a baby, listening to a lullaby. At that moment, I could really see the family resemblance between him and my father. And as I looked at him, smiling in his sleep, I remembered my father's face, as he was lying in his coffin. He was smiling too. Of course, he was dead, but he still looked like he was having a great time.  I had often thought about that smile and wondered - was the reason he looked so happy because he actually was? Had he made that glorious transition into a higher reality, like the psychic said in that letter that was found in Abraham Lincoln's desk?  I wondered if there really was such a thing as a higher reality. And if there was, do you really have to die to get there? It didn't seem to make sense. Why can't you know that joy while you're still alive? After another minute, Zayde started to move a little. He lifted his head off his chest, opened his eyes and his slight grin turned into a happy smile.  “Well, it won't be long now,” he said cheerfully. Obviously, he was referring to the fact that he was about to die. But if anything, he was glad. He went on with his lunch, but when he finished, he looked at me somewhat seriously. “Listen to me, Davy, and pay attention now,” he said. “We came to this Earth to learn. And not just about anything. We came here to learn about the highest. And I'm going to tell you something important. When we leave here, we actually get to keep what we learned. In fact, that's the only thing we get to keep. All the rest just goes back to dust.”  He got up and started walking me toward the front door. I figured he was going to take a nap when I left. “So, learn what came here for, and don't get too distracted by all the other stuff. You know what I mean? Most of what's here isn't really real.” We got to the door and he turned and looked at me.  “In the morning, always say to yourself - I want to accomplish what I really came here for. And then, at the end of every night ask yourself - what did I learn today that brought me closer to God?  Remember, it isn't what happens here that really matters. It's what you learn. That's what it's all about.” With his soft, contented smile in the afternoon sunlight, he really looked like the embodiment of a learned soul.  “The higher your understanding gets, the more gratitude you feel in your heart,” he said. “And when you leave here with a heart filled with gratitude, you've done your job. Then the journey was worth the trip.” He put his right hand on the crown of my head and said some prayer in Hebrew that I didn't recognize. His pale-blue eyes were lit by a warm, steady flame, and he gave me a soft stroke on the cheek. “So long, Tot-a-la,” he said. We hugged each other, and I left. A few days later, as he was giving a bar mitzvah lesson in the synagogue, he died peacefully among the ancient texts.   *** And so, ends the written description.  Now for the subtext, which for me, is quite profound.  By way of background, in his world, my grandfather had become known as being a “Tzadik,” which means a “righteous one.” He had been educated as an Orthodox cantor and had spent a considerable amount of his life engaged in study, prayer and service to his religious community. He also had a mystical temperament, was an deep admirer of the eighteenth century rabbi called the “Bal Shem Tov,” and had been a student of the Kabbalah.  And as he was nearing the end of his days, the rarified effects of having lived such a life were unmistakably obvious. Being with him during these last days was deeply meaningful to me. Even though he was quite old for his time and had outlived most of his contemporaries, he wasn't facing the end of his life with any sadness or regret at all.  If anything, he seemed excited about it. And not only was he verbally giving me his perspective about what really matters in life, his example spoke far more than words could ever say. Listening to him, it seemed that when you know that you have fulfilled your true purpose in coming here, you can face the end with gratitude and fulfillment, which seemed to be much more appealing than grappling with a heart and mind filled with confusion and regret.   From that perspective, it seemed clear  that many of us spend the majority of our lives chasing after passing, man-made illusions that ultimately bring little in the way of real fulfillment, which suddenly seemed like a colossal waste of time.   Although this final encounter with him took place almost fifty years ago, the light that it generated still illumines my path and inspires me to keep on growing throughout all of the rest of my days, no matter how few or many more I get.  As he said, it's only what you learn about the highest in this life that really counts. So, this marks the end, not only of this episode, but also of the four-part series. It started out with Wilt Chamberlain taking his epic walks around Peter Widener's palace. Then it went to Davy Crockett's valiant fight to death at the Alamo, followed by my meeting with Cousin Agnes, the former glamorous flapper from the 20s. And now, we conclude with witnessing this elevated state my grandfather was in as he contentedly faced the end of his life. As with all things in the field of inner growth, it's up to each one of us to draw our own conclusions and extract our own benefits.  Again, that's the end of this episode and as always, keep your eyes, mind and heart opened, and let's get together in the next one.

The Bal Shem Tov says: תורת ה' תמימה Torah remains complete as no one has ever really begun it, for upon completing the study, one comes to an additional recognition that requires starting anew https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/010/005/3258

One of the major accomplishments of Shavuot was Hashem called us a kingdom of priests. What does it mean to be a king? That you are aloof from the rest of the nation and you don't have to work, and that you are provided with everything. So too, Hashem gave us the Torah and he lifted us above all the other nations, and beyond the whole system of nature, and therefore when a Jew does Torah and Mitzvahs, he has no worries, and Hashem provides him with everything he needs, and the leader of every generation who has characteristics of a King helps us reveal the king within us. Moshie, David, and the Bal Shem Tov who are all connected to Shavuot where able to reveal that in their generation. לקו״ש י״ח

The common and unique insperation of Moshe, Dovid and the Bal Shem Tov and their connection to Shavuos.

As we are at the heels of Moshiach, there needs to be Chasidus studied in Australia. Not only by Chasidim but also by all Jewish residents of Australia. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/009/013/2956

Menachem reflects on the idea of stories and viewing life as a journey in context of Rebbe Nachmans practice of telling stories, a lens of The Bal Shem Tov for seeing life and some practical advice for getting going after the break of the chaggim - or any such break.Consciously The Podcast  is a project of The Light Revealed. The Light Revealed is an organization and media publishing platform which focuses on building community for Jewish people seeking spiritual growth.We welcome your feedback and questions and hope to utilize those questions for future episodes.WebsiteTheLightRevealed.orgEmailTheLightRevealed@TLRFamily.orgFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/thelightrevealed/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thelightrevealed/The Conscious(ly) teamHost: Menachem PoznanskiAssistant Producer: Mordy SchwartzCo-producer emeritus: Chaim KohnAssistant to the Regional Co-Host: Shmaya HonickmanArtwork: Tani PoznanskiSocial Media: Tehila Nissanian & Zoe PoznanskiMusic by Eitan Katz F/t Zusha

The Bal Shem Tov said that Hashem loves each and every one of the Jewish people more than the love of parents to their only child born to them at their old age. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/009/013/2947

Un clase lleno de historias y explicaciones sobre este dia tan especial de Jai Elul, nacimiento del Bal Shem Tov y el Alter Rebe Este shiur esta dedicado a la fam,ilia Lapidus,Nyc

A class on the birthday of Bal Shem Tov. What did Chassidisim bring to the Jewish world? How can Chassidic teachings change the way we live? Recorded Live September 15, 2022 Rabbi Pinchas Adler

The Vilna Goan and Bal Shem Tov tell us the path to discover our unique job in life.We each have our own mission in lifeWhy your "inadequacies" clarify your goalCheck out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha!Follow us on WhatsApp to watch the Motivation Congregation Broadcast every morning!Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible. Click here to donate. 

You must now that Moshiach answered the Bal Shem Tov that when the teachings of the Bal Shem Tov will disseminated to the outside then Moshiach will come. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/009/011/2811

The Alter Rebbe literally self-sacrificed not to be separated even temperedly and outwardly from the Bal Shem Tov. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/009/011/2774

Hashem wants us to make Him present and relevant in every part of our lives. That is why the Bal Shem Tov would ask people how they are doing to hear them praise Hashem. That is also why by the fruit tree the fifth year Hashem gives such big blessings being that we're not allowed to eat it the previous years. The purpose is we should recognize that it's not that we were so successful on our own it's because we listened to Hashem and that He gave us his blessing. לקו״ש ז

Concluding means coming to an end where everything materializes in it's ultimate fashion so Acheron Shel Pesach concluding the Pesach which represents the Geulas Mitzraim the first redemption with Moshe rabenu will conclude with the ultimate redemption with Moshiach . That is why the Haftorah is all about Moshiach and also the Bal Shem Tov established to make a third meal at the end of Pesach and said that there is a shine of Moshiach on that day. לקו״ש כב

https://www.torahrecordings.com/classes/by_parsha/001_bereishis/007_vayeitzei/018

Covid challenged us with something unequal in history: every single shul in the entire world closed down. How did Jews react and respond? The Talmud says that in G-ds tefillin the verse "Who is like the People Israel, a unique nation on the earth" Is that still written? The Bal Shem Tov's beautiful explanation on why we blow the Shofar. Did Avrahaam dream about us when he saw the shining star that fateful Rosh Hashanah 3700 years ago?

A  series where Menachem presents some thoughts and reflections on current events and life. Today, in honor of Chai Elul the birthday of The Bal Shem Tov and The Bal HaTanyna  Menachem reflects on getting real about our spiritual beliefs and tapping in to the loving message from Gd of our every breath Look out for Menachems newest book Consciously, a Mosaica Press work, available on line and in Jewish bookstores.Mosaica's Websitehttps://mosaicapress.com/product/consciously/Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Consciously-Steps-Living-Vibrantly-Creator/dp/1952370094/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2YEA1PWGEJMKL&dchild=1&keywords=menachem+poznanski&qid=1604345602&sprefix=Menachem+poz%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-2Conscious(ly) is a media publishing platform which hopes to build a community of regular people seeking spiritual growth.We welcome your feedback and questions and hope to utilize those questions for future episodes.EmailConsciouslythepodcast@gmail.comFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/thelightrevealed/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thelightrevealed/The Conscious(ly) teamHost: Menachem PoznanskiCo-producer emeritus: Chaim KohnAssistant to the Regional Co-Host: Shmaya HonickmanArtwork: Tani PoznanskiSocial Media: Zoe PoznanskiMusic: Music by Eitan Katz F/t Zusha

It is easier for us to follow and spread the esoteric parts of Torah and the teachings of the Bal Shem Tov. Hebrew text: https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/007/008/2115

בו יבואר דרך החסידות של הבעש"ט וטעם התנגדות הגר"א

The letter in the Bal Shem Tov's handwriting may not be authentic. Hebrew text: https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/007/003/1966

The Bal Hatanya teaches us the joy of hard work, and how we can become a Bal Shem Tov

Shluchim Songhttps://vimeo.com/116693303Eimasoihttps://youtu.be/qkbdo7h7oy8Eimasoi Kaosi Marhttps://youtu.be/wqnGCciWM3wUfarazta https://youtu.be/i2rVUGJhAAg

El Shofar según el Bal Shem Tov